Letter to the Editor: Commissioner Rogers Highlights Health Department Initiatives

As a member of the Nutley Board of Commissioners it has been my pleasure to represent the people of Nutley as the Director of Public Affairs and Department of Health.  

Since being elected to office in May 2012, I have strived to bring to our residents effective and efficient government through the many services and programs we have established throughout the first year of my first term.   

Fortunately, I have a world-class staff of professionals who go above and beyond the call of duty and work very hard to ensure that the people of our community receive the best health and other services we provide through our department.

Soon after taking office, I established new priorities and realigned our attention toward Nutley’s Military Veterans and Senior Citizen Services.  We have been very successful in these efforts and in fact, have become a model for other municipal governments.

As I enter my second year in office, we plan to continue to provide the people of Nutley the best services possible.  I believe that there is no problem that cannot be solved.  If our office cannot solve the problem you are facing, we will find someone who can. 

During my second year in office our emphasis will be on providing more efficient and cost effective health related services to Nutley residents.

The mission of the Nutley Health Department is to protect and enhance the health and the quality of life of Nutley residents through preventative activities, coordination of interagency efforts, and interventions designed to promote positive health behaviors.  Health education and awareness is a vital component of the Nutley Health Department.

We will be expanding our heath education and awareness programs by integrating them into our new town-wide wellness campaign, by implementing initiatives that will focus on specific health related issues such as child obesity, teen diabetes, prostrate cancer, breast cancer, skin cancer and Alzheimer’s.

You can expect new and informative workshops, lectures, and other events that focus on these health issues and others.  Our department has a Certified Health Education Specialist who coordinates, designs, and implements healtheducation programs to meet our community needs. Some of the programs include, Complete Blood Profile (SMAC), Stroke Prevention, Cardiac Risk Assessment, Bone Density, Diabetes, Thyroid, Skin Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Screening, and many more.

Our public health nursing program is one of the finest in the State of New Jersey. Our public health nurses provide, “A Nurse in the Family,” Senior Wellness Call Program, Communicable Disease Education in Day Care Facilities, Tuberculosis Testing, Control & Investigation, School Nursing programs to non-public and private schools, and Communicable Disease Surveillance and Education.

Our Angela Costa Health Clinic provides Women's Health clinics that offer Pap Smear, Pelvic and Breast Exam, Blood Pressure check and anemia screening; Our children health clinics offer assessments in growth and development, and immunizations.

Our Senior Citizens Health Clinic offers Blood Pressure Screening, Diet Instruction, Medication Review, and Risk Assessment; and we provide Adult and Child Adolescent Immunizations for Influenza, Pneumonia, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Hepatitis A & B, Measles, Mumps Rubella, Polio, and Meningitis.

The Nutley Health Department also provides environmental health services that include inspections of retail food establishments; food handlers courses, food samples, and food borne illness investigations.

We also address environmental complaints related to air, water, noise, solid waste, insect and rodent control, heating, public health nuisances, inspection of recreational bathing facilities, environmental lead investigations, day care inspections, bioterrorism preparedness, education & response, hazardous waste materials, rabies control, West Nile Virus investigation and monitoring, as well as free rabies clinics that are offered every April.

During this second year I will be starting a new initiative expanding our health department services to include a much-needed component for any municipality in this day and age.

This new initiative is the Nutley Public Health Reserve Corps.  It consists of citizens who are ready to assist our township residents when faced with a major natural or other event requiring government intervention. These volunteer citizens are called upon to assist local public health agencies when called upon.

The Nutley Department of Public Affairs recognizes that, in the event of a public health emergency, people are our most valuable resource. While our plans and infrastructure are in place for any emergency, trained volunteers will be needed to supplement the existing public health workforce.

The NPHRC is a component of the Federal and New Jersey Citizen Corps. The program is designed to identify and train individuals who are willing to volunteer within their local area during a public health emergency.

The NPHRC invites both health care professionals and community volunteers. Any licensed or certified health care professional, practicing or retired, living or working in the State of New Jersey can apply to be a member. Community volunteers who are not health professionals are encouraged to apply.

Volunteers will need to participate in training and education in order to be adequately prepared should an event occur. The Health Department will provide NPHRC volunteers with appropriate training and information.  

During a public health emergency, volunteers will be asked to perform duties in accordance with their interests, training, and experience. Such duties might include but are not limited to direct patient care, administrative duties, clerical or reception duties, and warming/cooling station staffing.

I encourage any Nutley resident interested in joining our Nutley Public Health Reserve Corps to call our office at 973-284-4976.

Please visit our website at Nutelynj.org, and our Facebook page at Commissioner Steven Rogers.  

My contact information is: commissionerrogers@nutleynj.org; 973-284-4976 or 973-562-6508; or via Facebook or twitter.  Thank you.      

Commissioner Steven Rogers

Steven Rogers

Commissioner of Public Affairs