Maria Parham Health

Maria Parham CEO Asks Community to ‘Thank a Healthcare Hero’

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-By Bert Beard, Chief Executive Officer of Maria Parham Health  

As we continue to fight COVID-19, it has been so encouraging to see the outpouring of support from our community for Maria Parham Health. We have always striven to be a place where you choose to come for healthcare, and we take our responsibility as a community leader very seriously.

As our neighbors have come together to do everything possible to slow the spread of this vicious virus amid unprecedented challenges, we have never been more proud to be a part of this community. It is more important than ever that we all continue to take the important steps necessary to keep our community as safe and healthy as possible, including staying home as much as we can, practicing social distancing and following sound medical guidance.

Today, I would ask one more thing of our community, including myself: thank a healthcare hero.

Some moments ask more of us as a society, as a community and as individuals. Moments like those need heroes. From grocery store employees and delivery workers to educators teaching remotely and those keeping our infrastructure and essential services running, this current moment has no shortage of heroes. And that includes our heroes on the frontlines of this crisis – our healthcare workers.

Our healthcare workers are not only a cornerstone of our hospital’s mission of Making Communities Healthier, they are integral members of our community. They are moms and dads. Brothers and sisters. Friends and neighbors. And – today especially – they are heroes, fighting on the frontlines to provide compassionate, quality care when it’s needed most.

At Maria Parham Health, we honor all our providers and employees working hard to ensure a safe place of care and a healthier community for all of us. I hope you will join me and add your voice to the chorus of appreciation for our community’s healthcare heroes by posting your own message of thanks on your favorite social media, with the hashtag #ThankAHealthCareHero.

Let’s show our hometown heroes how much we appreciate their incredible and inspiring efforts to keep us safe.

And thank you again for supporting Maria Parham Health and trusting us with your care as we help guide our community through the COVID-19 situation as safely as possible. We will get through this together.

NC MedAssist

NC MedAssist Crisis Fund Provides Medication to Low-Income, Uninsured Residents

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-Press Release, NC MedAssist

NC MedAssist, a statewide free pharmacy, has launched a Crisis Fund in response to the overwhelming need to provide life-saving medication to low-income and uninsured residents across North Carolina.

Through this fund, NC MedAssist will provide support in two areas: providing over-the-counter medicine to marginalized populations and dispensing free prescription medication to those who have lost their income and health insurance due to COVID-19. NC MedAssist is working with key partners such as Novant Health to ensure every North Carolinian with a chronic illness who has lost their job and health insurance will have access to their lifesaving prescription medication.

NC MedAssist is the only free mail-order pharmacy in North Carolina. Their approach allows for minimal contact for patients to receive their prescription medication. Their Free Over-The-Counter store now offers curbside pickup for their customers.

“We have served North Carolina since 1997, and we are beginning to see one of the largest influx of patients since the 2008 recession. People from all walks of life needed access to their vital prescription medicine during that time,” said Lori Giang, CEO of NC MedAssist. “We expect the same surge of patients to come from the COVID-19 crisis and we do not want to turn anyone away. That is why partnerships like Novant Health are so valuable to helping us serve each patient in need of critical medication.”

NC MedAssist hopes to raise $250,000 by May 31, 2020, to prepare for the increase in patients that will need their services.

To donate go to www.medassist.org/donate.

Jerry Edmonds

Town Talk 04/07/20: Edmonds, VGCC Focus on ‘Hire Education’

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

Jerry E. Edmonds, III, vice president of Workforce Development and Community Engagement at Vance-Granville Community College, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Tuesday at 11 a.m.

Serving in this new position since the fall, Edmonds supports economic development for the region and oversees training programs that respond to community needs and prepare students for workforce success.

In addition, Edmonds leads the development of VGCC partnerships with businesses and government agencies and coordinates outreach and marketing.

“The position of workforce and community engagement is a relatively new combination of functions,” Edmonds said. “Our president, Dr. Rachel Desmarais, was certainly futuristic in her assessment that community engagement would be more and more a part of our community college function.”

Workforce development is what has been traditionally referred to as continuing education, Edmonds explained, and includes public safety, short term healthcare courses such as CNA and phlebotomy, and the college’s new truck driver training, among other programs.

The VGCC Small Business Center also falls under the Workforce and Community Engagement umbrella and has become more visible to the public and business community in recent weeks with the economic repercussions of COVID-19 closures.

Sheri Jones, director of the Small Business Center, appeared on WIZS Town Talk last week to discuss her work with local businesses during the health crisis, which has included assistance with small business loan information.

Along with the Small Business Center, VGCC offers customized training programs specific to the local area. Edmonds admitted that not everyone in the community has been aware of these services in the past, a task that he sees as part of his and his team’s role in marketing the college.

“Marketing is an area that we really have to do a little better job as a community college system in getting the word out about the great programs and great work that we do on a daily basis,” Edmonds stated.

Echoing a sentiment shared by Desmarais in previous WIZS interviews, Edmonds said the system is doing just that by focusing on workforce development with individual community colleges training residents for local employment opportunities.

“The NC Community College System has recently embarked upon a marketing campaign with the tagline that North Carolina community colleges are all about ‘Hire Education’ to use a play-on-words’ of ‘higher education,’” said Edmonds. “At the end of the day, all of our programs, be they on the continuing education side or be they on the curriculum side, seek to give students a living wage employment.”

