Cultural Competency Workshop

Sandhills District Health Dept and Clinic is sponsoring a Free Workshop at the Sandhills Wellness and Education Center 211 North Spruce on June 26th 8:30- 5:00 MDT for Cultural Competency.
Offering 7.5 CEU’s.
Please RSVP by June 25th to
Sandhills District Health Dept and Clinic
284-6054 or 877-284-6054

West Nile Virus

WNV Page at the CDC (Full of prevention tips)

WNV bird collection: The only birds that may be sumitted corvids (crows, blue jays, magpies) and raptors (eagles,hawks, owls) How to collect: Collect only if the bird is intact and fresh.
1. Put on a pair of gloves
2. Place dead bird in a zip-lock baggie
3. Date and location bird was found (write this down)
4. take bird to your local vets
Vets participating in our counties are:
Dr. Dave Baltzell -1710 West 4th(north side of sale barn) Ogallala, NE
Dr. Paul Foy Ogallala Animal Clinic 105 West O St. Ogallala, NE (east of sale barn)
Dr. Rod Petrie Thedford, NE
Dr. Clarence Labore Mullen, NE
Dr. Timm Knott Arthur, NE

Each county is only allowed to collect 2 birds to send to the state again this year.

SDHDC CHARITY FOUNDATION ACCEPTING DONATIONS FOR JERRY JESSEN MILK FUND

The Jerry Jessen milk fund helps provide milk to children in the Ogallala Public School system who are not able to otherwise afford milk. The cost to sponsor one child for a semester is $31, or $62 for a year.

The Jerry Jessen milk fund is currently accepting donations for the second semester. Please consider making a donation this holiday season.

Donations may be sent to:

Jerry Jessen Milk Fund
c/o SDHDC Charity Foundation
PO Box 784
Ogallala, NE 69153

NEW VACCINES AT SANDHILLS DISTRICT HEALTH DEPARTMENT & CLINIC (SDHDC)

                SDHDC serves Keith, Arthur, Grant, Hooker and Thomas Counties.   SDHDC receives immunization vaccines through the State of Nebraska’s Program VACCINE FOR CHILDREN (VFC) located in the Nebraska Health and Human Service System division.  The VFC program provides children with vaccines from birth through 18 years of age.  The VFC program provides vaccines for those who are eligible for Medicaid, Medicare & who are also uninsured or underinsured.

                SDHD&C has received the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine known as Gardasil.  The CDC along with the Nebraska HHS system says that genital human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted virus in the United States, mainly causing cervical cancer.  The CDC recommends girls 9 – 26 years of age receive the vaccine.  The VFC guidelines are targeted for girls 11 – 12 years of age and VFC eligible and may be given through age 18.  The Gardasil vaccine is administered in a 3-dose series within a six-month period.

                The Meningococcal vaccine, Menactra, is also being offered to adolescents 11 – 12 years old and college freshman who will live in dorms, under 19 years of age, and qualify for the VFC program (Vaccine for Children) program:  children who are uninsured or underinsured.  This is a 1-time dose vaccine. 

                The meningococcal disease is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis.  Meningitis is an infection of fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.   Untreated it can cause loss of arms and legs, deafness, problems with the nervous system, seizures, strokes and even death.

                Also for the adults we have a Tetanus vaccine that has a Pertussis vaccine which gives us protection from whooping cough (Tdap).  Tetanus (lockjaw) causes painful tightening of the muscles, usually all over the body.  It can lead to locking of the jaw so victims cannot open their mouth or swallow.  It can also lead to death.  Diphtheria causes a thick covering in the back of the throat.  It can lead to breathing problems, paralysis, heart failure and even death.  Pertussis or whooping cough causes severe coughing spells, vomiting and disturbed sleep.   It can lead to weight loss, incontinence, rib fractures and passing out from violent coughing, pneumonia and hospitalization due to complications. 

                The CDC recommends adolescents 11 – 18 years of age get one booster dose of Tdap.  Adults 19-64 years should substitute Tdap for one booster dose of Td.  Booster doses of Td (tetanus) should be updated every 10 years.

                Thoughts to remember:  as our children grow up to become adults, date rape can enter the picture as well as for their spouses who have previously been exposed to any of the viruses.  The CDC has only approved this vaccine for girls 9 – 26, but Sandhills, through the VFC program covers ages 11 – 18.

For more information contact our website:  www.sdhd.org.  For appointments call 284-6054 or 877-284-6054