Nassau County Celebrates "Public Health Thank-You Day"

In recognition of "Public Health Thank You Day" (November 24th) Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi thanked the staff of the Nassau County Department of Health for their continuing efforts and often silent guardianship and protection of the public’s health.

"Members of the public health workforce are the hidden guardians of public safety. Every day, they safeguard our lives and our health by helping to prevent the spread of disease, safeguard our water, inspect our restaurants and help our children grow healthy and strong," said County Executive Suozzi. "We are thankful that the public health community is working to protect the health of Nassau County everyday, and for everyone."

Health Commissioner Dr. Maria Torroella Carney recognized the County Executive for his continuing support of public health and for his "Healthy Nassau" initiatives to help make Nassau the healthiest county in the nation.

Working to keep Nassau County residents healthy and safe, in 2007 the Department of Health:

• Inspected almost 5,400 food service establishments
• Collected  4,300 samples of drinking water for comprehensive testing
• Monitored the abandonment of over1,850 small/homeowner fuel oil tanks and 22 commercial tanks, and the removal of 559 small/homeowner fuel oil tanks and 159 commercial tanks.
• Speciated 21,300 individual mosquitoes and collected 466 pools of mosquitoes for testing
• Issued 97 violations notices of the Clean Indoor Air Act which protects workers from exposure to second-hand smoke.
• Provided 8,200 observations for all 44 confirmed cases of TB as part of the Directly Observed Therapy Program.
• Received and reviewed almost 23,000 laboratory reports of 72 communicable diseases
• Provided nutrition education and food supplements monthly to approximately 12,000 women, infants and children in the WIC Program
• Received and reviewed reports of 30,500 blood lead tests on children

Public Health Thank You Day is supported, among others,  by Research!America, the American Public Health Association, Association of Schools of Public Health, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and the National Association of County & City Health Officials (NACCHO). 

For general information about the Department of Health’s services, check the department website at nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/health or call 516-227-9697.