As the new year rolled in, the Office of Public Health (OPH) regional teams prioritized reintroducing parish health units (PHUs) to the public in an effort to highlight new and established services, programming and building connections with the community. The outreach took the form of open house events that continue to be held across the state since launching in late January. Here is a look at some of the open houses that OPH has hosted so far. REGION 1: Greater New Orleans Area Metairie PHU team members celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and welcome attendees to the open house. Delgado P ..read more

  September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. Sickle cell disease (SCD) affects the lives of at least 3,300 Louisianans — our families, neighbors and friends. Despite the prevalence of SCD, many people remain unaware of the complexities and risks associated with this inherited blood disorder. That is why the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) plans to spotlight SCD not only this month, but throughout the coming year as part of our FY23 Business Plan.  As you may know, SCD affects the shape of the red blood cells, which carry oxygen to every part of the body. These cells are ..read more

By: Joseph Bocchini, MD Throughout my career as a pediatrician, I have witnessed the number of vaccine preventable diseases disappear after the introduction of a vaccine. These discoveries have proven to be some of the most important public health advancements in both the 20th and 21st centuries, and have helped protect against many severe infections that cause significant illnesses and fatalities in both children and adults. During the COVID-19 lockdown, many people fell behind on receiving their routine immunizations and now there is an increased need for both children and adults to catch up ..read more

Pictured, from left to right are, Undersecretary Ruth Johnson, interns Sarah Lehman, Matthew Foster, Jekila Dockery, Anna Crifasi, Isabel Zebrick and Joseph Patterson, and Tonya Joiner with the Office of the Secretary. The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) recently said farewell and thank you to its first Executive Internship Cohort. “What we do here is so important as it touches everyone from our children to our grandchildren to our neighbors. We hope we imparted that to you and that your experiences will continue to increase your interest in public health,” said Tonya Joi ..read more

To celebrate students returning to school, the Louisiana Department of Health's (LDH) regional Offices of Public Health (OPH) have been participating in back-to-school events to help families become prepared and protected against COVID-19.  OPH Region 6 (Central Louisiana) OPH Region 6 staff, representatives from Punto de Conexion and Pafford recently worked together on a backpack giveaway in Alexandria. Region 6 partnered with Pastor Juan-Jose Romero and the recently-founded Hispanic church Punto de Conexion in Alexandria to host a backpack giveaway at the Kent Plantation Hou ..read more

Vax Matters, a new podcast series from the Louisiana Department of Health’s (LDH) Immunization Program, has released the first three episodes in a planned 36-podcast series over the coming year. The podcast, with a new episode being released every two weeks, will take a deep dive and explore the history and future of vaccines, as well as address facts, misconceptions and myths on a variety of immunization topics. In each episode, host Diane Deaton, a former TV personality and weathercaster for WAFB 9News in Baton Rouge, along with a guest host, will speak with medical and infectious disease ex ..read more

By DR. MARTHA WHYTE | OPH Region 7 Medical Director Since COVID-19 vaccines first became available in December 2020, we have seen occasional changes in the vaccination guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Following the availability of and recommendation for the first series of vaccinations, boosters have been recommended for those who are eligible. Now, there is a general push for a second Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty) or Moderna (Spikevax) booster shot. With the second booster shot, many Americans are currently asking when to get it, who should get it an ..read more

The Louisiana Department of Health is celebrating National Public Health Week April 4-10, highlighting the importance of community health and the vital role public health professionals serve in making communities healthier.  Led by Assistant Secretary Kim Hood, the LDH Office of Public Health (OPH) manages the network of public health units in nine regions throughout the state. Local officials and non-profit organizations partner with OPH to make sure the most vulnerable populations have access to the care and support they need. Studies show poverty and poor health outcomes are closely ..read more

(Omar Khalid, senior advisor to Office of Public Health Assistant Secretary Kim Hood, appeared on “Jeopardy!” on March 24, where he finished in second place against Tim McCaigue, an app developer from California, and Ciara Donegan, an undergraduate student from Maryland who won first place.) The Louisiana Department of Health's Omar Khalid, right, appeared on "Jeopardy!" on March 24 with Ken Jennings as host. By OMAR KHALID | Chief of Staff, LDH Office of Public Health I’ve been a “Jeopardy!” viewer for most of my life and have taken the contestant test at least 10 times over th ..read more

By ELI MELILLO | Public Information Officer, LDH Bureau of Media and Communications In 2021, Adult Protective Services investigated 1,662 cases of abuse (emotional, physical, sexual or financial), neglect, exploitation or extortion of disabled adults between the ages of 18-59. As part of the Louisiana Department of Health's Office of Aging and Adult Services, Adult Protective Services is responsible for investigating reports of abuse and arranging for services to protect these vulnerable adults. The impact of victimization of vulnerable adults is often detrimental to their long-term safety and ..read more