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<br />Board of Health Programs: A Five Year Summary <br />Over the past five years and including the time during which the current health <br />assessment took place, the Board of Health worked to strengthen its core public health <br />program and create a foundation to meet future needs of the community. Steps toward <br />this goal, in addition to the health assessment itself, include the following: <br />Revision of Local Regulations <br />. As of 1997, local health regulations had not been revised <br />since 1953. At the beginning of 2002, all local regulations had been completely revised, <br />with many new regulations added to protect community health and well-being. <br />Improved Public Health Nursing Program <br />. Public health nurses play a critical role in <br />infectious disease prevention, monitoring and control, and may contribute to the <br />prevention of chronic diseases through screening and counseling. The creation of a staff <br />position with the Board of Health in 1998 resulted in increased contact with local <br />healthcare providers, improved health screening services, and more vaccinations and <br />preventative services for residents. Reinforcement of the position also strengthened the <br />Town’s capacity to respond to a pandemic disease outbreak, to a bioterrorist attack or <br />other emergency event. <br />Health Screening <br />. The Board promoted greater accessibility to health screening services <br />for residents in an effort to prevent the morbidity and mortality of specific widespread <br />diseases. Blood pressure testing for all residents is now available through the Health <br />Department. Screening for susceptibility to Type 2 Diabetes will be available as of <br />November 2002. Tuberculosis testing is available to residents at high risk for the disease. <br />Increased Vaccination Coverage <br />. The Board advanced vaccination of at-risk groups <br />and expanded clinical testing for diseases, including: 1) Hepatitis B vaccinations for <br />adolescents; 2) influenza vaccinations for seniors, residents 50 years of age and older, <br />and the chronically ill; 3) Hepatitis B for first responders; 4) pneumococcal disease <br />vaccinations for seniors. Tetanus vaccines may also be obtained from the Public Health <br />Nurse. <br />Enhanced Environmental Protection <br />: To protect the local environment and protect <br />community health, the Board of Health has initiated or participated in the following <br />programs: <br />Minuteman Household Hazardous Waste Facility: The Board contributed to the <br />development and operation of the facility that provides the community with <br />better, ongoing access for hazardous materials disposal than the single day event <br />of years past. <br />Toxics Use Reduction Programs: The Board of Health has received two separate <br />grants from the Toxics Use Reduction Institute to reduce toxics usage in the <br />community. The first program addressed toxics usage by residents and small <br /> <br />