Solano County celebrates National Public Health Week

Solano County is celebrating National Public Health Week, as it was declared by the Solano County Board of Supervisors at its last meeting. The week runs from April 1 to April 7 each year and aims to highlight the importance of public health programs, services and workers.

In Solano County, public health officials provide Flu and COVID-19 information, emergency preparedness and community events, as well as other services.

“Solano Public Health prevents the spread of diseases, promotes health and protects the public from health problems and hazards,” the department's website reads. “Our staff provides services such as conducting public health nurse home visits for moms and

babies, providing medical care in our clinics, investigating disease outbreaks, advancing local ordinances to protect residents' health, and preparing for public health emergencies.”

National Public Health week seeks to educate the public on the work that is being done within their communities regarding public health and to connect constituents to their elected officials on issues of public health.

“When we all come together to support public health, all of us — individuals, families, communities and the public health field — can achieve the goals of public health,” The NPHW website reads.

Solano County Public Health offers many resources to the public, including HIV testing, in home supportive services for the elderly, infant safety information, Flu, TDAP and COVID-19 vaccines, nutritional information and more.

Currently, The Napa-Solano-Yolo-Marin-Mendocino County Public Health Laboratory is seeking college students and recent graduates interested in microbiology to serve as Public Health Laboratory Volunteers. The lab describes itself as “a regional laboratory to protect local communities against communicable diseases by providing diagnostic and reference laboratory services to healthcare professionals, clinics, hospitals, and law enforcement.”

The department also operates VIBE Solano, a group dedicated to community wellness and healthy behaviors in Solano County. The group advocates for safe, walkable neighborhoods with safe areas for physical activity, access to nutritious food and free drinking water. VIBE Solano also provides information about the avoidance of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

“National Public Health Week gives us the opportunity as a community to come together and acknowledge public health successes and efforts to promote and protect health, as well as prevent disease and injury,” said Bela T. Matyas, M.D., M.P.H., Solano County Health Officer. “We thank our Public Health staff for their continued dedication to promoting healthy, livable communities for Solano.”