GENESEE/ORLEANS/2020 CDC U.S. TB Elimination Champions

Back row: Kerry Miller, Kerry Ohlson, Carla Wahls, Melissa Pless. Front row: Mary Ellen Messmer, Deborah Restivo, Doris Delano, Kayla Shuknecht. Missing from photo: Gail Pettit.(submitted photo)

Press release

“We are pleased to announce the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments’ nursing team are members of the 2020 Centers for Disease Controland Prevention (CDC)U.S. Tuberculosis(TB)Elimination Champion,”stated Brenden Bedard, Deputy Public Health Director of the Genesee Orleans County Health Departments.

“Our nurses partner to test and treat TBdisease and latent TB infection in migrant farm worker camps. Working together with Oak Orchard Health, a local federally funded qualified health center, they have adapted how they provide directly observed therapy to better match the schedules of their clients.

This partnership allows them to provide TB screening and treatment for TB disease and latent TB infection to over 70 migrant farmworker camps in both counties,”stated Bedard.

The cross-jurisdictional agreement between the two counties has allowed our nursing team to collaborate on projects such as this for the past 8 years. Not only does this help financially, but allows both counties to provide coordinated services in an effective and efficient manner.“We are continuing in our efforts as chief health strategists to look at how our departments can combat illness and disability and assessing emerging health needs to improve community health,”stated Paul Pettit, Director of the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

“This team approach to monitor and address the needs of priority populations in the community will help in our efforts to eradicate TB. We commend our nursing team for their efforts and diligence,”stated Pettit.

For information on Health Department services contact,

· Genesee County Health Department at: 344-2580 ext. 5555 or visit their website at www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/health/index.html. Visit Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at GOHealthNY.

· Orleans County Health Department at: 589-3278 or check out their website at: https://orleanscountyny.com/departments/publichealth/ . Visit Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at GOHealthNY

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