April is Public Health Month.  Guilford County Department of Public Health services and programs affect the public’s health (that means you and your family, even your pet) each and every day. 

The Guilford County Department of Public Health was established in May, 1911.  It was the first public health department in North Carolina and employed one person, Dr. George Floyd Ross.  Through the years, the health issues tackled by public health have changed and grown.  But our vision remains:  Healthy people living in a healthy community. 

During the month of April, the Department of Health will be providing a number of special programs, in addition to its standard services. “We are pleased to be able to provide such a vast array of special activities for Public Health Month. I encourage residents to take advantage of these activities,” states Merle Green, Health Director.

April 1 - Free health screenings and education event, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., 501 East Green Drive, High Point.  Screenings:  blood pressure, diabetes & cholesterol (non-fasting, finger stick), HIV, syphilis and for men, ages 40 and older the Prostate Cancer (PSA) blood test (one blood draw for all 3 of these tests).

April 4 – Great American Clean Up and Get Healthy Guilford physical activity opportunity,
2 to 3 p.m., High Point and Greensboro.

April 9- HIV testing and educational event.  Free, open to the public; no appt is needed. A&T’s Dudley building and Harrison Auditorium. Testing is11am-6pm, with a panel discussion from 6-8pm. Black Entertainment Television (BET), NC A & T, Bennett College for Women, Guilford County Department of Public Health and Moses Cone Health System are sponsors.

April 9 - Free health screenings and education event, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Center of Hope, Salvation Army, Greensboro.  Screenings:  blood pressure, diabetes & cholesterol (non-fasting, finger stick), HIV, Syphilis and for men, ages 40 and older the Prostate Cancer (PSA) blood test (one blood draw for all 3 of these tests).

April 10 – First Data Use Institute training, “Using GIS (geographic information system) for Public Health Analysis and Planning.”  The Data Use Institute is a project of Guilford County Healthy Carolinians. The Data Use Institute is designed to build capacity among health-focused agencies in the county so that the county is better able to carry out the Healthy Carolinians activities: data collection, assessment, collaborative planning, and evaluating results. The Data Use Institute is funded by grants from the NC Office of Healthy Carolinians and the Kate B. Reynolds Foundation.

Guilford County Healthy Carolinians periodically assesses the health of the community and then develops a community action plan to address issues identified in the assessment, with the ultimate goal being to achieve—at the county and state levels—the health objectives set by the state, which are called the Healthy Carolinians 2010 Objectives. The Institute is by invitation only.

April 12- Low cost rabies vaccination clinic, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, 2332 New Garden Road, Greensboro.  Parking will be located in the visitor’s lot on Old Battleground Road. Cost is $5.00 per shot; shot lasts one year. Pets must be 4 months of age and older.
April 21 –Fundraiser for our Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (BCCCP), 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Artiste Hair and Nail Design Company, behind the Pizza Hut on Guilford College Road, Greensboro.  Walk in for a wet cut and blow dry for $25 or a basic manicure for $15.  All proceeds go to help provide screening exams for eligible women.

April 24 – “The Physical and Emotional Effects of Gang and Youth Violence,” Greensboro Medical Society Second Annual Community Lecture, co-sponsored by the Guilford County Department of Public Health and the Guilford County Association of Black Lawyers.  The event will be held from 5:45 to 7:30 p.m. at Providence Baptist Church, 1106 Tuscaloosa Street, Greensboro.  It is free and open to the public.  A sandwich supper and childcare for children ages 4 and older will be provided.
April 24- Low cost rabies vaccination clinic, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., WGHP FOX 8 studio, 2005 Francis Street, High Point. Cost is $5.00 per shot; shot lasts one year. Pets must be 4 months of age and older.
For more information about these events and other services, call 641-7777 or visit the website at www.guilfordhealth.org

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