The 2004 Kosciusko County Health Department annual report provides information on the work the department has done in the past year, from grant writing to water laboratory certification.

At the Kosciusko County Board of Health meeting Wednesday, county health administrator Bob Weaver said copies of the report have been provided to the county council, commissioners, auditor and county administrator, as well as board members.

Grants the health department received in 2004 include a $30,000 local health maintenance grant, $34,000 tobacco master settlement grant, $19,200 tobacco supplement and $14,175 prenatal grant, all from the Indiana State Department of Health; and a $40,000 Well Child grant from the United Way of Kosciusko County. The 2004 general budget for the health department was $501,971, with expenditures of $441,293.57, resulting in a balance of $60,677.43.

The total number of live births in Kosciusko County was 834 in 2004, down from 891 in 2003. Hospital births in 2004 were 808, compared to 859 in 2003; and home births, 26 in 2004 and 32 in 2003. There were 19 adoptions in 2004, down from 25 in 2003. Total deaths in Kosciusko County in 2004 were 510, up from 468 in 2003.

The health department performed more environmental investigations in 2004 than in 2003. Investigations included trash (85 in 2004, 80 in 2003); sewage (64 in 2004, 65 in 2003); housing (85 in 2004, 55 in 2003); condemnations (three in 2004, 10 in 2003); removals of structures that may be an imminent danger to the public (eight in 2004, three in 2003); beaches (48 in 2004, 32 in 2003); pool inspections (53 in 2004, five in 2003); well tests (147 in 2004, 142 in 2003); and treatment of stagnant bodies of water to prevent mosquitoes' larva from hatching (10 in 2004, 47 in 2003).

New septic permits issued in 2004 were 327, down from 338 in 2003. Repair permits issued also were down from 257 in 2003 to 248 in 2004.

Overall, the number of well permits issued in 2004 were slightly down from 2003. Existing well permits totaled 287 in 2004, with new well permits totaling 321, compared to 303 and 314, respectively, in 2003.

County food specialists performed a total of 1,044 food inspections in 2004. There were 18 food recalls issued by the Food and Drug Administration in which food specialists were sent to grocery stores and convenience stores to check compliance. In 2003, there were 1,013 inspections and 31 recalls.

At the immunization clinic, there were 5,330 total children's visits in 2004, about triple the 1,796 visits in 2003. Vaccines administered totaled 12,199 in 2004, down from 14,534 in 2003. Tuberculosis screenings and follow-ups were nearly identical in 2004 (63) and 2003 (62). Home visits were up in 2004 at 96, compared to 67 in 2003. Flu vaccines totaled 1,100 in 2004, up from 600 in 2003.

In the Maternal Child Health Care program, there were 235 initial home visits of new clients in 2004, up from 221 in 2003. There also were 227 physicians care in the county and nearby counties in 2004, up from 210 in 2003. During the latter stages, the physicans in the Early Start prenatal clinic help the women with their pregnancy throughout their pregnancy.

Most of the numbers for the Early Start Prenatal program were up in 2004 compared to 2003, including: Early Start patients, 202 in 2004, 188 in 2003; first trimester patients, 126 in 2004, 100 in 2003; second trimester patients, 62 in 2004, 74 in 2003; third trimester patients, 14 in 2004 and 2003; physician's prenatal care clients, 26 in 2004, 25 in 2003; prenatal care alcohol risk, six in 2004, 10 in 2003; prenatal care drug risk, seven in 2004, six in 2003; prenatal care cigarette risk, 90 in 2004, 75 in 2003; prenatal vitamins dispensed, 230 individuals in 2004, 206 in 2003; and individuals referred to community program, 343 in 2004, 349 in 2003.

New patients at the Well Child Clinic totaled 290 in 2004, up from 172 in 2003. At the clinic, 455 vaccines were administered in 2004, up from 437 in 2003.

On Aug. 19, the health department became a state and environmental protection agency-approved laboratory for the testing of drinking water and surface water. This certification allows the health department to become one of a small number of Indiana health departments to earn this certification.

Benefits, according to the annual report, include greater cost-effectiveness and more timely laboratory results in everyday situations as well as emergency situations.

The mission statement of the county health department is "to promote, protect and improve the public health of all Kosciusko County citizens and visitors in a cost-effective and servant-like manner." [[In-content Ad]]