GNR Public Health, in partnership with Helping Mamas and Gwinnett County Public Schools Early Learning and School Readiness, is giving away nearly 1,000 boxes containing diapers and other essential baby items to families with newborns enrolling in the Women, Infants, and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program (WIC) . The boxes contain 175 size-one diapers, a case of baby wipes, a bib, and baby-related literature.

“It is one of the Health Department’s missions to care for people in our community health-wise, but this holiday, GNR Public Health wanted to do more for the families we serve,” said Dr. Audrey Arona, CEO and District Medical Director of GNR Public Health.

While the health department offers nutritional assistance to families through programs such as WIC and health-related support by providing reduced- and no-cost medical services, Arona realized an opportunity after meeting with Helping Mamas, a metro-Atlanta non-profit that provides diapers and other essential products to needy women. In September, Arona and health department leaders designated local funding and devised a plan to give diapers to families with newborns enrolling in the health department’s WIC program.

The health department purchased a truckload of diapers at a reduced cost through Helping Mamas. Gwinnett County Public Schools Early Learning and School Readiness were eager to participate, providing bibs and early learning literature focusing on their Building Babies’ Brains initiative. In December, GNR Public Health started distributing boxes to families enrolling newborns in WIC from their Buford, Lawrenceville, Norcross, Conyers, and Covington health centers.

“It is a blessing to help families with new babies this time of year,” said Arona. “Our strong partnerships with organizations like Helping Mamas and Gwinnett County Public Schools make projects like this possible. It is nice to collaborate with organizations who care about the families they serve.”

The health department has diaper gift boxes for qualifying WIC families while supplies last. Pregnant women, postpartum women, breastfeeding mothers, and families with children aged five and younger who want to find out if they qualify for WIC benefits should call 770-513-9738.

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Along with cooler weather and celebrations, the holiday season brings increases in the number of infections that occur from influenza (flu), COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and norovirus.

GNR Public Health wants you to remember these simple steps to help keep yourself and your loved ones healthy this season:

Ways to avoid getting sick

-Wash your hands often. Use soap and water and have hand sanitizer available, especially at gatherings.

Important! Hand sanitizer is ineffective against some germs, especially gastrointestinal illnesses like norovirus. Hand washing is preferred.

-Stay up to date on recommended vaccines.

Make an appointment to get all recommended vaccines, including seasonal ones such as influenza.

-Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

-Consider wearing a mask when traveling or in crowds.

When you’re sick

-Stay home and isolate away from others in your household when you’re sick.

Learn when to stay home from work or school.

-Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or use your inner elbow.

Wash your hands after coughing or sneezing.

-Do not cook or serve others when sick, especially when experiencing nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

-Seek testing through your healthcare provider or use at-home or community testing options to determine which illness you are experiencing.

-Test at home for COVID with reliable antigen test kits from the health department, pharmacies, or the federal government.

Get free COVID tests delivered.

Call to find out if free COVID test kits are available at our health centers.

-Self-test for flu or COVID at one of three convenient health department kiosks.

Flu and COVID testing kiosks are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week! Find a kiosk near you.

-Contact your medical provider to get tested for RSV and norovirus.

-Consult your healthcare provider right away if symptoms aren’t manageable or worsen.

GNR Public Health wishes you a healthy and happy holiday!

For additional information about staying healthy this time of year, visit CDC’s Take Steps to Help You Stay Healthy During the Holidays or This Holiday Season is a Great Time to Focus on Health.

Breastfeeding isn’t always easy. Many mothers struggle to achieve a good latch or worry about a low milk supply. These struggles can make it feel like they are completely alone. If this sounds like you, you could benefit from joining the WIC Buddy Program! 

In the WIC Buddy Program, you will be matched with another participating WIC mother whose baby’s due date (or birth date) is close to yours. In this exciting new relationship, you can provide and receive virtual or in-person support — listening, sharing experiences, encouraging each other, and celebrating milestones. Your buddy will be there to understand what you’re going through because she’s going through it, too!

Don’t go it alone. Find your buddy today!

Call 770.513.9738 to join the WIC Buddy Program or learn other ways WIC can support you while breastfeeding.

December 1 is World Aids Day

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that weakens a person’s immune system by destroying important cells that fight disease and infection. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS.

According to CDC, about 1 in 8 people are living with HIV in the U.S. but do not know they have it. On this World Aids Day, GNR Public Health urges everyone to make HIV testing a routine part of their healthcare.

The only way to learn if you have HIV is to get tested, and knowing your HIV status empowers you to make decisions to prevent getting or transmitting HIV. If your test is negative, but you are at a higher risk for acquiring HIV, you can start PrEP, a once-daily medication that can prevent you from acquiring HIV. The health department will link you to treatment if your test is positive. With proper medical care, HIV can be controlled. People with HIV who get effective HIV treatment can live long, healthy lives and protect their partners.

Do your part to help end the HIV epidemic. Request a free in-person or at-home HIV test, or schedule an appointment for an in-person test at one of our health centers. We can end the HIV epidemic using proven tools to help you know your status, get into treatment, and prevent HIV from the start.

HIV education, testing, prevention, and referrals to treatment are just a few ways GNR Public Health helps keep Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale Healthy. Protected. Prepared.

About World Aids Day

World Aids Day provides an opportunity to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness. The World Health Organization first celebrated World Aids Day on December 1, 1988.

Global HIV Epidemic Statistics

-Since the beginning of the epidemic, 85.6 million (65.0-113.0 million) people have been infected with HIV globally

-About 40.4 million (32.9-51.3 million) people have died of HIV globally

-Globally, an estimated 39 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2022

-630,000 died in 2022 of HIV-related causes

Source: https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/topics/indicator-groups/indicator-group-details/GHO/number-of-people-(all-ages)-living-with-hiv

Article Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/whatishiv.html

All GNR Public Health offices and health centers are closed for the state holiday from 12 p.m. on November 22, 2023, through November 24, 2023. Regular hours will resume on Monday, November 27, 2023.

Keep your hands, cooking area, and dishes clean! 

Use a thermometer to check temperatures!

Remember the two-hour rule!

Keep hot foods HOT and cold foods COLD!

Store and reheat leftovers properly!

Don’t forget! Stay home if you’re feeling sick to keep your loved ones healthy!

Do you have questions about this article?

We are here to help. Call 770-339-4260. Ask for the Epi on Call.