March is National Nutrition Month and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program are joining with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to remind Michiganders about the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits.  Good nutrition is an important part of leading a healthy lifestyle. Combined with physical activity, your diet can help you to reach and maintain a healthy weight, reduce your risk of chronic diseases and improve your overall health.  Unhealthy eating habits have contributed to the obesity epidemic in the United States with about one-third of U.S. adults and approximately 17 percent of children and adolescents aged 2 – 19 years being considered obese.  Even for people at a healthy weight, a poor diet is associated with major health risks that can cause illness and even death. These include heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and certain types of cancer. By making smart food choices, you can help protect yourself from these health problems.  Michigan residents are urged to follow these healthy eating tips throughout National Nutrition Month and the rest of the year:

• Get into a wellness state of mind. Balance your diet with food from all food groups. Get active every day with enjoyable movement.
• Eat right with MyPlate. Make small changes to make healthier choices you can enjoy.
• Make half your plate fruits and vegetables. They add color, flavor and texture plus vitamins, minerals and fiber. Focus on whole fruits. Vary your veggies.
• Make half your grains, whole grains. Vary your protein routine, include seafood, beans and peas, unsalted nuts and seeds, soy products, eggs and lean meats and poultry.
• Become a smart shopper by reading food labels to find out more about the foods you eat.
• Reduce food waste by transforming leftovers into meals, using the foods already on hand, and practicing good food safety.
• Change to low-fat or fat-free milk or yogurt to cut back on saturated fat.
• Drink and eat less sodium, saturated fat and added sugars. Drink water instead of sugary drinks.

For more information about healthy eating and lifestyle, visit Eatright.org.  WIC is a federally-funded program that serves low income women, infants and children up to age 5, by providing nutritious food, nutrition education, breastfeeding promotion and support and referrals to health and other services. WIC foods are selected to meet nutrient needs such as calcium, iron, folic acid, vitamins A & C.   To learn more about WIC or find an agency near you, call 211 or visit Michigan.gov/WIC.

Measles Threat- The Resurgence of a Vaccine Preventable Disease
Sometimes what we don’t know can hurt us. In the case of vaccines, it is what some THINK they know that is hurting all of us. Prior to the measles vaccine (in 1963) there were approximately 500,000 cases and 500 deaths REPORTED per year from measles, with epidemics every 2-3 years. The actual number of cases was estimated at 3-4 million per year. That was a lot of disease with really sick kids! Fortunately since the start of measles vaccination availability in the late 1960’s, measles cases have dropped dramatically and by early 2000 we had a record low annual rate of 37 cases. Most cases now are “imported” from outside of the United States which initiates a public health response and notification of air travel contacts to seek medical attention due to exposure.  Unfortunately, false information about autism, side effects and general distrust of vaccines has led to more and more people opting out of getting their shot. This “anti-vax” movement is driven by fear, complacency, and sophisticated (albeit passionate) dissemination of misinformation and misrepresentation of facts. In fact so many people are “opting out’ of vaccines that the World Health Organization has recently declared “vaccine hesitancy” (the unwillingness or reluctance to get vaccinated) one of the 10 biggest global health threats of 2019. Right up there with Ebola and antibiotic resistance!  What is the result of vaccine hesitancy? Quite simply, the return of these horrible diseases. Currently we are seeing yet another measles outbreak in the US, largely attributable to pockets of unvaccinated children who easily spread the virus. St. Clair County is a vulnerable community as well. We have only about 70% of our children fully immunized against measles by the age of 5. In addition our “waiver” rates for school age children (parents who “opt out” of vaccinating their children for non-medical
purposes) is between 5-17% depending on schools district. Some individual schools have waiver rates as high as 26%!  One thing I can say about parents that fail to vaccinate their children, most do not wish harm on their children. In fact they would say they are protecting them by these decisions. Although the desire to protect our children is admirable, doing so based on erroneous opinions puts all of us in harm’s way.  The “reasons” people base their oppositions to vaccines in NOT consistent with what we know from decades of research, science and surveillance. There is no conspiracy to harm a person with a vaccine, in fact the exact opposite is true! Vaccines save lives, and a fully vaccinated community protects each other. If you are not convinced, please seek out balanced reliable information. A couple of good sources
are “I Vaccinate” https://ivaccinate.org/answering-your-questions/ or the Alliance for Immunization in Michigan (AIM) http://www.aimtoolkit.org/health-care . OR come in and speak to one of our expert Immunization Nurses. Let’s work together to make St. Clair County a healthier community, and one that is less vulnerable to vaccine preventable diseases!

