Good health is vital in every individual’s life. The government ensures that its citizens are in good health by providing local health departments in different counties. Consequently, individuals can access healthcare related services while at their respective counties. When the first local health department was rolled out in Tarrant County, Texas, the community members benefited in various ways. Besides, they were guided on how to create and maintain settings that would support healthier choices. A balanced diet, regular exercise, and minimization of tobacco usage among other drugs were the main focus. In result, there was a noticeable improvement in the reduction and prevention of chronic diseases effects. Additionally, there was an immense reduction in disease outbreaks. Similarly, individuals’ immunization reduced the spread of infectious diseases among adults and children. Consequently, health status among Tarrant county residents was improved at a very high rate. However, some of the programs in the local health department need more funding to make Tarrant a healthier county.
Tarrant County residents have benefited from local health department programs. Core skills in health work are some of the benefits that the residents gained. Health Education Specialist, Public Health Nurse, Public Health Social work, Public Health Professionals, Doctor of Public Health, Social Work Practice, and Masters of Public Health were the primary areas taught to the public members (Health Data about Tarrant County, n.d). For effective education to the community members, the language used was simplified, thus having a broad coverage. Later, the skills were put into test through a presentation, to check the progress. Consequently, the citizens were aware of how to handle cases in different fields of health care hence saving lives. Similarly, community members were also aware of how they can prevent lifestyle and other diseases, thus living healthier. For instance, at Cook Children’s Health Care System, Community Health Outreach Department felt challenged with what the local health department had done. As a result, they decided to test their employees in different departments to ensure that they have the required skills.
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Asthma was one of the main challenges in Tarrant, and the neighboring counties before the local health department were set up in the area. Although the adults also had asthma, children were the most affected with over 74,000 children from the area suffering from the disease (cook children’s medical center, 2015). However, in recent years, this disease has significantly been put under control. As a control measure, opportunities to promote awareness and education around childhood asthma were identified and utilized appropriately. Also, partnerships to increase efforts put in place to help control the disease were developed and maintained. Innovative approaches that were seen to have a potential in assisting the public in managing and monitoring asthma were tested. Additionally, nebulizers were installed across all Arlington ISD elementary schools to take care of the affected students and also limit its spread.
Public awareness is the main area that Tarrant residents have benefited with from the local health department. For instance, through a two-pronged program that combines hypertension public awareness campaign and intervention from the Tarrant community, hypertension rates in the county have drastically reduced (Health Data about Tarrant County, n.d). The residents have gained adequate knowledge on how to prevent the disease. Also, implementation of a multi-year Metabolic Syndrome Education Intervention has been vital to the citizens. With diabetes being a common disease in recent years, the local health department saw it essential to create awareness on how to prevent and manage the disease. Consequently, the affected individuals were able to know the kind of diabetes they are suffering from and the measures to take to control it. Lesson on obesity, one of the most common lifestyle disease, were also offered. Through such programs the public members were able to learn a lot concerning their health, and how to live a healthier life.
Although efforts have been channeled toward it previously, chronic diseases remain to be a challenge in Tarrant. In this county, a relatively high number of adults are suffering from chronic diseases, a problem that can be prevented, reduced or maintained through educating the public members. High blood pressure and diabetes are the leading chronic diseases, in Tarrant County. However, they can both be controlled through the patients having the right medication and awareness. As a result, more knowledge on how to prevent chronic diseases is essential. Consequently, public awareness program at the Tarrant local health department needs more funding to ensure that they cover a wide range in education the public members on how to prevent such diseases.
Conclusion
The local health department has played a vital role in Tarrant by providing essential health services in the county. Through this department, most community health problems have been identified and solved. Also, monitoring of the health status has also been improved. Besides, the residents have been educated, informed and empowered on matters concerning health issues. As a result of this department, community partnership has significantly been mobilized hence making it easier to solve health problems. Support of community health efforts by this department has also helped in improving individuals’ health in the county. Therefore, the local health department at the county level have played influential roles in improving people’s health. The programs engaged in have been helpful and beneficial. As a result, more funding should be directed to the programs that have not yet achieved their objectives, to ensure that the set goal is reached.
References
Cook Children’s Medical Center, (2016). Community Health Needs Assessment Report. Retrieved from https://www.cookchildrens.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/about/2015_CHNA_REPORT_9-27-2016.pdf
Health Data about Tarrant County. (n.d). Healthy Tarrant County Collaboration. Retrieved from http://healthytarrant.org/accomplishments/
Texas Health Resources, (2018). Texas Health Resources- 2018 Request for Proposal (RFP). Texas Health Community Impact. Tarrant. Retrieved from https://www.texashealth.org/assets/documents/system/community/community-health-improvement/thci-tarrant-parker-region-rfp.pdf
