SOUTHERN SEVEN HEALTH DEPARTMENT

In case you were wondering...

Our staff had a wonderful time at the Dignity Fair in Metropolis on Wednesday. So many great agencies were on-hand to provide needed services to visitors. Many thanks to Arrowleaf, Southern Illinois Center for Independent Living (SICIL), and their partners for putting this together.

On December 18, Amy Oxford and Jared Long, staff for Senator Dale Fowler, visited Southern 7 Mounds Head Start to give books to children enrolled in the program. Each child received two books to take home. The donation was compliments of ReaderLink and made possible through the Fowler Bonan Foundation, whose mission is to help children and families in need throughout 19 Southern Illinois counties by supplying basic necessities. 

Southern 7 Health Department concluded its annual community Flu and COVID-19 shot clinics in December. Drive-thru and onsite clinics were held at various locations throughout the lower seven Illinois county region beginning in early October. The health department reports that 472 Flu and 263 COVID-19 vaccinations were given. Both Flu and COVID-19 shots are available by appointment at each Southern 7 Public Health Clinic. Flu shots are also available on the Wellness on Wheels (WOW) mobile health clinic. 

Looking to try a new podcast in 2025? Check out the Southern 7 Podcast by starting with this one! Available through the Southern 7 app and YouTube channel, Spotify, and many other podcast platforms.

On November 19, the Fowler Bonan Foundation, overseen by Senator Dale Fowler and staff, and Local 773 Union delivered Thanksgiving turkeys and groceries to families enrolled in Southern 7 Mounds Head Start. Many thanks to Senator Fowler and all those associated with this donation.

November 21 was National Rural Health Day. An opportunity to bring attention to and honor the incredible efforts of rural healthcare providers, communities, organizations, State Offices of Rural Health, and other stakeholders dedicated to addressing the unique healthcare needs of rural America. Southern 7 Health Department is one of 97 local health departments in Illinois under IDPH. It’s the largest surface area health department in the state covering the roughly 2,300 square miles of the lower southernmost seven counties, serving roughly 64,500 people. As a local health department, Southern 7 is focused on disease prevention that includes, but is not limited to, vaccines, STD testing, environmental health inspections and testing, health education, cancer prevention, family nutrition, and much more. The department relies heavily on the many dedicated rural healthcare partners in the region to help their clients get the treatment and services they need close to home. We thank them for all they do!

Partnering with the many agencies and organizations in our region to share health information with our communities is something all staff at Southern 7 enjoy! On November 14, Health Educators Kerie Rumsey and Jennifer Worthen attended Massac Memorial Hospital's "Giving Thanks for our Health" Fall Health Fair. To learn about the many services and programs available through Southern 7 Health Department, call 618-634-2297 or download the Southern 7 app.

Quick note from our Environmental Health team: Ticks are tiny. They are also still active during the cooler months. Stay vigilant! Remember to check yourself, kids and pets after spending time outdoors.

On October 26, the Anna Oasis Shrine Club held its annual Shriners Children's St. Louis free Screening Clinic for Pediatric Orthopedic Conditions at the Southern 7 Health Department public health clinic in Anna. Pictured L-R: Dr. Pam Hunter-Reach; Dr. Neil Micnheimer, Ainad Hospital Unit; Doug Sauerbrunn, Anna Oasis Shrine; Dr. B.J. Reach; Jeff Shields, Ainad Shrine Ambassador; and David Price, Ainad Hospital Unit.