3 weeks Ago By Elliott Greene
Harris County Public Health has released its annual report, and if public health tickles your curiosity, it's an insightful look at how the county navigates a myriad of health hurdles. The report, which details Harris County's efforts over the past year to promote wellbeing among its residents, can be found, in full detail, at the Harris County Public Health's official website. The document highlights significant expansions in their health initiatives and programs, all aimed at creating a healthier, safer living environment.
Interim Executive Director Leah Barton expressed pride in the department's performance. "This annual report describes the breadth and the impact of our service to the people of Harris County," she said. Harris County was, not surprisingly, busy with emergencies last year, rolling to quickly respond to 22 of them, including severe weather events like floods, the May 16 derecho, and Hurricane Beryl.
Not to mention the 19 chemical incidents they tackled head-on, as reported by the Harris County Public Health.They’ve been hard at work with community health programs. They held health education workshops for nearly 62,961 people, covering topics like asthma and quitting tobacco.
They also took care of animals—last year, the Veterinary Public Health team performed 5,680 spay/neuter surgeries to help control the pet population, according to the Harris County Public Health.Amidst these endeavors, the department also celebrated the Holistic Assistance Response Teams (HART), marking its second year in the trenches. The program, along with hospital-based violence intervention teams, provided crucial support to 190 survivors of gun violence.
In the quest to improve the detection of insect-borne diseases, the Mosquito and Vector Control division introduced qPCR testing which can significantly up to better identify serious threats like West Nile virus and Zika, as per the Harris County Public Health.The annual report isn't just about last year, though. It's a standpoint to view future goals from, giving the public a transparent overview of where the department's headed.
Critical to these efforts are the partnerships and support from the community and the Harris County Commissioners Court. The Harris County Public Health's drive to implement evidence-based solutions and innovate public health strategies is evident throughout the report..
