Met with health department staff, community partners
(GREENSBURG, Ind.) – Indiana State Health Commissioner Dr. Lindsay Weaver stopped by the Decatur County Health Department on Friday.
The visit was part of a statewide tour where she is meeting with every health department in Indiana.
Staff members of the Decatur County Health Department were joined by several organizations who partner with them in the community.
Some of those organizations included Decatur County Memorial Hospital, Decatur County Court Services, Decatur County Chamber of Commerce, Decatur County Purdue Extension Office, Noles Family Dental, Greensburg Public Library and others.
Dr. Weaver was impressed by the number of local partners that took time to attend the meeting.
“You should be very proud of yourselves and the work you are doing here. From the Chamber of Commerce recognizing public health is good for the economy, to the library, to dentists and court services, this is truly remarkable,” Dr. Weaver said.
She also noted how the needs of one county can differ from another. The state agency provides data back to local health departments, so they can utilize funding to best serve their community.
Some conversation topics included Decatur County’s higher than state average rates when it comes to Infant Mortality Rate and Smoking Rate During Pregnancy.
Data from Heath First Indiana shows that Decatur County has twice the statewide rate when it comes to smoking among expecting mothers.
Decatur County Health Department Executive Director Sean Durbin says he and his staff were honored to host Dr. Weaver, while being able to promote the programs the health department has implemented.
“We do a tremendous amount of things in our community that help the entire health of our community,” Durbin said. “It is incredible that we have these funds that we’re able to use that will increase the health of our community, as well as the economics of the community.”
Durbin also credited his staff for making their programs possible and you can learn about the health department’s initiatives by clicking here.
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