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H1N1 brings health department to the forefront
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State of County Government

This is the fourth in a five-part look at Green County government departments based on each department head's annual report presented in July. The Veterans Service Office will be featured Saturday.

By Brian Gray

bgray@themonroetimes.com

MONROE - RoAnn Warden Green, Green County Health Department director, said her department's work is often behind the scenes in her annual report to the Green County Board of Supervisors in July.

However, in 2009, the outbreak of the H1N1 influenza brought the department to the forefront.

The department's job is to protect, promote and maintain the health of the county, Warden said.

"As a result, we were regularly seen conducting mass vaccination clinics in the schools and community," Warden said.

The health department hired six limited-term employees to assist with the 48 community and school vaccination clinics. During 2009, free vaccinations were given to 1,555 adults and 2,423 to children.

In 2009, there were about 40 cases of H1N1 influenza in Green County.

The department has a plan of action in the event of a health emergency, and when H1N1 was detected, the plan of action went into affect.

Warden said the plan includes an investigation to determine the risks to the public; informing the public about how to protect themselves; managing infected people; isolating or quarantining affected people; and providing medications and vaccinations.

"The public clearly heard and responded to our bullhorn on prevention and protection from the H1N1 virus," she said.

The health department also worked with the Fowler Memorial Free Dental Clinic board to help set up the Fowler Memorial Free Dental Clinic. The clinic opened in April to see children between the ages of 3 and 12 who had dental emergencies. The clinic served 242 children with oral health needs by the end of the year.