2001 Annual Report of the Department of Public Health

The mission of the Newton Health Department is to promote physical and mental health and to prevent disease, injury, and disability in the City of Newton. We will accomplish this by leadership in assessing health status, promoting health education and disease prevention services, controlling health risks, coordinating community resources, and advocating for a healthy community. We value providing responsive, professional service to the city.

 

The arrival of West Nile virus into Massachusetts created an enormous challenge for the Newton Health Department. Infected birds were found in Newton in late August. State and federal public health officials recommended an aggressive campaign against the mosquitoes that transmit the virus. The health department followed the city’s integrated pest management (IPM) procedures to respond to the threat with the lowest possible risk to residents. After a public hearing process, the department had treated for mosquitoes 14% of the area of Newton containing an elevated mosquito population and virus-infected birds. A West Nile virus prevention plan for summer of 2001 calls for a large public education campaign to eliminate mosquito-breeding sites. The City also will treat 13,000 catch basins with a mosquito larva-killing agent called Vectolex, which is the most environmentally friendly substance available.

 

Eighty percent of the health department’s resources are used to provide school health services to the Newton Public Schools. In FY01, an MIS system that was funded by an Enhanced School Health Services grant from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health was instituted in all 21 public schools. The new MIS system tracked 115,450 visits to health rooms. This grant was expanded during the school year to include 15 non-public schools. The grant also enabled the department to upgrade the capital equipment of both public and non-public schools. The grant also funded an additional school nurse during the 2001 School Year along with a consultant to the non-public schools.

 

Grant funds are being used to purchase automatic external defibrillators (AED) for the two high schools. The Massachusetts Division of the American Heart Association is working with the Newton Health Department to implement this model program. AEDs automatically detect and respond to cardiac arrest. A related training program for physical education teachers and school nurses will be undertaken in the upcoming school year.

 

The Health Department enforces a number of state sanitary and environmental codes. The state extensively expanded the code governing food service establishments. This new code, governing restaurants, markets, mobile vendors, and institutional kitchens, requires in-depth field inspections as well as increased education. The new code mandates that all establishments train their staff before October 2001. In order to facilitate meeting this provision, the department is working with Brookline and Watertown Health Departments in a cooperative training venture.

 

The state also revised its regulations governing bathing beaches, such as Crystal Lake. The Health Department inspects the lake and samples for bacteria throughout the bathing season. A court finding this year overturned a ban on tattooing in Massachusetts. The department adopted a set of model regulations for body art, which includes tattooing, body piercing, branding, and scarring. In addition, the department will be revising its body massage regulations in the upcoming fiscal year.

 

The department has assisted with assessing and resolving indoor air quality problems in eight city buildings. There are issues of mold, odors, lead, and asbestos that must be corrected. Environmental health staff is working with the Newton Public School and Public Building Departments in the renovation of the two high schools to prevent any environmental or safety problems from arising.

 

The department is supporting the Tufts University School of Medicine’s Children’s Summer Health Study. Tufts researchers are looking at the causes of summer infections in children. The information from this study will guide public health programs in preventing diseases associated with summertime activities.

 

The Newton Health Advisory Council, the official advisory body to the health department, has reviewed school health services, nutrition programs in the Newton Public Schools, adolescent work accidents, and West Nile virus prevention and control.

 

Challenges Ahead

 

Local public health programs need to address new issues as well as long-standing concerns. Some examples of public health problems that persist include rabies, communicable diseases, food borne diseases, substance abuse, lead paint and asbestos in housing, and tobacco use. New challenges include West Nile virus and other emerging diseases, bio-terrorism, flu vaccine shortages, and indoor air quality issues. The department’s school health program continues to be challenged by the number of children with special medical needs. The school nurses have seen a continued increase in cases of asthma, allergies, and diabetes. The national nursing shortage will require innovative recruiting efforts. The department will continue to expand its use information technology in school and public health. More data sources are readily available to enable the department to assess community needs and work to meet them. There also is a concern about confidentiality and security as more information goes on-line.

 

In the upcoming year, the department will review the tobacco-related ordinances and identify areas where updates may be needed. Newton has been a leader in protecting its residents and visitors from the hazards of environmental tobacco smoke and from sales to minors. New health data and legal findings need to be applied to our ordinances.

 

The continuing challenge to the Newton Health Department is meeting the growing expectations placed on the local public health infrastructure. New environmental health regulations and an increase in the number of regulated facilities strain the department’s resources. The field of "public health" expands continually, creating expectations from local public health departments.

 

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