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RCAHD Health Updates Newsletter

08.09.23
Health updates for residents of the
Roanoke City & Alleghany Health Districts (RCAHD)
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The Power of WIC
While public health may be best known for its response to emerging health threats during a weather emergency or disease outbreaks, most of the time, our staff is focused on preventing people from getting sick in the first place.
The mission of RCAHD is to make sure our communities have what we need to stay healthy, whether it is clean water, safe food, or healthy neighborhoods.
Behind the scenes, many of our programs quietly improve the health of thousands of local RCAHD residents, year in and year out.
One such program is WIC (Women, Infants and Children), a nutrition program that helps young families to eat well and be healthy. WIC is for people who are pregnant, recently pregnant, or breastfeeding/ chestfeeding. It is also for infants and children under age 5.
In 2022, our RCAHD staff served over 7,800 women, infants, and children across our seven localities. In
Virginia, a family of four (that includes a pregnant woman or a child under age five) making less than $55,500 per year is eligible to apply for benefits. About one in three children born in Virginia participate in WIC... 

How does WIC benefit all children in the community, not just those who receive WIC benefits?
What is the size of the financial impact when WIC families spend their benefits at Virginia food retailers?
Promoting Breastfeeding in Virginia
August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month

Breastfeeding has important, positive, long-term health consequences for infants and mothers. RCAHD recently joined the growing list of workplaces taking steps to encourage breastfeeding/ chestfeeding.

In addition to a new workplace policy in support of RCAHD lactating staff, each of our seven offices now has a private room (not a bathroom stall or public restroom) for staff and clients to use for lactation purposes.

Find more resources on the RCAHD breastfeeding/ chestfeeding/ lactation support webpage. They include local and virtual resources to support your decision and plans to feed your baby:
  • A link to local WIC services
  • Links to other local breastfeeding support groups
  • State and national resources, such as live, peer-supported helplines available 24/7
RCAHD staff received a Commonwealth of Virginia proclamation celebrating Breastfeeding Awareness Month 2023

Outside the new Roanoke City office lactation room, from left: Linnea McCarty, Maternal & Child Health Community Engagement Specialist; Candace Livingston, WIC Senior Nutritionist Supervisor; and Samara Lott, Population Health Planning and Improvement Coordinator
RCAHD Health Situation Update
What is Meningococcal Disease?
Meningococcal disease is a rare but serious bacterial illness caused by Neisseria meningitidis. While some people will remain symptom-free, it can cause life-threatening disease in others. A small proportion of infected people can develop meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain or spinal cord) or a bloodstream infection (septicemia).  

While the risk to the general public is low, unfortunately three cases of invasive meningococcal disease have been reported to RCAHD in the last 18 months. All recent cases have been in adults, and all have been the same serotype Y. We join our VDH colleagues across the state in closely monitoring the situation and will continue to evaluate any possible links to other cases in the Commonwealth.

Who is at risk?
Although anyone can get meningococcal disease, it is most common in infants, adolescents, and young adults. Fortunately, there are two vaccines for meningitis that are now routinely recommended for children ages 11-12, with a booster at 16 years.

The Centers for Diseases Control recommends vaccination of high-risk adults, including:
  • people living with HIV,
  • people who do not have a spleen (including people who have sickle cell disease whose spleens may be damaged),
  • people who have specific immune conditions called “complement deficiency,” and
  • people who take a type of drug called a “complement inhibitor.” 
 
RCAHD strongly recommends that anyone in one of these risk groups talk with their healthcare professional about getting the quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine. 
RCAHD is Heading Back To School!

Get your children Back-to-School ready as local school systems head back this month.

Need to get caught up on school-required vaccinations? We offer all childhood and adult vaccines.

Call your pediatrician's office for an appointment
or

Appointments preferred! Please bring your child's insurance card and vaccine records to the appointment. No insurance? No problem. We offer sliding scale services.
Back To School Vax Clinic
Thursday, August 17, 3-6pm
Roanoke City Health Department
1502 Williamson Rd.


Therapy dogs will be present
courtesy of TheraPets of Roanoke Valley

We offer all vaccines required and recommended for students. Bring your insurance card. Walk-ins welcome, but appointments preferred. Call 540-283-5050
Back to school: Adjusting your child's sleep habits (3min)

Kids ages 6-12
need
9-to-12 Hours
of sleep each night

Teens aged 13-18
need
8-to-10 Hours
of sleep each night
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