By Allan Jamail
Galena Park, TX. – Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at the Alvin Baggett Community Center the City of Galena Park joined forces with the Harris County Public Health Department to help families with Hurricane Harvey recovery.
Mayor Esmeralda Moya invited the county’s public health department to the city to educate the citizens on ways to stay healthy from the many health hazards associated with the aftermath of the hurricane.
The health professional educators brought mobile modules each self-contained with a specific health issue needing to be addressed. These educators presented the best ways to prevent sicknesses and diseases normally associated with flooding rains.
Citizens were given Tetanus and Flu immunizations, wellness screenings, canned food samples, cleaning supplies, bottled water, dental/oral health supplies and mosquito spray. Educational literature and verbal instructions presented were mosquito control, food and water safety, nutrition and physical needs, youth dental health issues.
Harris County’s most innovative, out of the box unit is their Virtual Response Unit, which has a dual purpose. During a disaster it’ll serve as generator powered, mobile command center. Secondly, the vast majority of the time it will be a virtual reality community engagement tool to motivate people to be more physically and mentally active.
WIC benefits were provided for those who qualified. WIC is a federally funded public health nutrition program. Parents who want to check to see if they qualify for WIC benefits can call: (713) 407-5800.
Harris County’s public health resources can be obtained at, www.hcphtx.org. The US Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and prevention can be obtained at: www.cdc.gov.