Health Education is an opportunity to equip the community with information necessary to live healthy lifestyles. It also involves assessing the health needs of the community and working to meet those needs. Successful health education enables individuals to make informed decisions about their health and the health of their families.
Two full-time health educators are employed at the Person County Health Department. The priority programs of one health educator are Family Planning, Sexually Transmitted Disease, Maternal Health, School Health, Adolescent Health, and HIV Benefits Advocacy. The other health educator focuses on Health Promotion and The Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program, also known as BCCCP.
The Health Educators are available to work in the community as well as within health department clinics. Each works with individuals or with groups to educate them about proper health habits.
As a resource person to the schools, the health educator offers education on topics surrounding issues such as family planning, sexually transmitted disease, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, communicable disease, prenatal care, and much more. The health educator assists school personnel in planning and implementing curriculums, Church groups, civic groups and other community organizations as well.
HIV Benefits Advocacy is something that is new to health education although it is not new to the Person County Health Department. In June 2002, the Health Education department bridged with social work of Home Health and Hospice to take responsibility of the program. Since then, the program has added clients and continues to serve established clients.
The program offers a variety of benefits for people who are proven HIV positive. Each person receives assistance with links to medical care, dental care, eye care, liquid nutrition such as Boost, community referrals such as Social Services, the Christian Help Center, churches of the community, etc. It will also help pay for certain portion of their bills on occasion if needed. This program is supported through state funds as well as Ryan White funds. Patients must meet certain criteria for eligibility for the program and must be HIV positive.
The Health Promotion Program’s goal is to plan and implement community-based programs addressing policy and environmental change interventions that promote cardiovascular health and reduce risk of chronic disease due to tobacco use, physical inactivity, and poor nutrition. This program strives to increase opportunities for physical activity and health eating. Program settings include but are not limited to worksites, faith organizations, the community environment, schools, and community groups. Another goal of Health Promotion interventions is to address and strive to reduce health disparities in our community. Person County’s FAN (Fitness And Nutrition) Club is coordinated by the Health Promotion Coordinator with assistance from the Family and Consumer Education Agent at the Cooperative Extension Service. The FAN Club meets monthly. Health Promotion resources are available through the North Carolina Division of Public Health – Physical Activity and Nutrition (PAN) Unit’s Eat Smart, Move More Program and the Cardiovascular Health Unity. The Health Promotion Coordinator works closely with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service and Business Health Services at Person Memorial Hospital among many other community agencies. It is essential that the Health Promotion Coordinator work with community partners, both traditional and non-traditional.
Health educators work together to implement activities in other program areas. They also serve as a liaison with the media. The Health Education Program exhibits flexibility as it expands to meet the needs of an ever-changing community. Services provided through this program are available at no charge.