West Piedmont Health District

Serving the City of Martinsville and the counties of Henry, Franklin, and Patrick

Hurricane Helene Post-Storm Response

The Virginia Department of Health continues to respond to Hurricane Helene by coordinating with affected local health districts and partner agencies. VDH is providing information on food safety, mold clean up, natural water safety, boil water instructions, well clean up and safety, and post-storm cleanup. Visit Hurricane Helene Post-Storm Response - Newsroom (virginia.gov)

Personal health literacy is how well a person can find, understand, and use information and services to make decisions about their own health and the health of others; and Organizational health literacy is how well organizations equitably help all people find, understand, and use information and services to make decisions about their own health and others.

Long COVID Survey

VDH is conducting a study about how Long COVID is impacting communities in Southwest Virginia. You can help WPHD by participating! To learn more, click on the flier and scan the QR code or visit https://redcap.link/virginialongcovidstudy.

National Take Back Day

The DEA National Take Back event to collect unneeded or unwanted prescription drugs has been scheduled for October 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In Martinsville-Henry County, take your items to the Martinsville Fire Department. This is a drive-through drop off. In Franklin County, go to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office or the Kroger West Lake. See and download the fliers in English and Spanish: Martinsville-Henry - English, Spanish Franklin County - English, Spanish

Get to Know WPHD

A Mighty Voice for the Hispanic Community – “It’s in my heart.”

Since coming to the United States from her home in Puerto Rico in 2002, Maite (pronounced “Mighty”) Arroyo-Torres has used her voice to help others find their place in our local communities. Currently serving as a Certified Medical Interpreter for the West Piedmont Health District, Arroyo-Torres’s primary goal is to help the Hispanic community. “Sometimes they come here, and they have nobody to help them,” she said.

It can be a big job. . . Read more.

West Piedmont Receives National Award
for Model Practice

West Piedmont Health District (WPHD) is among 14 local health departments across the nation, and the only one in Virginia, to be recognized for a Model Practice, by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). Model Practices are programs demonstrating exemplary and replicable qualities in response to a critical local public health need. WPHD’s initiative, Community Health Workers as Data Collectors Provides Equity in Rural Virginia, garnered the award during the NACCHO annual conference in Detroit on July 25. Read more.

Steve Bailey Earns BEACON Award

Steve Bailey has received the VDH 1st Quarter BEACON award winner (Jan – Mar 2024). BEACON award winners are VDH public health nurses recognized for Breaking Barriers, Empathy, Art of Caring, Community Advocacy, Original Ideas, and Never Ending Diligence.

Verna Burnette, Nurse Manager, Sr. nominated Steve for the award based on his emphatic nature with both patients and staff, and his dedication and commitment to the job. The nomination is forwarded to the state Director of Nursing, and a Beacon Award Committee selects quarterly winners.

Millner Earns CHW certification credential

Karen Millner recently earned a certified community health worker credential. She serves Martinsville, Henry Couty and Franklin County through United Way of Henry County/Martinsville, where she began working in 2021, during the height of the COVID pandemic.

“I was drawn to this role because I truly wanted to make a difference and assist with getting the community vaccinated during that time. Now that we have pivoted the pandemic, I get to continue helping those who need other services and resources. I absolutely love what I do at the United Way,” she said. Millner is a native of Martinsville and holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Health.