Category: pr

Pass the Stuffing, Not the Flu This Thanksgiving
Health Officials Encourage Vaccinating Against Respiratory Illnesses Before Gathering with Family and Friends

RICHMOND, Va. – Turkey, stuffing, and family gatherings are on the horizon – and so are respiratory viruses like COVID-19, flu, and RSV. Richmond and Henrico Health Districts remind residents that getting vaccinated now could help keep you and your loved ones healthy throughout the holiday season.

“Staying up to date on your vaccinations is one of the best ways to prevent severe respiratory illness,” says Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Director Elaine Perry, M.D. “Since we don’t have vaccines against all the germs that can make us sick this time of year, it’s especially important to get the vaccines we do have, like those against flu, COVID-19 and RSV.”

RICHMOND, Va. — The Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) would like to notify community members residing near the vicinity of Hawthorne Avenue in Richmond of a raccoon that has tested positive for rabies.

Richmond Animal Care & Control (RACC) observed an aggressive raccoon walking in circles on Hawthorne Avenue in Richmond on November 16. The raccoon was impounded and tested positive for rabies. There are NO known exposures to any human or animal at this time.

Anyone having information regarding any exposure to this animal (bite, scratch or contact with saliva by open wound or eyes, nose, mouth) should contact the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Environmental Health Office at 804-205-3912. Exposures also include direct contact between your pet and the rabid animal. After hours, please contact Richmond Animal Care and Control at 804-646-5573.

Richmond and Henrico Health Districts reminds all residents to follow these important rabies prevention guidelines:

• Do not feed stray animals.
• Avoid wild animals, especially raccoons, bats, foxes and skunks.
• Feed your pets indoors and do not let them wander.
• Make sure your pets are vaccinated against rabies and their shots are up to date. By law, all dogs, cats and ferrets must be vaccinated against rabies.
• Teach children to avoid contact with wild animals and pets they are not familiar with.
• Do not handle sick, injured or dead animals.
• Keep wild animals out of homes by capping chimneys with screens and blocking openings in attics, cellars and porches.
• Ensure trash cans have tight fitting lids.

If you are bitten by a wild or stray animal, wash the wound(s) thoroughly with warm soapy water and contact animal control, your healthcare provider or the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts.

For more information about rabies, visit: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/animal-contact-human-health/rabies-control/.

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Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) are sister public health agencies serving our connected communities. Our mission is to protect health, champion equity, and partner to address local needs.

RICHMOND, Va. – In support of The Great American Smokeout on Thursday, November 21, Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) encourage Richmond residents who are interested in quitting tobacco to participate in the Free From Tobacco program. November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

In Virginia, about 10,300 adults die each year from smoking, 1,600 non-smokers die each year due to secondhand smoke, and 6,900 children have lost a parent to smoking related death. Given current smoking levels, 152,000 children living today will ultimately die of smoking. Annual healthcare costs in Virginia directly caused by tobacco use are $3.61 billion.

“Statistics show that most people take multiple attempts to quit tobacco,” said Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Free From Tobacco Coach Richard Baker. “We want clients to think more about what they’re buying and using. We’re helping people learn to feed another part of their brain to replace addictive behaviors.”

Free From Tobacco is a culturally competent one-on-one coaching program designed to remove barriers for Richmond residents who wish to quit smoking and remain abstinent from all tobacco products. Richmond residents interested in the Free From Tobacco program can call 804-482-8018 for more information or complete the intake form directly at rhhd.gov/tobaccofree. Benefits clients receive from their coach include:

• Weekly in-person or virtual coaching sessions.
• Education on tobacco cessation health benefits and strategies.
• Background on the history of tobacco.
• Access to videos and useful surveys.
• Better management of potential chronic diseases for overall health and well being.
• Connection to valuable resources such as Quit Now Virginia.

Quit Now Virginia is a statewide evidence-based cessation service for those who want to quit smoking or using smokeless tobacco, nicotine, e-cigarettes, or vapes. Clients can receive one-on-one coaching sessions by phone, chat, or text, as well as group coaching. Virginia tobacco and nicotine users interested in quitting their addiction can contact Quit Now Virginia at 1-800-Quit Now (1-800-784-8669) or at quitnowvirginia.org.

According to the Virginia Department of Health Tobacco Control Program, smoking remains the single largest preventable cause of death and disease in the United States, killing more than 480,000 Americans each year. More than 41,000 of these deaths are from exposure to secondhand smoke.

