Public Health Awards Recognize Excellence In Lane County

Public Health Awards Recognize Excellence In Lane County
Posted on 04/11/2016

By Tiffany Eckert

 

Lane County Public Health has recognized seven diverse organizations that went the “extra mile” last year to help achieve healthy populations.

 

From clean drinking water to vaccination campaigns, public health impacts all people in all communities. Jason Davis is with Lane County Health and Human Services.

 

Davis: “There are barriers to people pursuing health if they happen to be born on the wrong side of the tracks. So what we want to do is want to make sure that Public Health is at the table and lending to the outcomes and solutions to breaking down those barriers and helping health be more equitable.”

 

Two of the Excellence in Public Health awards went to the University Of Oregon Health Center and Dr. Richard Brunader. Davis says they oversaw a massive vaccination campaign after last year’s meningitis outbreak on campus.

 

Davis: “You know most of those kids who got sick, when they went in to get their first symptoms diagnosed. And those staff were right on top of it weeding out cases and identifying cases, alerting us and working hand in hand. That right there is public health.”

 

One student died and several were sickened during the outbreak. Nearly half the student population was vaccinated.

 

Greyhound Bus Lines is an unlikely public health champion. Davis says they play a key role in environmental health by couriering samples for testing. This partnership has helped in rabies investigations and other types of disease testing.

2015-16 Excellence in Public Health Awards Recipients

Daisy Chain was awarded for their support services to all families welcoming a new baby through birth or adoption.  

Community Organizations Active In Disasters is a coalition of 25 community organizations, prepared to activate in the event of a catastrophic emergency.

Dorina Elementary School for their “Good Behavior Game,” targeting kids 5 to 9 years old, to teach impulse control and healthy choices.

FOOD for Lane County for providing healthy food and nutritional education to families in need.