RECENT NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Kimbilee Jonas (right) of White's Pediatrics in Dalton discusses the benefits of healthy food choices with young Diego Hurtado at the Food Day Celebration held in Dalton on Wednesday“The reason we became involved in Food Day is because we began to realize that parents of many of the obese children coming into our clinic wanted to make the needed lifestyle changes but didn’t know how,” said Kimbilee Jonas, Community Outreach Coordinator for White’s Pediatrics. “So, by working with the children to make healthier food choices, we're helping the whole family adopt the right tools for healthy lifestyle changes.”
The theme seen throughout the local Food Day event was the positive effects of community collaboration in encouraging easy access to locally produced healthy and affordable foods.
For example, as part of Wednesday's Food Day activities, locally produced, low-cost fruits and vegetables were available at the farmers market held inside the community center pavilion.
“Food Day is about embracing the concept of real food,” North Georgia WIC Program Manager Karen Rutledge said. “And, as a society, we need to look more toward consuming foods that are right here in our own back yards.”
Paulette White of Dalton is a breast cancer survivor due to early detectionBut it did happen.
And now, Paulette is a breast cancer survivor because she maintained regular check-ups.
Paulette was faithful to get yearly health screenings, including mammograms, despite her lack of health insurance. Working for a small Dalton-based company, Paulette doesn't have access to affordable health insurance. Yet, not to be deterred from seeking basic healthcare, Paulette gets physicals each year at the Whitfield County Health Department's Medical Access Clinic (MAC).*
It was there during her physical last October that the abnormality was detected.
"The MAC nurse felt a very small knot," said Paulette, "so small, it's no wonder I didn't notice it myself when doing my monthly self breast exams."
Beth Spivey, RN, BSN of the Whitfield County Health Department's Medical Access Clinic and breast cancer survivor Paulette White discuss monthly self breast exams. "Ms. White's breast cancer was detected early," said Spivey, "The chance of a woman having breast cancer sometime during her life is one in eight and early detection is key in the treatment of it."MAC staff assisted Paulette in getting a mammogram and diagnostic evaluation through the Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (BCCP).**When it was confirmed she had cancer and she needed surgery, the staff helped her apply for assistance through the Women's Health Medicaid Program.***
"I was reeling from the shock of being diagnosed with breast cancer and wondering 'What do I do next?'," Paulette recalled. "But the health department staff was there for me, connecting me to resources I needed."
Now, she feels like her old self again.
"I never thought I would get cancer," said Paulette, "but, because I didn't let circumstances keep me from getting yearly check-ups and from seeking help when breast cancer was detected, I'm here to enjoy life with my grandchildren."
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*Whitfield County Health Department's Medical Access Clinic (MAC) - http://nghd.org/Whitfield-County-Health- Department/macservices.html
**Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (BCCP) - http://health.state.ga.us/programs/bccp/index.asp
***Women's Health Medicaid Program - http://health.state.ga.us/programs/womensmedicaid/index.asp
Gilmer County Environmental Manager Andrea Martin reported that the attack occurred on October 9, 2012 at the pet owner's home on John Call Road in Ellijay.
"The owner intervened in the attack and came in contact with the raccoon's saliva through a skin abrasion on her hand," said Martin. "Since then, the raccoon has tested positive for rabies, so, the owner of the dog is receiving post-exposure rabies treatment."
Because the Chihuahua was "slightly overdue" for its annual rabies vaccination at the time of
the attack, Martin required that the dog be given a rabies booster vaccination and quarantined for six months.Rabies that goes untreated is fatal almost 100 percent of the time.
Health officials urge residents to maintain current rabies vaccinations in their pets, not only for the pets' protection, but to also protect themselves and their families.
"If our pets are not properly vaccinated and are exposed to rabies, then we are next in line for exposure," said Martin, "We must keep those rabies vaccinations current each year."
Another important step in the prevention of rabies exposure is to avoid contact with all unfamiliar animals, both domestic and wild.
For more information about rabies, please contact Gilmer County Environmental Health at (706) 635-6050 or log onto the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at www.cdc.gov.
Registering participants for SHOPPING MATTERS Tours!
Canton (GA) - Buying affordable, yet nutritious food can be a real challenge to anyone, especially for families on a budget.
Shopping Matters is a new program in Cherokee County that teaches registered shoppers how to buy nutritional food on a budget and is locally sponsored by North Georgia WIC.
Participants will be taken on a free grocery store tour by a local, trained facilitator who will empower them with knowledge about how to shop for and prepare healthy meals. They will then be given a guidebook that includes tasty, simple recipes and information provided during the tour.
Two Shopping Matters Tour dates are currently scheduled in Cherokee County:
Hadley Standring conducts Shopping Matters Tour training at Canton KrogerThursday, October 25, 2012 at 9 A.M.
Canton Kroger
4045 Marietta Hwy., Canton, GA 30114
Tuesday, October 30, 2012 at 1 p.m.
Woodstock Kroger
5339 Old Hwy. 5, Woodstock, GA 30188
For more details about these free Shopping Matters Tours and to register for one of the scheduled tour dates, call the local WIC office at 1 (866) 942-9675.
Shopping Matters is a branch of Cooking Matters, which is part of the national organization Share Our Strength. Learning to fully utilize WIC and the SNAP program to purchase healthy, easy to cook meals is a key ingredient of the program.
Learn more about Shopping Matters and Cooking Matters at Share Our Strength's website: www.nokidhungry.org.
