Lanman addresses BOCC of changes

POMEROY-The first order of business at the regular Garfield County Commissioners’ (BOCC) meeting Jan. 27, Commissioner Justin Dixon was re-elected as the chairman of the GCHD board.

The Garfield County Health District (GCHD) Administrator Martha Lanman, addressed the BOCC that the Southeast Washington Accountable Communities of Health (SEWA ACH) had met and elected two representatives from each county included in the association, Asotin, Garfield, and Columbia counties. Lanman will serve as a board member and administrator. The SEWA ACH has been recently formed for the purpose of creating a fiscal partnership for grant applications to benefit all three counties.

The Foundational Public Health Services, Lanman reported, have made a motion at the state level to allow the establishment of a “command center” of sorts in more rural areas to assist the public in times of communicable disease outbreaks, such as the Coronavirus. This would allow better communication and provide needed resources in times of emergency.

For Environmental Health Services, the health district is working on a contract with Asotin County for solid waste services, for the remainder of 2020. They will use this time to see how the contract works, and possibly add food services, such as health department inspections. They have been looking to arrange these services since last fall when the contract with Whitman County ended.

The GCHD is planning another Community Walk for this spring, which proved to be a popular activity last year. At present, the walk is planned for May 19, 2020, on the high school track at Lybecker Field beginning at 5:30 p.m. This year, there will be two walks, one shorter in length, and one longer. The Garfield County Hospital is planning to once again host a barbecue at the end of the walk. Garfield County Transportation will be providing rides back to Lybecker Field for those who so choose.

Laura Dixon went to Spokane for car seat training and recertification, where she received some new car seats and booster seats, and learned about concerns with the use of car seats in motor homes.

Lanman attended a Health Resources and Services Administration training session that focused on rural health services and the inclusion of telehealth services. It has become more evident how important having broadband internet access is to keeping current with needed health services in rural areas.

Dental education programs will be in March with two classrooms at the elementary school. Heart Health will be a topic at the February 14, 2020, staff development day at the school. The health district will provide free blood pressure checks. Elizabeth Stringer, Health District and School Nurse, will teach nutrition to the second grade classes through March. “Sport” wellness classes for athletes will also be taught by Jessica Nelson on February 19, 2020, from 5:30–7 p.m. Nelson will repeat the class with the softball team in March. The wellness class will include information regarding smoking as well.

Nelson also conducted a survey with food bank recipients, which resulted in a concern about the freshness of fruit items. The health district is looking for solutions to keep the fruit fresh for longer periods. About 40 people participated in the survey.

The next meeting of the Garfield County Health District will be held February 24, 2020, with the County Commissioners in the board room of the Garfield County Courthouse, as part of the regular Monday morning agenda.