South Health District

VALDOSTA – Following the 7.5-million-gallon sewage spill next to Sugar Creek earlier this month, the Georgia Department of Public Health’s South Health District will be providing free private well testing to residents along the Withlacoochee River in Lowndes and Brooks County. The testing performed by the health department checks for E. coli and coliform bacteria. […]

Protect Yourself and Prevent the Spread of Flu ATLANTA –  If you have not gotten a flu shot yet, do not wait any longer. Flu is widespread throughout Georgia. Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that so far this season there have been at least 2.6 million flu-related illnesses and 1,300 […]

IRWIN, BEN HILL AND TURNER COUNTY, Ga. – The Irwin, Ben Hill and Turner County Health Departments are offering free tetanus and hepatitis A vaccinations for all responders and volunteers cleaning up debris from Tuesday’s severe weather. The CDC recommends all responders receive a tetanus booster if they have not been vaccinated for tetanus during […]

VALDOSTA – Raising a baby takes a village. Now South Health District’s Baby LUV/Parents As Teachers (PAT) Healthy Start Program can be part of that village for more families. Baby LUV was created in 2008 due to the high infant mortality rate in Lowndes County. In 2018, it became the Baby LUV/PAT Program focusing on […]

Georgia Department of Public Health’s South Health District’s Emergency Preparedness Director Lauren Bewley received the Michael Terwilliger Community Preparedness Leadership Award on November 15. The award is named for Michael Terwilliger who served as South Health District’s Emergency Coordinator from 2002 to 2013. Mike was a staunch believer in developing community partnerships as a successful […]

The schedule of events for the week is below: Proclamation and Memorial/Candlelight Vigil Date: Wednesday, November 20th Time: 12 – 1:30 PM Location: South Health District Office 325 West Savannah Avenue Movie Showing: The Ryan White Story Date: Thursday, November 21st Time: 3-5 PM Location: Student Union Theater N Oak St Health Forum and Luncheon […]

Georgia Department of Public Health’s South Health District named Blake Lowery the 2018 Employee of the Year on October 10. Lowery is an Environmental Health Specialist in Lowndes County. South Health District wants to thank Lowery for his hard work and dedication to the district and communities they serve. Pictured are District Program Manager/Deputy Health […]

October marks the observance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness month across the United States. Nearly 4,000 infants die suddenly and unexpectedly each year in the United States.  As of 2018, Georgia averages three infant deaths every week due to SIDS and other sleep-related deaths. Many of these deaths result from accidental suffocation, overlay […]

Individuals Urged to Stop Using E-cigarettes, Vaping Devices Atlanta -The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) has identified the state’s first death from a vaping-associated illness. The death did not occur within and the patient was not a resident of the South Health District. The patient had a history of heavy nicotine vaping, but no […]