Health Departments in North Georgia Health District focus on Breast Cancer Awareness
Dalton (GA) - According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, other than skin cancer. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer.
Fannin County Health Department staff wear Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness
The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer some time during her life is almost 1 in 8. The chance of dying from breast cancer is about 1 in 36.
The good news is that breast cancer death rates have been going down. According to ACS officials, this is probably the result of finding the cancer earlier and better treatment. Right now there are more than 2½ million breast cancer survivors in the United States.
In observance of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, officials of the North Georgia Health District based in Dalton and health departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield Counties are reminding the public that early detection is key in the treatment of breast cancer.
The following breast cancer awareness activities are being held by the county health departments:
Cherokee County: On Tuesday, October 23, from 11:30 A.M. to 1 P.M., a Cherokee County Breast Cancer Awareness event will be held in the picnic area of the Woodstock Health Center at 7545 N. 
Gilmer County Health Department staff wear Pink Ribbons for Breast Cancer AwarenessMain Street. The requested attire is pink. Activities will include recognition of two employee breast cancer survivors and a Zumba Fitness Demo. Call (770) 928-0133.
Fannin County: Health department staff is wearing pink in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and has a display in the health department lobby with a breast cancer awareness focus. Staff is working with their Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer Program patients. The Fannin County Health Department is located at 95 Ouida Street in Blue Ridge. Call (706) 632-3023.
Gilmer County: Health department staff is recognizing Breast Cancer Awareness Month by wearing pink and by providing information at the health department about breast cancer and early detection. The Gilmer County Health Department is located at 28 Southside Church Street in 
Chatsworth Mayor Dan Penland signs Breast Cancer Awareness Month Proclamation in the presence of Murray County Health Department Cathy Gray and Debbie ChesnuttEllijay and the phone number is (706) 635-4363.
Murray County: Chatsworth Mayor Dan Penland officially proclaimed October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Chatsworth, and on Tuesday, October 30, health department staff will wear pink and will provide free breast exams at the clinic. . . Walk-ins are Welcome! The Murray County Health Department is open from 7:30 A.M. until 7:00 P.M. on Tuesdays and is located at 709 Old Dalton-Ellijay Road in Chatsworth. Call (706) 695-4585.
Pickens County: Health department staff is wearing pink to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month and is providing breast cancer and early detection information at the health department. The Pickens County Health Department is located at 60 Health Way in Jasper and the phone number is
(706) 253-2821.
Whitfield County: Health department staff is wearing pink and is providing breast cancer awareness information at the Whitfield County Health Department at 800 Professional Boulevard in Dalton. They will also provide breast cancer awareness materials at their booth at the Georgia Department of Labor Job Readiness Kick Off on October 22, 23 and 24 from 1 to 8 P.M. at the Northwest Georgia Trade & Convention Center in Dalton. Call (706) 279-9600.
Chatsworth Mayor Don Penland and wife Barbara get flu shots from Julie Culpepper, RNChatsworth (GA) - Eighty people were added to the list of people protected against the flu today in Chatsworth as they drove by Murray County Health Department staff to receive their flu vaccinations. This was the second public health drive-by flu shot clinic held at the Murray County Recreation Center this year because the one conducted last month was forced indoors due to rain. Yet, despite those conditions, 135 residents still came for a flu shot.
"Now, with the 80 shots given today, a total of 215 residents have received flu vaccinations at our two drive-by flu shot clinics," said County Nurse Manager Debbie Chesnutt.
Chesnutt continues to urge residents to get a flu vaccination at the health department located at 709 Old Dalton-Ellijay Road in Chatsworth as soon as possible because the flu season has now begun.
Having the flu can lead to serious complications and death. The best protection against influenza is a flu shot.
The flu vaccine is $20 at the health department. They accept cash, checks, Medicare, Medicaid, State Cigna and State Healthcare Insurances.
THE FREE HIV TESTING AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER THIS MONTH WILL BE ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30TH.
BECAUSE ALL OF US MATTER, WE SHOULD UPDATE OUR HIV STATUS! ANYONE AT RISK FOR HIV, OR ANYONE WHO HAS THE DISEASE BUT DOESN'T KNOW IT, HAS POWERFUL REASONS FOR LEARNING THEIR HIV STATUS.
TAKE THE TEST, TAKE CONTROL!
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FREE HIV TESTING AT THE MACK GASTON COMMUNITY CENTER, LOCATED AT 214 FREDRICK STREET IN DALTON, CALL (706) 281-2360.
Winford Duckett of Jasper is vaccinated by Nancy Loyed at the Pickens County Health Department Drive-by Flu Shot Clinic“These folks are now better prepared to face the flu season,” Singleton said. "Not only did they protect themselves, but as each individual gets vaccinated against the flu, it builds a stronger wall of immunity that protects the whole community from influenza."Now that flu season has begun, Singleton is encouraging all residents to come to the health department at 60 Health Way in Jasper to get their flu vaccination without delay.
Having the flu can lead to serious complications and death. The best protection against influenza is a flu shot.
The regular seasonal flu vaccine is $20 and the high dose flu shot is $50. The health department is accepting cash, checks, Medicare, Medicaid, State Cigna and State Healthcare Insurances.
The flu vaccine is $20. The health department is accepting cash, checks, Medicare, State Cigna and State Healthcare Insurances.
Georgia State Patrol will provide child safety seat checks at the clinic, as well.
For more information, please contact the Murray County Health Department at (706) 695-4585.