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Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) are sister public health agencies serving our connected communities. Our mission is to protect health, champion equity, and partner to address local needs.

rhhd.gov | henrico.us/health | RCHD Facebook | HCHD Facebook | IG: @richmondcity_hd

RICHMOND, Va. — Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) and Richmond Health Equity Fund partnered with Mayor Levar Stoney, members of City Council, and community organization representatives to announce newly funded Health Equity Fund (HEF) partners, announce the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) application process, provide updates on existing programs, and announce new funding secured to continue the HEF after its federal American Rescue Plan Act resources are fully spent. These announcements were made at a press conference on Thursday, November 7 at St. Luke Legacy Center in Richmond.

The Richmond Health Equity Fund invests in community-led programs, initiatives, and leaders to improve health and quality of life in communities experiencing deep health disparities and the longstanding impacts of racism.

In October 2021, the City of Richmond established the Health Equity Fund to focus on key areas of health disparity through an initial investment of $5 million from federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. Since then, the HEF has diversified its funding source to include City of Richmond non-departmental funding and investments from The Community Foundation, Schaberg Foundation, Atlantic Union Bank, and the Robins Foundation.

 Richmond and Henrico Public Health Foundation (RHPHF) is RHHD’s nonprofit partner, advancing public health initiatives that serve our communities.
rhhd.gov | henrico.us/health | RCHD Facebook | HCHD Facebook | IG: @richmondcity_hd

RICHMOND, Va. – Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) announce the results of its 2024 Community Health Assessment (CHA). RHHD worked closely with healthcare professionals, partner organizations, subject matter experts, and residents across our neighborhoods to conduct the CHA. The CHA survey asked respondents what is and is not going well in their communities, as well as what health issues concern them most.

“We would like to extend our sincere thanks to community members and partners for providing a picture of the health status in our community,” said Richmond and Henrico Population Health Manager Tamara Jones. “We heard from a diverse range of voices, including those who are often underserved and underrepresented. What we learn from Community Health Assessment will make Richmond and Henrico healthier and more equitable places to live, work, and play.”

“Listening to the community is about more than learning what’s wrong,” said Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Community Health Assessment Coordinator Jasmine Carmichael. “It’s about listening to the great ideas for change and progress each of us has when it comes to our neighborhoods. Institutions have a greater impact when they involve community members in decisions about their programs.”

When asked “What is going well in your community?” respondents identified school systems, access to places of worship, and public transportation. Respondents identified violence as an aspect of community life that is not going well. The health issues that respondents are most concerned about include violence, chronic health conditions, and mental health. Community members can view the full CHA results on the RHHD website.

RHHD’s CHA Steering Committee has evaluated the survey results along with other data about health and well-being in Richmond and Henrico communities and has identified three priority areas to be addressed in the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP):

1. Mental Health, including Substance Use Disorder
2. Community Safety and Violence Prevention
3. Chronic Diseases

Community members who would like to participate on the CHIP steering committee for one of the three priority areas can sign up using this link. RHHD encourages people interested in staying up to date on the CHIP process to subscribe to RHHD’s newsletter.

Richmond and Henrico residents between the ages of 18 and 88 responded to the survey (465 from Henrico and 661 from Richmond). RHHD collected demographic data on respondents’ gender identities or sexual orientations, income, geographic location, experience of illness or disability, and language background, ensuring that the CHA survey data reflects Richmond and Henrico’s diversity.

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Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) are sister public health agencies serving our connected communities. Our mission is to protect health, champion equity, and partner to address local needs.
rhhd.gov | henrico.us/health | RCHD Facebook | HCHD Facebook | IG: @richmondcity_hd

RICHMOND, Va. – In support of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month, Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) partners with Henrico County Department of Social Services (HDSS) to encourage expecting and new parents and caregivers to talk their pediatrician or other healthcare provider about creating a safe sleep environment for children under the age of two.

“Knowledge is the key to reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome,” said Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Director of Community Programming Margo Webb. “Safe Sleep education helps families protect babies during a potentially dangerous time. We educate parents and caregivers about safe sleep practices as part of the Low Income Safety Seat Program.”

“In Henrico, we are collaborating across agencies to provide families with opportunities for education, understanding, and support regarding safe sleep practices for children under the age of two,” said Henrico County Department of Social Services Assistant Director of Service Programs Mandi Green. “We are committed to promoting the health and wellbeing of Henrico’s youngest residents and their families.”

RHHD and HDSS offer the following tips for creating a safe sleep environment. For more tips and information, visit the National Institutes of Health Safe to Sleep campaign.

