Delaware County, PA | November 6, 2007 Election |
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Creating a County Health DepartmentBy John F. InnelliCandidate for Council Member; County of Delaware |
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Health Department Delaware County is the largest county in the state of Pennsylvania without a county health department. Of the counties with populations over 500,000, we are the only one without such a department, and the consequences on our health have been severe and incontrovertible. It is the prerogative of our County Council to create a County Health Department, but despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, our Council claims that the residents of Delaware County do not need one. The Facts:
How a County Health Department Will Make Us Safer and Healthier The Working Group for a Delaware County Health Department provides this analogy: "A public health department is like a police department. This is not a partisan issue. In an editorial dated October 24, 2007, the Delaware County Daily Times became just the latest organization voicing the urgent need for a County Health Department, joining countless other groups and individuals across the County. It is the first responder in a public health emergency, and it also helps to prevent disease outbreaks by monitoring and targeting areas of concern." With a County Health Department certified by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Delaware County will be able to:
Because of state and federal programs that encourage the creation of County Health Departments, the cost of creating one is much lower than one may think + despite Republican claims to the contrary. Under PA Act 315, Delaware County is due to receive 50% of the money for a county health department from the state government and an additional $775,000 for environmental concerns. Furthermore, federal and state grants for millions of dollars are available for emergency preparedness and disease prevention. Add to that the money that would be saved by eliminating the unnecessary Office of Intercommunity Health and the money municipalities would save by ending their own health inspection efforts, and the creation of a health department may end up saving the taxpayers money. The Opposition The Republicans currently in power claim to see nothing wrong with public health conditions in Delaware County. They favor continuing the system that has brought us the high-risk conditions under which we now live. The organization currently responsible for Delaware County's health is the Intercommunity Health Office. Constituting a staff four individuals + who themselves have very limited health-related backgrounds + this office, which relies primarily on the initiative of municipalities, has proven totally incapable of monitoring and managing county-wide health problems. Furthermore, it has neither the adequate plans nor the capacity to implement such plans in cases of emergencies. Due to the growing chorus of voices demanding change in the system, County Council has commissioned the Drexel University School of Public Health to investigate the county's current level of preparedness with regard to pandemics and other possible health and safety issues. At first, this appears an encouraging step. However, County Council has refused to provide the public with any details about the study. What is the cost? Will Drexel be restricted to a review of the County's current health delivery system or will the study also analyze the viability of a County Health Department? Will the public have access to Drexel's complete, unabridged report? Furthermore, it appears the study will not be completed until after this November's election, depriving voters the opportunity to review the facts fort themselves & make a fully informed decision at the polls. The truth is that it really does not take a University study to tell us that our system is failing; all it takes is common sense and a look at the facts. This is not a partisan issue. In an editorial dated October 24, 2007, the Delaware County Daily Times became just the latest organization voicing the urgent need for a County Health Department, joining countless other groups and individuals across the County. The lack of action and deliberate stalling tactics employed by the Republican County Council on this issue are baffling; and the only conclusion that can be reached is that our County Council is dangerously unconcerned with the health and safety of the people of Delaware County. They apparently have other priorities. |
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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 24, 2007 17:52
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