Letter to the Editor: Town-Wide Health Updates from Westfield Board of Health

To the Editor:

The Westfield Board of Health met on March 2, 2015. We did not meet in February due to the weather.

In addition to meeting or exceeding all of its State mandates, the Board adopted the following goals:

1) To expand its collaborations with other local governmental agencies and community organizations to promote health and prevent diseases and injuries in Westfield;2) To improve the performance standards and metrics in its contracts and agreements; and3) To enhance its monitoring and feedback methods for surveillance of conditions and interventions.

In January and February, 40 retail food establishments were inspected, some several times. All but four were satisfactory. One establishment was unsatisfactory and closed so it could correct its violations and three were conditionally satisfactory. They were all satisfactory on reinspection. In court, another restaurant pled guilty to a sanitary code infraction, but it was satisfactory at its most recent inspection. The Westfield Regional Health Department will not allow a food establishment to operate if there is an imminent public health hazard or potential for immediate harm to residents.

Three pre-school immunization audits were completed in February. Initial compliance rates were 98%, 91% and 73%. The programs were counseled and will be reaudited. One public school was audited and all first graders were properly vaccinated, for 100% compliance.

Ten Westfield residents were diagnosed with diseases which required follow-up evaluations. Fortunately, we have not been affected by measles. The Board confirmed the importance of immunizations for residents to prevent communicable diseases.

The health department is sponsoring health screenings with Overlook Hospital at the Overlook Downtown Center, 357 Springfield Avenue in Summit. Cholesterol screening and bone density screening will be on Mondays, March 16, 23 and 30, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for a $10 charge each. Free blood pressure and diabetes screenings will also be available. For more information and to register, please contact the Overlook Community Health Department at 1-800-247-9580.

Information about all of the health department’s activities is available on its website http://www.westfieldnj.gov/health. The complete minutes of the March 2 meeting will be posted after review and approval at our April 6 meeting, which starts at5:30 PM in the Municipal Building. The public is invited to attend.

Lawrence D. Budnick, MD, MPH

President, Westfield Board of Health

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