WESTFIELD WEEKLY PUBLIC HEALTH BULLETIN

JUANITA CARNES,
President, Westfield Board of Health

By Juanita Carnes FNP, President of the Board of Health

Today’s article is for Joe, Deb, Evelyn, Thomas, Steve, Cheryl, Crystal and Kathi from Juanita. Massachusetts continues to dominate the country with increasing vaccination rates and decreasing COVID cases and deaths. The invisible heroes, directors of the public health department and their staff are helping guide Commonwealth citizens out of the pandemic. There are many heroes of this pandemic but today I would like to take the opportunity given to me by Westfield News to pay tribute to the City of Westfield Health Department. I have been on the Board of Health for 26 years. I have never been so proud of how this ministry has come together and faced the seemingly insurmountable task of trying to keep the citizens of this community alive and well.

Public health services are the least political of all municipal services. We are mandated by state directives to protect public health. In simplistic terms, we are supposed to focus on what is best for public health. History has shown that these decisions are not always popular with other city governments, businesses and individuals in the community. Our state-enacted role allows us to make many decisions without input, vote or approval from city council and the mayor. We are often unfairly perceived as not caring about city businesses when making evidence-based decisions to improve public health. Municipal public health services were created in the 19th century to improve sanitation conditions and reduce mortality from infectious diseases. Every population since then has faced health challenges. Public health is involved in monitoring the causes and consequences of diseases to develop and coordinate collaborative solutions to public health problems. One of the essential functions is to inform, educate and empower the public. In recent years, the need for public health has grown and become more complex. Yet federal, state, and local investments have declined, forcing health departments to sort out a community’s health needs. COVID-19 has exposed these problems and created a heavier burden. Ministries did not have the capacity to perform other public health tasks. They had to rise to the challenge of being on the front line to control the spread and set up emergency operations. They faced a new challenge of politicizing this pandemic, mistrust and criticism of public health and science, inconsistencies in national guidelines, a phased spread of the virus, obstacles to information exchange and unprecedented public fear, anger and frustration. More than two hundred public health officials have left their jobs because of the pandemic. Social media has played a huge role in the harassment of public health officials. Some leaders have received death threats. Demonstrations took place at the homes of public health officials. A statement from the National Academy of Medicine reads: “COVID-19 is a stark reminder of the enormous social value of robust public health systems and the heartbreaking consequences when those capacities are allowed to wither away.

Here in our hometown, on the second floor of City Hall, our Health Department Director Joe Rouse led his team through the pandemic day after day beyond the usual 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, while the rest of the town hall employees were required to stay at home. Daily they gathered the most recent information and updates providing advice and regulations for the city. Maintaining almost daily contact with the state’s public health department, Joe ensured accurate and up-to-date actions were in place. The team coordinated with emergency management and worked closely with other essential services. Nursing has focused on tracking positive cases and quarantining those directly exposed, an overwhelming task. At the start of the epidemic, inspectors hand-delivered quarantine notices. Local catering establishments have been helped to cope with and adapt to COVID regulations. All hands on deck, and more, were focused on pandemic work. This included many new and changing responsibilities requiring the ability to step outside of their normal roles. School nurses joined in to help. Sadly, our ministry has received more than its fair share of criticism and lack of support from many in our community. We cannot measure the emotional burden of this group of dedicated and caring professionals who work tirelessly for the health of our community.

Personally and professionally, I express my deep gratitude to these amazing people. I am thankful that the stress of this pandemic did not drive them away. Hopefully this community realizes how much each of them is an asset individually and as a team. Please take a few minutes of your time to reach out and express your appreciation for their dedication to our community and your health during the pandemic and every day.

The dedicated members of the health service who have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic are: Debra Mulvenna RN, Deputy Director Evelyn Bristol RN, Steve Cipriani, Health Inspector Thomas Hibert, Health Inspector Cheryl McMordie, Office Manager Crystal Dugay, Kathi Cotugno, CORE Coordinator Other Board Members: Margaret Doody, Stan Strzempko MD.

WE CONTINUE TO WORK TO KEEP YOU SAFE

Wear your mask when appropriate or requested. Wash your hands. Keep your distance. Avoid large gatherings. Save lives. Find us in next Saturday’s edition.