Community Corner
Westfield Board of Health March Update
The Westfield Board of Health adopted goals to end cigarette smoking in parks and address prescription drug abuse at its March 3 meeting.
The Westfield Board of Health met on March 3. We did not meet in February due to the weather.
In addition to meeting or exceeding all of its State mandates, the Board adopted goals to eliminate cigarette smoking in parks and recreational facilities and to address prescription drug abuse.
In January and February, 39 retail food establishments were inspected, and all but three were satisfactory. Two establishments were conditionally satisfactory and are being monitored. The third restaurant was pre-operational and was satisfactory the next day.
Find out what's happening in Westfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The “Be Hard Headed” campaign successfully distributed its remaining 24 bicycle and sports helmets and reflector kits to children and toddlers and educated them and their parents. The department will seek to obtain additional helmets for distribution.
Immunization compliance audits were completed at 6 child care facilities. Compliance rates ranged from 63% to 100%. Nursing counseling was provided and poorly performing programs will be reaudited. One program already reaudited went from 64% to 99% compliance.
Find out what's happening in Westfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The New Jersey Cancer Education and Early Detection (CEED) Program is now present in our child health clinics to provide information to uninsured or underinsured individuals who may qualify for breast, cervical, colorectal and prostate screening.
The Vaccines for Adults Program continues to offer vaccines against pneumonia, shingles, meningitis, human papilloma virus (HPV), and tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) for uninsured individuals or persons with Medicaid or Medicare (but not Part D).
For more information about these 2 programs, please contact Laura Scanlon, the Public Health Nursing Supervisor, at 908-789-4070 x4074 or lscanlon@westfieldnj.gov.
The Health Department is sponsoring health screenings with Overlook Hospital in the Municipal Building. Cholesterol screening will be on Thursday, March 20, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and requires a $10.00 charge. For more information and to register, please call the Overlook Medical Center Community Health Department at 1-800-247-9580.
The complete minutes of the March 3 meeting will be posted after review and approval at our April 7 meeting, which starts at 5:30 p.m. in the Municipal Building. The public is invited to attend.
Lawrence D. Budnick, MD, MPH
President, Westfield Board of Health
