Health care harder to find in Auglaize County

Auglaize County moved from

8th to 9th in new county health rankings, Health Department Commissioner Oliver Fisher announced Tuesday during the board of health meeting.

Ratios for primary care, mental health providers, and dentists are lower than other counties. He said this means people can’t get care as easily as people in other areas.

Another main area of focus continues to be obesity statistics, which increased from 35 percent to 39 percent among adults, according to survey data. The survey

error margin was 37 to 41 percent and it was advised against year to year comparisons. The state average is 35 percent.

Fisher is factoring obesity into Community Health Improvement Plan. The plan will promote access to health through telemedicine

options and promoting increased activity through a community calendar.

Auglaize County’s level of children in poverty at 7 percent is low compared to the state average of 17 percent. Fisher noted since he

has been at the health department Auglaize has stayed in the top 15

counties. He said Auglaize County was comparable in population to

Mercer County, which was ranked 7th and Putnam County, which was ranked 5th.

There were multiple reports of hepatitis among adults, including two reports of Hepatitis B two reports of Hepatitis A and three reports Hepatitis C. County Nursing Director Jessica Wuebker

said those reports often come through addiction and recovery centers.

COVID-19 numbers continue to decline. A total of 32 cases were reported in April. Wuebker said Ohio as a whole has seen numbers start to rise again.

“We are always just a few weeks behind that” national trend,wuebker said.

She reported immunizations have increased; department staff provided 513 immunizations in

April.

She said offerings for second booster vaccinations have been filing up.

Environmental

Health Director Curt Anderson educated

board members about septic systems through a video presentation, as he expects

guidance on

household sewer treatment programs.

Board members also renewed Dr. Juan Torres as the

Auglaize County Medical Director and

accepted a $72,652 grant for Public Health Emergency Preparedness.