Medical Advisor Discusses Highlights of 2011

Delaware County’s senior Medical Advisor Dr. George Avetian on Wednesday explained to Patch some of the highlights of the county’s Health Advisory Board.

Avetian said that the board’s public meeting held Tuesday night showcased some of the highlights of what it accomplished in 2011.

Some of those accomplishments are:

• The board and the commonwealth’s Department of Health held four flu clinics in October through January of this year and administered more than 1,300 shots.

• There was a food drive, where more than 12,000 lbs of non-perishable foods were donated.

• A “take back the drugs program,” where prescription drugs were delivered to drop off points were they could be safely discarded. More than 900 lbs of drugs were collected in April, while more than 550 lbs were collected in October.

Some of the plans that the board would like to do for 2012, Avetian explained, include:

• In connection with Independence Blue Cross, the board will go to underprovided areas in the county to give screening services and to give out health information.

• With the board and the Department of Health, there are plans to give tetanus boosters to first responders.

Avetian also said that he created a Facebook page and Twitter account for the board to alert county residents of any new developments.