- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
January is Cervical Health Awareness Month, and the North Georgia Health District, including your county health department in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens or Whitfield County, wants you to know that there’s a lot you can do to prevent cervical cancer. Each year, more than 11,000 women in the United States get cervical cancer.
HPV (human papillomavirus) is a very common infection that spreads through sexual activity, and it causes almost all cases of cervical cancer. About 79 million Americans currently have HPV, but many people with HPV don’t know they are infected.
The good news?
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- The HPV vaccine (shot) can prevent HPV.
- Cervical cancer can often be prevented with regular screening tests and follow-up care.
In honor of National Cervical Health Awareness Month, the North Georgia Health District encourages:
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- Women to start getting regular cervical cancer screenings at age 21
- Parents to make sure pre-teens get the HPV vaccine at age 11 or 12
Teens and young adults also need to get the HPV vaccine if they didn’t get it as pre-teens. Women up to age 26 and men up to age 21 can still get the vaccine.
Thanks to the health care reform law, you and your family members may be able to get these services at no cost to you. Check with your insurance company to learn more.
Taking small steps can help keep you safe and healthy. Click above on the name of your county health department and connect today to arrange for your cervical cancer screening and/or to get the HPC vaccine for your pre-teen!
For more information about Cervical Cancer Screening from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), please go to What Should I Know About Screening?
- Hits: 2680
- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
From the Northwest Georgia Breastfeeding Coalition:
Due to restrictions on large gatherings as urged by the CDC to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the decision has been made to change the date of the Northwest Georgia Breastfeeding Coalition’s 15th Annual Conference to Wednesday, August 26, 2020. The speaker, venue, and CERPs will remain the same.
If you are able to attend and have a confirmed registration, you do not need to do anything else. If you are unable to attend at the new time, two options are available:
- You may request a full refund. The deadline to request a refund is April 30, 2020. If you paid by PayPal or personal check, your refund will be issued the same way. If your employer paid, they must request the refund. They may also send a substitution in your place for no additional fee.
- You may request your payment be used to fully pay for our March 31, 2021 conference. The speaker will be Dr. Jen Thomas: http://www.drjen4kids.com.
Let us know if you need to make changes to your registration as soon as reasonably possible, and we will work to accommodate all reasonable requests.Communicate all requests to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please accept our sincere apologies for any inconvenience as we all work toward creating a healthier world for all families.
All the best, Your Northwest Georgia Breastfeeding Coalition Conference Team
Presents the 15th Annual Breastfeeding Conference!
The date has been postponed from March 25, 2020 to
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
20/20 Vision: The Dynamics of Breastfeeding
with Melissa Cole MS, IBCLC, RLC
Conference Speaker Information
Early registration before August 1st: $115
Late registration August 1st to August 14th: $135
Online Registration ONLY
6.5 contact hours, CPEUs and CERPS applied for.
Location: Dalton Convention Center 2211 Dug Gap Battle Road, Dalton, GA 30720
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
- Hits: 4970
- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
North GA - Is your school-aged child vaccinated against the flu?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), influenza transmission is now widespread in Georgia. While anyone is susceptible to the flu virus, it is especially easy for flu to spread among school children, and children are more susceptible to getting infected and becoming seriously ill with flu.
The best way to prevent flu is with a flu vaccine. Flu vaccine offers children the best defense against flu and its potentially serious consequences. It can also reduce the spread of flu to others. Getting vaccinated has been shown to reduce flu illnesses, doctor’s visits and missed school days.
Most importantly, flu vaccine significantly reduces a child's risk of severe influenza and death. The CDC reported 143 influenza-associated deaths among U.S. children occurred during the 2018-2019 flu season. During the 2017-18 season, an estimated 80 percent of the 187 children in the U.S. who died from flu-associated complications had not been vaccinated against influenza.
The CDC recommendation is that everyone 6 months of age and older get a seasonal flu vaccine each year by the end of October. However, as long as flu viruses are circulating, vaccination should continue throughout flu season, even in January or later. Keep in mind that vaccination is especially important for certain people who are high risk or who are in close contact with high risk persons. This includes children at high risk of developing complications from flu illness, and adults who are close contacts of those children. Click here to see who is at high risk.
The types of flu vaccines for children are:
- Injectable influenza vaccine (IIV) is given as an injection (with a needle) and is approved for use in people 6 months and older.
- Live inactivated influenza vaccine (LAIV) is given as a nasal spray and is approved for use in people 2 through 49 years old. However, there is a precaution against the use of nasal spray flu vaccine (LAIV) in people with certain underlying medical conditions. More information about the nasal spray flu vaccine can be found here.
Flu vaccine is available at many healthcare offices and at all county health departments in the North Georgia Health District, which includes Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield counties. To contact the nearest county health department in North Georgia, log onto www.nghd.org and click the LOCATIONS tab.
Don’t wait, vaccinate! Arm your child against the flu right away. For more information about influenza, flu symptoms and prevention of the spread of flu among children, log onto the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/children and also view the CDC’s The Flu – A Guide for Parents in English or in Spanish.
- Hits: 3450
- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
The Living Bridge Center South in Canton
Canton, GA - The North Georgia Health District is proud to announce that our newest full-service HIV medical clinic is now celebrating a successful first year since opening last December. To date, The Living Bridge Center South in Canton has increased its overall HIV patient population by 30 percent, with roughly 80 new patients establishing services in the clinic.
In addition to increasing care and services for the general HIV population in the North Georgia Health District, comprised of Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield counties, The Living Bridge Center South has also opened a PrEP clinic, the clinic that can prevent people from being infected with HIV. Over 13 people have enrolled in the Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) clinic in Canton. In the PrEP clinic, patients can get a pill for no cost/low cost that if taken daily, can stop them from getting HIV, the virus that can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
The clinic staff in Canton has also been busy opening an STD clinic, which offers no cost/low cost exams and treatment of most major sexually transmitted diseases.
The Living Bridge Center South is the second HIV clinic to open in the North Georgia Health District, with the first established in Dalton. Both clinics offer full-service
HIV care and treatment, HIV and STD testing, a PrEP clinic, and education and support to help people remain negative.
The clinics are accepting new patients and scheduling appointments.
The Living Bridge Center South is located at 130 Riverstone Terrace, Suite 102, Canton, Georgia 30114, and the phone number is (470) 863-5700.
The Living Bridge Center in Dalton is at 1200 W. Waugh Street, Dalton, Georgia 30720. The phone number is (706) 281-2360.
Go to bit.ly/HIV-Clinics-In-North-GA for more information about the HIV Prevention Program in the North Georgia Health District and all services provided.
The Living Bridge Center in Dalton
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