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FEBRUARY 6, 2026
AIKEN-AUGUSTA’S MOST SALUBRIOUS NEWSPAPER • OUR 20th YEAR AUGUSTARX.COM
WHAT IS PUBLIC HEALTH? by Lee Donohue, MD Director, East Central Health District
may track: • Mosquito-borne illnesses • Food-borne illnesses • Viral and bacterial infections that spread in daycares and nursing homes Some diseases, such as vaccine-preventable diseases, foodborne illnesses, severe infections, and certain sexually transmitted diseases, must be reported by law. When that happens, we do a careful review and coordinate with local and state health officials. We may ask about the person’s close contacts, recent travels, and possible exposures. This helps us educate, share safety steps, and reduce the spread of disease as much as possible.
Did you know Richmond County has one of the oldest public health departments in Georgia? Established in 1817 primarily to address mosquito-borne diseases like yellow fever plaguing low-lying areas of Augusta along the banks of the Savannah, Richmond County’s Health Department is an integral part of our city’s medical heritage. In the more than two centuries since then, your local health department has worked to meet on-going health challenges and continues to help keep people safe and healthy. Our mission is to protect, preserve, and promote health in our community. As the district health director of the East Central Health District (ECHD), I want to share a few fun facts you might not know about public health. RESEARCH First, some background. Richmond County Health Department is one of 13 county-owned health departments in our southeast district which includes many of Georgia’s Central HEALTH Savannah River Area (CSRA) counties. Our PROMOTION District 6 is part of the Georgia Department of Public Health’s (DPH) 18 regional health districts serving all 159 counties in Georgia. Fact #1: We track sickness and outbreaks every day. Our team watches for illnesses that could spread in the community. When we learn about an outbreak, we quickly follow up and work diligently to stop it from spreading. We
Fact #2: We help schools keep kids up-todate on vaccines. We work closely with public schools to make sure children have the vaccines they need. Vaccines help keep “herd immunity’ (community immunity) strong, which protects all children at school. Each year, vaccine records are reviewed by our staff. If a child needs vaccines, families are encouraged to visit the health department to obtain them. We also hold community-wide back-to-school vaccine clinics, sometimes with extended hours, to make it easier for parents and caregivers to bring their children for needed vaccines.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
TREATMENT
Fact #3: We provide STI testing and treatment, plus education and support. Yes, we test and treat STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections). And we also include clear education and guidance so patients and their partners can make healthy, informed choices. We can provide: • Partner testing • Judgment-free care for everyone • Help for people who cannot pay for services We offer family planning services including birth control and often connect patients to social services they may need. Fact #4: Our Tuberculosis (TB) program provides serious, careful care. TB is a dangerous bacterial lung infection that can also affect the kidneys, spine, Please see PUBLIC HEALTH page 3
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