On May 12, the Sabine Parish Health Unit held a well-attended open house, which marked a new era in the long-running public health facility.
The facility was initially completed 23 years ago and recently underwent some renovation. Also housed at the Health Unit are the offices of the Sabine Parish Sanitarian. Recently, the Coroner’s Office moved into the facility, and will have a permanent home there.
In attendance were a number of local elected officials including but not limited to Many Police Chief Cheryl Wooley, Sheriff Aaron Mitchell, Director of the Chamber of Commerce Shanna Gaspard, Clerk of Court Shelly Salter, and Tax Assessor Chris Tidwell. Numerous members of the local medical community set up booths. Numerous health officials from the region were also recognized.
Dawn Leone, who serves as head nurse at the Health Unit and is in her 33rd year of employ at the facility, began a little introductory ceremony by recognizing the many people in attendance.
Afterward, she turned her attention to services they render.
The Health Unit is the only facility in the parish to offer access to the Women, Infants, and Children Program, more commonly known as WIC., and serves around 800 families. WIC is a special supplemental nutrition program for breastfeeding, pregnant, and postpartum women, infants, and children under the age of five. The program offers a variety of nutritious foods, nutrition information, breastfeeding promotion, breastfeeding support, and referrals to other health and social services. The foods provided include infant formula, infant fruits/vegetables, infant cereal, adult cereals low in sugar and high in iron, milk, cheese, juice, eggs, peanut butter or dried beans/peas, whole grains, canned fish, and fresh fruits and vegetables.
“The program is doubly important in an area such as Sabine where poverty levels reach 23 percent,” Leone said.
To contrast, the United States Census Bureau has released figures that state 11.6 percent of Americans live in poverty.
The Health Unit also provides a reproductive health program, which offers birth control, pap smears, mammogram referrals, and testing for sexually transmitted diseases.
“Syphilis is on the rise in the area,” Leone cautioned. “Early detection and treatment of such diseases is paramount.”
The vaccination program was also highlighted. The Health Unit offers vaccines to infants and children, along with adults who qualify. They offer the flu and COVID-19 shots to everyone.
The Health Unit is also the local facility to treat tuberculosis, which Leone pointed out still exists.
Sanitarian Krista McCormic also highlighted the services that the Office of the Sanitarian renders to the community. She enforces the laws, rules, and regulations for maintaining and promoting community hygiene. She is concerned with the development of sanitary standards and technical aspects in the engineering, construction, and supervision of operators of various facilities such as those in the culinary field.
Dr. Mark Holder, who serves as parish coroner, was also introduced and spoke about the Coroner’s Office, which now has a permanent home at the Health Unit.
“This is our first time to have an actual coroner’s office,” Holder said. “We have a good staff and are working toward becoming accredited. We are moving forward and getting established.”
He also introduced Stanley Cook as his chief investigator. David Self is also involved with the office.
A coroner is a public official whose primary duty is to determine and certify the cause of death. They also work closely with law enforcement on deaths that are considered, violent, unexpected, suspicious, or unattended.
Following the brief ceremony, refreshments were served and there was a time to catch up and tour the building and its new renovations.
Shortly after, there was the donation of a painting that is to be hung in the lobby.
For those interested in the programs offered by the Sabine Parish Health Unit, please do not hesitate to give them a call at 318-256-4105 or stop by the location at 1230 W. Louisiana Ave., Many. v