- Written by Jennifer King, District Public Information Officer and Risk Communicator
- Category: Media Releases
Free and confidential Rapid HIV Testing is now available at the Cherokee County Health Department health centers in Canton and Woodstock. Testing is conducted on the second Tuesday of each month at the Woodstock Health Center at 7545 North Main Street and on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the Canton Health Center at 1219 Univeter Road. Testing times at both locations are from 10 AM to 3 PM. Free prevention supplies are also available. The CDC recommends that everyone between ages 13 and 64 be tested for HIV at least once in their lifetime, and those at increased risk – such as gay and bisexual men, injection drug users, or persons with multiple sexual partners – should be tested at least annually. For more information, call the Woodstock Health Center at 770-928-0133 or the Canton Health Center at 770-345-7371.
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- Written by Jennifer King, Public Information Officer and Risk Communicator
- Category: Media Releases
Dalton (GA) – Just as October is a month that signals the beginning of fall in North Georgia, it is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month – and once again this year, public health departments in the North Georgia Health District have spent October placing special emphasis on the early detection and prevention of breast cancer.
Throughout the year, health departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield Counties provide breast exams, breast self-exam instruction and counseling, and mammogram referrals. During October, Murray County Health Department successfully petitioned Chatsworth Mayor Dan Penland to proclaim October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Chatsworth, and health departments in Cherokee, Gilmer and Whitfield Counties wore pink as a reminder that breast cancer awareness saves lives.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one in eight women in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of their lifetime. In the U.S. in 2010 – the most recent year numbers are available – nearly 207,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer and almost 41,000 died from the disease.
Excluding some types of skin cancer, the CDC says that breast cancer is the most common cancer in U.S. women, regardless of race or ethnicity.
Men are not immune to breast cancer, although it is less common. For every 100 cases of breast cancer, less than 1 is in men. However, both men and women should adhere to self-exams and regular physical check-ups. When breast cancer is found early, many people go on to live long and healthy lives.
For more information about breast cancer and its prevention, call the nearest county health department (find phone numbers by clicking on the LOCATIONS tab above) or log onto the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast.
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- Written by Jennifer King, District Public Information Officer and Risk Communicator
- Category: Media Releases
Chatsworth, GA - Chatsworth Mayor Dan Penland has officially proclaimed October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Chatsworth. Murray County Health Department is participating in National Breast Cancer Awareness Month by highlighting the event through the mayoral proclamation and by providing breast cancer awareness and prevention information at the health department, including:
- About 1 in 8 women born today in the United States will get breast cancer at some point during her life, but many women can survive breast cancer if it’s found and treated early.
- Women ages 40 to 49 should talk with their doctor about when to start getting mammograms.
- Women ages 50 to 74 need mammograms every 2 years.
- Talk to a doctor about your risk for breast cancer, especially if a close family member has had breast or ovarian cancer.
For more information about breast cancer and its prevention, call the Murray County Health Department at 706-695-4585 or visit them at 709 Old Dalton-Ellijay Road in Chatsworth. Information is also available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website at www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast.
- Hits: 4406
- Written by Jennifer King, District Public Information Officer and Risk Communicator
- Category: Media Releases
Dalton, GA - Drive-By Flu Shot Clinics led by the six county health departments in the North Georgia Health District are now completed, and as a result, more than 1600 North Georgians are better prepared to face the flu season.
Gilmer County Health Department culminated the series of drive-by flu shot clinics on Thursday, October 3 in Ellijay, when 138 residents were vaccinated.
Previous drive-by flu shot clinics were most recently held by Cherokee County Health Department on October 1, in which 234 shots were provided, and by Fannin County Health Department, which administered 178 vaccinations on September 23.
Earlier, district health departments in Murray, Pickens and Whitfield Counties provided a total of 1107 flu vaccinations at drive-by flu shot clinics that they each conducted in September.
In addition to providing flu shots quickly, safely and conveniently at the drive-by flu shot clinics, North Georgia Health District county health departments and community partners, including EMA, fire and law enforcement agencies, utilized this as an opportunity to exercise well-prepared plans to rapidly mass dispense medications in times of public health crisis, such as widespread disease outbreaks.
Flu vaccine is available at North Georgia Health District county health departments while doses last. The cost of the regular seasonal flu vaccine through the public health departments is $22 and the high dose vaccine for people ages 65 and older is $50. Cash, checks, Medicare, Medicaid and Aetna, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, State Cigna and State United Healthcare Insurance will be accepted.
Arm yourself against the flu this season by getting your flu shot right away and by also avoiding people who are sick, by washing your hands often with soap and water, by not touching your eyes, nose or mouth with your hands and by disinfecting surfaces and objects that could be contaminated with germs like the flu.
For more information about influenza and how to avoid it, please contact your local health department (please click on above Locations tab) or log onto www.cdc.gov/flu.
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In above photo: Barbara Ann Burgess of Ellijay smiles after receiving a flu shot from Leigh Ann Dover, RN, at Gilmer County Health Dept's Drive-By Flu Shot Clinic
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