HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93009_1832 (2)this request. Specifically, expenditures discussed for 97-98 were:
Pregnancy Tests $ 390
STD (community awareness) 509
Maternal Health 35,840
(Ultrasound machine, non-stress fetal test machine, medical supplies, and contract for
security guard and interpreter.)
MOTION by Commissioner Fortner to approve Budget Amendment #41, in the amount of
$36,739.00, for the purpose of recognizing Medicaid Maximization Escrow and appropriation to
expenditure line items.
VOTING: Ayes - 4; Nays - 0.
REQUEST FROM HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR PERMISSION TO APPLY FOR
MARCH OF DIMES GRANT: Ms. Blaufuss explained that the health department was requesting
to apply for a grant in the amount of $11,876. The local March of Dimes office has identified the
reduction of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) as a priority for remaining grant money. Blaufuss
said that since 1992 the health department had conducted a community diagnosis which covered all
aspects of health. Consistently, sexually transmitted diseases have been listed as top health
problems. The "Healthier Iredell County Initiative" also identified syphilis as one of the problems
that Iredell County needed to address. Blaufuss said Iredell County's syphilis rate was 63% higher
than the State's rate. She also mentioned that the Institute of Health had stated the only way for
public health to approach the problem was through a multi -faceted approach. She said the March
of Dimes application was written with the following components.
Medical Supplies
Syphilis lab tests of selected jail population S 1,909.00
Condoms for distribution to high-risk population 642.00
Contracted Services
Health Educator will train "Lay Health Advisors" to
educate communities about STDs 8,500.00
Community, Awareness
Educational materials 825.00
$ 11,876.00
Vice Chairman Johnson said he had a concern about the distribution of condoms. He asked
Blaufuss if she knew of anything that could be purchased that would accomplish the same results.
Blaufuss said syphilis was a problem in particular communities. She advised that if there were
concerns about the condom distribution that the health department could delete this from the grant
and use the money for additional educational materials.
MOTION by Commissioner Fortner approve the Health Department's March of Dimes
grant application as presented.
AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION: Vice Chairman Johnson amended the motion by
deleting the condom distribution component.
Commissioner Fortner said she would accept the amendment since Mr. Johnson felt so
strongly about the matter.
Commissioner Stewart said she had concerns for women who had children born with medical
problems, e.g., blindness. She mentioned that some of these women were in fact married and had
contracted diseases from their spouses. She said if it was only the individual afflicted with syphilis
that suffered the consequences it would be one matter, but it was another matter when unbom
children were affected.