OPINION: Midland Health Department looks out for well-being of all citizens

Opinion
Webp whitneycraig
Dr. Whitney Craig | Provided photo

Midland Health Department is more than just shots.

Our mission is to promote and assure the health and well-being of the citizens of Midland and Midland County. We can do this by aiming to prevent disease and promote good health by providing services to the community that focuses on prevention.

Many Midland residents know the Midland Health Department as the place to receive a needed vaccine. In 2023, 18,267 shots were provided.

But our clinical services include:

- Testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV,

- Pregnancy testing,

- Blood pressure monitoring,

- Tuberculosis testing.

All totaled, Midland Health Department officials saw 8,901 patients in 2023. 

The Midland Health Department also carries out numerous other programs, such as Environmental Services, which is dedicated to ensuring compliance with State of Texas rules on food safety.

Did you know it is the Midland Health Department that serves the public with inspections of restaurants, food trucks and other locations where food and drink is served? Nearly 1,000 in 2023.

But our Environmental Services officials also monitor sewage systems, public and semipublic aquatic facilities and ensure state guidelines for childcare, foster care, adoption and on-site storage facilities by inspection, monitoring and permitting.

The Midland Health Department’s Public Health Emergency Preparedness Section develops and implements programs to respond quickly and effectively to threats endangering public health in the City of Midland / Midland County area. 

And the Community Health Education Section uses evidence-based research to develop programs, training, and materials to help improve community health and educate community leaders, agencies, organizations and community members on community health topics.  

What does the Midland Health Department do? The following is a list of services provided and events that help make Midland a healthier community.

- Annual Spring Health Resource Fair

- Annual Fall Festival and Resource Fair

- Public Health Emergency Preparedness Planning

- Process for Opening a Food Truck

- Inspections of Daycares and Foster Cares

- Collaboration with NewsWest 9

- Outreach in Community Offering Flu and COVID-19 Vaccination

- Working Closely with MISD for timely vaccination of Students

- Disease Investigation Team Composed of our Epidemiologist, Disease Investigation Coordinator and Disease Investigators

- Assistance Registering with ImmTrac2 and Pulling Records

The Midland Health Department is important to a healthy community by providing health services to the community that focus on prevention. We aim to prevent disease, promote good health and assure the well-being of the City of Midland and Midland County citizens. 

Online: https://www.midlandtexas.gov/232/Health-Services