State of the County Address

Kirksville, Mo. — Local officials and administrators from across Adair county gathered Tuesday in Kirksville for the “State of the County Address”.

This was a part of the Kirksville Area Chamber of Commerce “The Government in Focus” series.

The meeting began with Jim LeBaron, Administrator, from the Adair County Health Department.

The Health Department’s role in Adair County is to:

• Prevent Disease
• Promote Health
• Protect the Public

2016 Trends and Events

• CD investigations increased 27% from FY2015 to FY2106
  • The majority of the CD investigations were associated with tuberculosis
• 2189 immunizations were given in 2016, a 10% increase form 2015
• 2367 flu shots were given in 2016
• Reported influenza cases are 3x higher in 2016-2017
  • 7210 influenza A
  • 24 influenza B
• 20 confirmed mumps cases were reported; all coming from Truman State University. In response, the health department partnered with Truman State University to provide a Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) vaccination clinic in March 2017.  200 students received the MMR vaccine
• 60 animal rabies vaccines were given during our co-sponsored rabies clinic in Novinger on April 8, 2017
• Our Home Health Department successfully completed a four-day Medicare survey early in January 2017

Jim LeBaron, Administrator,  encouraged everyone to see the CNN presentation, “Unseen Enemy”.  Great presentation on why we need to prepare no for public health emergencies.  Especially with 75% of all new infectious diseases coming from animals.

Emergency Preparedness

• Drive thru Flu clinic was held on October 4^th 2016. This event included two PODs operating at the same time at the NEMO Fairgrounds and Novinger Fire Station. Area command was operating at ACHD. We administered 1,308 shots at this event.
• Three drive thru flu clinic sites will be scheduled for 2017
  • Kirksville
  • Novinger
  • Brashear
• The MRC consists of medical and non-medical volunteers who contribute to local health initiatives, such as priorities for public health, and supplement existing response capabilities in time of emergency. If you are interested in becoming a member please call 665-8491.
• ACHD  just received a $13,000 NACCHO grant (National Association of City and County Health Organizations) to increase Adair County’s public health emergency preparedness, response and recovery capabilities.

 Financial Picture and Funding

• Funding for Public Health remains grossly underfunded at the State level.
• Local funding remains stable –Thank you!
• Missouri remains 50^th in the US for state public health expenditures
• National expenditures per capita =$33.50.
• Iowa spends $81.62 per capita
• Missouri expenditures per capita =$5.90
• The bottom line is that strong and consistent funding levels are necessary for our PH system in Missouri to respond to everyday health threats (TB) as well as unexpected health emergencies (pandemic influenza).

Jim LeBaron, Administrator, also provided all attendees with ACHD’s FY2016 Service Counts.

For more information on the State of the County Address contact the Kirksville Area Chamber of Commerce.