Voting “yes” to support 1A is a “yes” for taking care of our community. The county funds some of this community’s core services such as public health.
La Plata County Public Health Department keeps our food safe by inspecting restaurants and reports foodborne illness. The health department also provides medical services such as immunizations, cancer screening and disease tracking/reporting such as a measles outbreak to minimize spread which also gets reported to Colorado Department of Health and Environment. These are all important services our community relies on. Without new revenue, the only option is to cut core services.
As a nurse, I understand the importance of having a robust health department. With measles outbreaks on the rise, it is imperative to have accurate reporting in order to contain the spread of disease and to encourage vaccination in our county through education and the administration of the measles vaccine.
Another key function of the La Plata County Health Department is to provide access to care for the underserved population in our county. For the uninsured, the health department offers a sliding scale fee to help make costs more affordable for specific health services listed on its website.
With recent flooding in Vallecito, the La Plata County Health Department has tested water safety and gives the most up-to-date information on safe drinking water sources.
Christine Deem, RN, MSN
Durango