Public Health Nurses Regina Kaldahl and Theia Wilborn are the recipients of the VDH 4th Quarter Beacon Award! 🌟
This award recognizes nurses who go above and beyond with a positive attitude, a spirit of service, and dedication to our community, peers, and leadership. Regina and Theia embody these qualities every day, and we are grateful for their exceptional contributions.
Congratulations to both of you for shining so brightly and inspiring us all!
On March 28, 2026, Teens With a Purpose (TWP) invites the community to come together for My Block is Beautiful, a volunteer day dedicated to uplifting and sustaining Purpose Park in Norfolk.
Purpose Park was born in 2013 when a TWP teenager requested a raised garden bed for the community. That single idea blossomed into a vibrant community space featuring:
Over 20 vegetable-filled raised garden beds
11+ native trees
A rain garden with 860 plants
A system that absorbs 33,000 gallons of stormwater monthly
A gathering place for learning, healing, arts, and connection
Today, Purpose Park stands as a living example of what happens when youth leadership and community support come together.
Date: March 28, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: 700 E Olney Road, Norfolk, VA 23504
Who: All ages welcome
Community members, families, and corporate partners are invited to participate in:
Tree plantings
Rain garden maintenance
Garden workdays
Learning and service days
Community cleanups
Art and performances
Whether you’re planting, cleaning, learning, or creating — your hands help make the block beautiful.
Join us in supporting Norfolk’s people and environment. Together, we grow stronger.
Free condoms are available at the Local Health District and through community partner organizations.
It’s no coincidence that Valentine’s Day is also National Condom Day! One of the simplest ways to show you care is to protect the health of those you love. The Local Health District provides free condoms to support safer and healthier sexual relationships.
Valentine’s Day is often associated with flowers, chocolates, and dinner dates. Local Health District reminds you that protection should also be part of the plan.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) remain a serious public health concern in Virginia. More than 54,000 STIs were reported in Virginia in 2024. The increase in syphilis diagnoses among women is of particular concern. The rate of newly diagnosed syphilis cases among women increased 144% from 2020 to 2024.
Cases of congenital syphilis, when a pregnant person passes syphilis to a baby during pregnancy or childbirth, increased for the fifth straight year in Virginia. In 2024, 35 cases of congenital syphilis were reported among newly born infants, the highest case count observed in more than 30 years in Virginia.
Because many STIs, including syphilis, often show no symptoms, you can spread them without knowing it. Using condoms consistently and correctly is an effective way to reduce the risk of STIs and unintended pregnancy.
The Virginia Department of Health distributes condoms statewide through its Condom Distribution Program, which is designed to reduce HIV and other STIs through free access to protection.
Free condoms are available at the Norfolk Health Department and through community partner organizations.
Organizations interested in becoming distribution sites should contact the HIV-STD Hotline Supervisor at HIV-stdhotline@vdh.virginia.gov. Participating organizations may order up to 100,000 condoms per year.
The Norfolk Health Department can also help you decide if medicine to prevent HIV (PrEP) or STIs (DoxyPEP) is right for you.
Make this Valentine’s Day a night to remember, not a diagnosis you want to forget.
The Norfolk Health Department reminds parents, guardians and caregivers to begin teaching young children about the importance of good dental health habits.
Children can get a jump start on a lifetime of good oral health by focusing on maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Positive strategies include incorporating oral health hygiene routines at home along with scheduling regular dental visits. Good oral health should begin as early as infancy and young children should ideally see a dentist by their first birthday.
Cavities are the most common chronic childhood disease in the United States. More than half of children aged six to eight years have had a cavity in at least one of their baby teeth.
National Children’s Dental Health Month is observed during February each year. The American Dental Association designated the national health observance to promote the benefits of good oral health.
Adults can assist children with developing healthy habits in the following ways.
Learn more about oral health for children at www.vdh.virginia.gov/oral-health.
January 26-30, 2026, is Radon Awareness Week. This year’s theme is “What’s Your Radon Story?”
Anyone can get lung cancer from breathing in high levels of radon over time. Radon is an odorless, invisible, radioactive gas that can build up in homes and buildings putting people at risk. Learn how to protect yourself: https://bit.ly/4j4dI1I.
Radon Awareness Week is January 26-30The Norfolk Health District encourages community members to protect their health by testing their homes for radon. The Virginia Department of Health has a limited supply of short-term, do-it-yourself radon test kits that can be shipped directly to Virginia residents. Test kits are free with $4 shipping fee. They can be ordered at www.vdhradon.org.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that results from the decay of Uranium which is found in certain types of soil and bedrock. It is not visible, and it has no smell. Radon can only be detected by testing.
Radon Awareness Week is January 26-30. January is one of the best times to test your home. Radon levels are highest during the winter when windows and doors are kept closed.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) estimates that as many as 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year in the United States may be associated with exposure to radon. Radon is considered second only to smoking as the leading cause of lung cancer.
There is no safe level of radon. Reducing radon inside your home will always help reduce your risk of lung cancer.
Additional steps that you can take to help lower radon levels in your home include.
Testing your home is the only way to know for sure if an indoor radon problem exists. For more details about radon testing and mitigation, contact your Local Heath District at [contact info] or visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/radiological-health/indoor-radon-program/
Two Ways You Can Prevent Cervical CancerCervical cancer is highly preventable, yet thousands of women die from it each year in the United States. The Norfolk Health District encourages you to take two simple steps to prevent cervical cancer. Vaccination and screenings help save lives.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination
The HPV vaccine protects against the HPV types that cause 90% of all cervical cancer. It also protects against five other cancers. The HPV vaccine works best before exposure to the virus and is recommended for routine vaccination at ages 11 or 12 years of age.
Vaccination can also start as early as nine years old. People aged 26 years and younger who are not fully vaccinated can still get the vaccine. Some adults age 27 and older may choose to get vaccinated and should talk to a healthcare provider. Please talk to a healthcare provider about the HPV vaccine and its cancer prevention benefits.
Cervical Cancer Screening
The HPV test and the Pap test can help prevent cervical cancer or find it early. The HPV test detects high risk types of human papillomavirus, the cause of most cervical cancers. The Pap test (or Pap smear) looks for abnormal cervical cells.
When to get screened depends on a woman’s age:
The Norfolk Health District offers HPV vaccination. Contact the clinic for an appointment.
The FDA has also approved two self-swab tests for use in a doctor’s office, as well as an at home test called the Teal Wand. These tests may make screenings more accessible, especially for women in rural and marginalized areas. Talk to your healthcare provider to see if a self-swab test is a good option for you.
If cost is an issue, VDH can help.
Taking these preventative steps now isn’t just smart, it could save your life. Contact the Norfolk Health District at 757-683-2735 for more information about cervical cancer, the HPV vaccine or cervical cancer screenings.