Yours in health,
Annette Mercatante, MD, MPH
Medical Health Officer
St. Clair County Health Department

St. Clair County Community College’s certified nurse aid (CNA) training program will offer another session beginning March 19. The program prepares students to take the Michigan CNA exam and immediately enter the health care field as certified nurse aides in just 96 hours.  Students who successfully complete the program will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to begin careers as certified nurse aides, nursing assistants or hospital assistants in a number of health care settings. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for those with CNA skills is expected to increase by 12 percent in Michigan over the next six years.  “Becoming a CNA is a great way to get started in the health care field,” says Patti Tibble, director of SC4’s nursing program. “The skills students develop in our program provide a great foundation to continue their education and build a long, successful career in the field. Kathy McGrath is a wonderful instructor who really cares about students’ success and makes each session informative and fun.”  This program has no prerequisites, however applicants are strongly encouraged to take the free Accuplacer tests available through the college’s Testing Center in order to prepare for further studies in nursing, health care or other subjects in the future.  Admission to the program is competitive and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested applicants are encouraged to sign up for course ZPAH 159-02 as soon as possible to ensure their spot. Prospective students can learn more by calling 810-989-5666 and register online at sc4.edu/cna.

Art on the River has announced that the Dereck St. Holmes Band will be the headliner on Saturday, June 8, 2019 at 8:30 p.m.  Dereck St. Holmes joined forces with Ted Nugent in 1974 and brought a strong set of pipes, solid musicianship and songwriting skills to Nugent’s music, and in March of 1975, the world was introduced to him via Nugent’s self-titled debut album.  While it was Nugent slinging down the guitar licks, it was Derek’s voice all over FM radio singing the soon to be classics, “Stranglehold,” “Stormtroopin” and “just What the Doctor Ordered.”  Nugent and St. Holmes continued their winning combination for three more iconic albums, Free For All in 1976, Cat Scratch Fever in 1977 and Double Live Gonzo in 1978.  Derek is presently playing solo on a variety of Blues Tours and traveling with his own Band, the Derek St. Holmes Band and pleasing rock and roll fans throughout the U.S.  Derek St. Holmes is a living testament to hard work and dedication.  To see more about Derek St. Holmes and his amazing career visit www.artontheriverph.com – Headline Band.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is seeking public comment on its Mother Infant Health and Equity Improvement Plan, which will be a focal point of the second annual Maternal Infant Health Summit, March 12-13, at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing.  The 2019 Mother Infant Health Equity and Improvement Plan is a comprehensive statewide population health plan. It was developed by MDHHS in collaboration with a broad range of maternal and infant health stakeholders and the guidance of the Maternal Infant Strategy Group. The Improvement Plan’s vision is: Zero preventable deaths. Zero health disparities.  The plan promotes health equity as a priority throughout its initiatives by identifying marginalized populations and addressing persistent health disparities. Its grassroots approach incorporates direct feedback from communities, including mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, grandparents, faith-based organizations and other community groups.  A critical intervention to help prevent maternal mortality included in the plan is Michigan Alliance for Innovation in Maternal Health (MI AIM) safety bundles. Safety bundles help fully equip hospitals with actionable protocols, necessary equipment, staff education and drills to prevent and adequately treat severe maternal events. MI AIM designated hospitals will be recognized at the March Summit for implementing safety bundles at their facilities.  Comments on the plan must be received by 5 p.m. on March 11, and can be submitted to MDHHS-FamilyHealthServices@michigan.gov.

For more information about the Summit and the Improvement Plan, visit Michigan.gov/MIHEIP.

Tomorrow, Saturday, March 2nd the St. Clair County Animal Control at 3378 Griswold Road in Port Huron, will host a special animal adoption event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  According to St. Clair County Administrator Controller, Karry Hepting there will be discounted rates on the cats and dogs for adoption.  Hepting said they have some long-timers as well as some senior animals, and they will be offering different discounts and specials on various pets that they have available in an attempt to move them into homes.  In the past, at the empty the shelters events, people needed to apply and be pre-qualified prior to the event, and that is NOT the case for this event.  Applications can be filled out at the shelter, no need to make an appointment or pre-register.