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Love Safely This Valentine’s Day

Posted on by tracygramajo

Get Free Condoms from the Local Health District 

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. 

 

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month 

Posted on by tracygramajo

Local Health District Encourages Healthy Dental Habits Among Children  

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. 

  • Brush their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. 
  • Help your child brush their teeth until they have good brushing skills use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and always spit it out rather than swallow. 
  • Ask your child’s dentist to apply dental sealants when appropriate. Applying dental sealants to the back teeth prevents 80% of cavities.  
  • Drinking fluoridated tap water when possible. 

Learn more about oral health for children at www.vdh.virginia.gov/oral-health.

Save Lives with Radon Testing

Posted on by tracygramajo

Radon Awareness Week is January 26-30

The 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.

  • Seal cracks in floors and walls with plaster, caulk, or other similar materials.
  • Cover the earth floor in crawl spaces with a high-density plastic sheet. A vent pipe and fan can be used to blow the radon from under the sheet and vent it outdoors.
  • Increase air flow in your house by opening windows and using fans and vents to circulate air.
  • Test radon levels again after you’ve made any of these changes to ensure these actions reduced the radon levels.

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/

January Marks Cervical Health Awareness Month

Posted on by tracygramajo

Two Ways You Can Prevent Cervical Cancer

Cervical 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:

  • For 21- to 29-years-olds, a Pap test only is recommended every three years.
  • For 30- to 65-year-olds you have three testing options that range from three to five years. Talk to your healthcare provider about the right option for you:
    • An HPV test only, every five years.
    • Co-testing with an HPV test and a Pap test, every five years.
    • A Pap test only, every three years.
  • For women over 65, please contact your healthcare provider to determine what testing schedule is best for you.

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.

Letter from the Director: Welcoming 2026

Posted on by kathylamm

Dear friends, neighbors, and partners:

As we start 2026, the Norfolk Department of Public Health is here for you. Our goal remains the same: to be a source of health information you can trust.

There are many reasons to feel good about the future of Norfolk and the Hampton Roads area. Our community is strong because of our hard-working doctors and nurses, our local church groups, and neighbors who look out for one another. Together, we are building a kinder system of care. We want to make sure that no one in our city has to face health problems alone.

This teamwork is more important now than ever. Across the country, the healthcare system is changing, which can make it harder for people to get the medical help they need. We know these changes often hurt people with less money the most. Sometimes, a simple health problem can become a big one if it isn’t treated early.

Our mission is to take on these challenges. By working directly with you, we will help close these gaps. We want to make sure every person in Norfolk has the chance to live a healthy, safe life.

Together in Service,
Dr. “G”

 

Susan Girois, MD, MPH, FACP
District Health Director
Norfolk Health District
Office: (757) 683-2798

 

Norfolk Department of Public Health
830 Southampton Avenue
Norfolk VA 23510

 

 

Tips for Safe, Healthy Holiday Travel

Posted on by tracygramajo

Plan Ahead for a Healthy and Safe Holiday

As you and your family prepare to travel during the holiday season, the VDH reminds you to take important steps now to keep you and your loved ones safe and healthy. Holiday travel and festive gatherings can increase the risk of spreading infectious diseases and encountering unexpected emergencies.

Tips to healthy and safe holiday travel:

  • Check Immunization Status: To check your immunization status, call your healthcare provider or request records through the VDH Record Request Portal. Make sure you are up-to-date on all of your recommended vaccines. Measles and other infectious diseases can spread quickly in a large group of unvaccinated people. Bring a copy of your official immunization records with you when you travel.
  • Prevent Seasonal Illnesses: Protect yourself and your loved ones from respiratory viruses like COVID-19, flu, and RSV by doing three little things: washing your hands, covering your cough and getting vaccinated. Everyone aged six months and older should get a flu shot every year, with a few exceptions. Talk to a healthcare provider about which vaccines are recommended for you and your family.
  • Monitor Travel Advisories: Check current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Department of State travel advisories before departure.
  • Pack Smart: Pack enough prescription medications for the entire trip, plus extra in case of delays. Keep medications in their original containers and carry them in your hand luggage. Pack a travel health kit.
  • Stay Home if Sick: Postpone your travel and stay home when you are sick. Consider purchasing trip cancellation insurance to cover expenses if you must change your plans due to illness.

VDH wishes everyone a safe, healthy, and festive holiday season.