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DHH Secretary Kathy Kliebert visited Louisiana hospitals participating in the Best Fed Beginnings initiative this week to assess the progress made as each hospital approaches the final phase to become a designated “Baby Friendly” facility.
The [Best Fed Beginnings] program’s major goal is to increase the number of breastfed babies. The $6 million initiative began last year and will conclude in September 2014. The 89 participating hospitals must complete the American Academy of Pediatrics-endorsed Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding program. By doing so, they will receive a “baby-friendly” designation from the World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund.
Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Kathy Kliebert and Public Health Assistant Secretary J.T. Lane joined industry leaders today in downtown Baton Rouge to highlight major changes to the Retail Food Inspection Program. Program improvements over the last year have allowed health inspectors who survey restaurants, grocery stores, cafeterias and other retail food vendors to conduct timely inspections at all permitted locations, track compliance orders and post survey results quickly to the EatSafe.La.gov website. This dramatic overhaul was identified by Office of Public Health staff through an internal review and with DHH’s requested assistance of recommendations from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor.
1. The purpose of this RFP is to solicit proposals from qualified proposers that provide community-based supportive services to low income persons living with HIV (PLWH).
The Department of Health and Hospitals on Wednesday issued an emergency rule requiring that water systems in the state maintain a higher residual disinfectant level and increase their number of sampling sites by 25 percent. Most drinking water systems in Louisiana will be required to meet this new higher standard by February 1, 2014.
Despite the cooler temperatures, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) is reminding folks that West Nile virus is still a threat. This week, the state's health department confirmed three new cases of West Nile virus, bringing this year's total to 58 cases. This week's new infections are West Nile fever cases, with one each in Ascension, Lafayette and Ouachita parishes.
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) has confirmed the state's fourth West Nile virus death this year. The death is from Ouachita Parish, the second death from Ouachita Parish this year. The state's health department is also confirming four new West Nile virus cases this week, bringing this year's total to 55 cases. This week's new infections include two cases of neuroinvasive disease, one each in Acadia and Rapides parishes, and two cases of West Nile fever, with one each in Bossier and Caddo parishes.
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) has confirmed the state's third West Nile virus death this year. The death is from Rapides Parish, and is the second death this year from Rapides Parish. In addition, the health department is also confirming three new West Nile virus cases this week, bringing this year's total number of cases to 51. This week's new infections include two cases of neuroinvasive disease in Lafayette Parish and one case of neuroinvasive in Ouachita Parish.
In Louisiana, approximately 80 babies die each year from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), which is the broad medical term for sudden, unexplained deaths of infants before they reach their first birthdays. This October, as part of SIDS Awareness Month, the Department of Health and Hospitals is encouraging families to create a safe sleeping space for their babies.
The Department of Health and Hospitals is cautioning residents who may be using generators due to power outages caused by Tropical Storm Karen to be mindful of the dangerous health risks that may result if not used properly.
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) has confirmed the state's second West Nile virus death this season. The death occured this week in Ouachita Parish. The state's first death was last month in Rapides Parish. DHH is reporting six new West Nile virus cases this week, bringing this year's total number of cases to 45. This week's new infections include four cases of neuroinvasive disease, with three cases from Ouachita Parish, and one case from Lafayette parish, and two cases of West Nile fever, with one case each from St. Landry and St. Martin parishes.
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) has confirmed five new West Nile virus cases this week, bringing this year's total number of cases to 39. This week's new infections include three cases of neuroinvasive disease, with one case each from Caldwell, Lafayette and Rapides parishes, one case of West Nile fever from Ouchita Parish and one asymptomatic case from Lafayette Parish.