• Always place babies on their backs for naps and when they go to sleep at night.
• Make sure the sleep surface is firm, flat, level, and covered only with a fitted sheet.
• Share a room with babies for at least the first six months. Give babies their own sleep space (crib, bassinet, or portable play yard) in your room, separate from your bed.
• Take the #ClearTheCrib Challenge and remove any extra items in the sleep area including soft objects, toys, and crib bumpers.

Approximately 3,700 infants die every year from sleep-related deaths in the U.S., the largest percentage of non-natural infant deaths.

RICHMOND, Va. – Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) encourage community members to to take steps to prevent lead poisoning, to test for lead in homes built before 1978, and to talk to a healthcare provider about testing children for lead poisoning. October 20-26 is Lead Poisoning Prevention Week.

For questions about lead testing for homes and children, RHHD encourages community members to talk to their healthcare provider, explore RHHD’s list of local pediatricians, or call RHHD’s Lead Safe and Healthy Homes Initiative at 804-205-3727. The Lead Safe and Healthy Homes initiative offers a collaborative approach that considers people’s well-being, a home’s condition, and the potential hazards to people’s health.

RHHD recommends the following steps to help prevent lead poisoning:

• Wet-clean floors and windowsills in the home regularly.
• Wash children’s hands and toys frequently.
• Be aware of chipping paint in the home. Use lead-safe practices to make sure painted surfaces are maintained or repaired. Improper paint repairs could create more hazardous lead poison conditions. Call the Health Department for advice.
• Be aware of toys, jewelry, dishes, pottery, and foods that may contain lead.
• Be aware of hobbies or jobs that may involve working with lead (stained glass making, pottery, painting/construction work).

Families should consider the following factors when assessing their risk of lead poisoning:

• Older homes can contain lead-based paint and hazardous lead dust levels. Homes built before 1978, the year the EPA banned lead-based paint, may still contain lead paint. Young children are most at risk for lead poisoning through lead dust and lead paint exposure. In the Richmond Metropolitan area, the Lead Free Water program has reduced water-based lead risks. A new federal rule requires drinking water systems across the country to identify and replace lead pipes within 10 years.
• Lead can exist in bare soil. New homes may be built on lots that still have lead dust in the soil. Families should limit the amount of time children play in bare soil, keep outside toys outside, and encourage hand washing.
• Nutrition can provide some protection from lead poising. Kids who get enough food—and especially iron, vitamin C, and calcium rich foods—are less likely to absorb high levels of lead. RHHD offers access to healthy foods for children through the WIC Supplemental Nutrition program.

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Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) are sister public health agencies serving our connected communities.

Our mission is to protect health, champion equity, and partner to address local needs.

rhhd.gov | henrico.us/health | RCHD Facebook | HCHD Facebook | IG: @richmondcity_hd<

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

RICHMOND, Va. – In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) encourage women 25 years of age and older to talk with their health care provider about their risk for developing breast cancer and women 40 and older get regular breast screenings.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a month devoted to educating people about breast cancer — including metastatic breast cancer (MBC) — and the importance of early detection and access to timely, high-quality care.

“Breast cancer screening helps find breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat,” said Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Director Elaine Perry, M.D. “We encourage people to talk to their health care provider about which breast cancer screening tests are right for them.”

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends breast cancer screening start at age 40 and continue every two years until age 74 to better serve younger women. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, data from 2015 to 2019 in the U.S. show a 2% increase in breast cancer diagnoses per year among women in their 40s. In 2023, an estimated 43,170 women died of breast cancer. Non-Hispanic White women have the highest incidence of breast cancer and non-Hispanic Black women have the highest mortality rate from breast cancer.

According to the National Cancer Institute’s State Cancer Profile, the rate of new cases of breast cancer in Virginia rose slightly between 2017 and 2021. The rate in Richmond was similar to the rate in Virginia. The rate in Henrico was somewhat higher than the rate in Virginia.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration offers this tool, which allows people to search for mammography providers by zip code. People can visit rhhd.gov/connect-pc to locate primary care providers in the Richmond and Henrico area.

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) offers Every Woman’s Life (EWL), a public health program that helps uninsured, income-eligible women gain access to free breast and cervical cancer screening services. Screening and early detection reduce death rates, improve treatment options, and greatly increase rates of survival.

To be eligible for EWL, a woman must be a Virginia resident between the ages of 18-64, meet federal income guidelines and be uninsured. Women 18-39 must be symptomatic or be determined to be high risk for breast and/or cervical cancer to be eligible.

RICHMOND, Va. — The Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) encourage people to prepare for respiratory virus season by scheduling flu and COVID-19 immunization appointments with their physician, a local pharmacy, or at an RHHD clinic or event.