To hear the interview with Edmonds in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.

NC Coop Extension

Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland 04/07/20

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

Granville Vance Public Health Hosts COVID-19 ‘Virtual Town Hall’

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Granville Vance Public Health hosted a “Virtual Town Hall” session live via its Facebook page today at 11 a.m.

Public Health Director Lisa Harrison, Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington, Maria Parham Health (MPH) CEO Bert Beard, and Major Stephen Staton with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office addressed the COVID-19 epidemic and answered questions that were submitted by the public.

Brian Short, Henderson-Vance Emergency Management director, joined the conversation by phone.

Before beginning the question and answer session, Beard provided an update on protocol changes at MPH. “Currently, we are preparing ourselves for the potential surge that will come as a result of this pandemic. We’ve reevaluated all of our infection prevention protocols, implemented additional visitor restrictions and reduced entry points to the hospital. We’ve also modified our personal protective equipment or PPE policies to provide PPE to our staff, patients and, with limited exceptions, visitors.”

Questions the government and health officials addressed in the session include:

Q: Is it safe to go outside and exercise?

A: Yes, enjoy the outdoors and the weather but practice social distancing of at least 6 feet and wear a mask when around others, if possible. Also, avoid congregating in parks or playing sports together.

Q: How many have tested positive for COVID-19 in our area?

A: There are currently 12 confirmed positive cases in Vance County and 76 in Granville County. Of the Granville County cases, 59 are reported at the Federal Correctional Complex in Butner. These numbers can be deceiving as many infected with COVID-19 may be recovering at home without seeking testing or medical care.

Q: How many ventilators does Maria Parham Health have on-site?

A: Twenty-six ventilators with 10 being designated for emergency use.

Q: How can the public show appreciation to healthcare providers?

A: The number one way is by practicing social distancing and following stay at home orders. PPE donations, homemade mask donations for visitors, food donations and words of encouragement are also greatly appreciated.

Q: How long will we need to wear masks?

A: That is still to be determined. Homemade masks protect others from your respiratory droplets but unfortunately don’t offer much protection to you from the virus.

Q: When we see evidence of the curve flattening, how long will the Stay At Home Order remain in place?

A: That is still to be determined. It’s advisable that we stay at home at least two weeks after we see the deceleration of this epidemic.

Q: What is the best way to protect children from COVID-19?

A: Hand washing and staying at home are the best ways to protect everyone. Other suggestions include keeping their immune system strong and making sure they get enough sleep and exercise. The good news is that most children with COVID-19 have mild cases, though there have been a few exceptions.

Q: Will COVID-19 decrease in the summer months or as temperatures rise?

A: We are still learning a lot about the virus. Many are hopeful that it will decrease with the heat and humidity like other viruses, but time will tell. This also means that like other viruses, it can return in the fall.

Q: Will there be an increase in testing?

A: An increase in the number of people tested and a faster testing turnaround time is expected. Testing results went from a 48-72 hour window up to 10 days, due to demand, and is now down to approximately one day. Testing with almost immediate results is expected in the next couple of months.

To hear the session in its entirety, including more detailed responses to the public’s questions, please watch the video contained in this article, or visit the Granville Vance Public Health Department’s Facebook page (click here).

Second Thursday No Charge Food Distribution Not Possible In April

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The Second Thursday No Charge Food Distribution will not be possible this week.

It is normally held at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market, off Beckford Drive in Henderson, on the second Thursday of the month, but the facility is not available, and there are not enough volunteers available.

An area citizen called WIZS Tuesday asking about it, and local organizer and volunteer Betty Boyd was able to provide a quick response by phone. Boyd said, “No, we will not be able to proceed (this month). The farmers market has suspended all rentals, and with the volume of food that we normally receive, there’s just not any way we can distribute that with nine people or less.”

You can be sure that the event organizers are disappointed in not being able to do this distribution this month, but that as soon as possible, and in the interim, they are working hard towards future events.

In the meantime, please visit this link from the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina to locate food resources in our area: https://foodbankcenc.org/find-help/food-finder/

An area partnership of St. James Missionary Baptist Church, First Baptist Church, NC Cooperative Extension Office, Vance County Social Services and the Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC, the monthly distribution supplements the food resources of the Vance County community.

Warren County Logo

Warren County Commissioners Enact a Curfew Beginning Thurs., April 9

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-Press Release, Warren County Government

At the April 6, 2020, Warren County Board of Commissioners meeting, officials unanimously voted to amend the March 15 State of Emergency declaration to include a curfew for Warren County residents, as well as the towns of Norlina and Macon, beginning Thursday, April 9 at 9 p.m.

The 9 p.m. – 6 a.m. curfew will run for the duration of Governor Cooper’s Stay At Home Executive Order 121.

“Now is not the time for us as a Warren County community to be relaxed,” stated Chairman Tare “T” Davis, leading into the board’s consideration of a curfew. “We need to come together to keep each other safe. This means we must observe the Governor’s stay at home order, and we must practice social distancing.”

On April 6, the Warren County Health Department received confirmation of the county’s third known confirmed positive case of COVID-19 in Warren County. As of April 6, the county has forty-one known residents who have been tested for COVID-19; of those forty-one tests, there have been thirty-eight known negative results.

Dr. Margaret Brake, Director of the Warren County Health Department, stated that the role of the health department in positive cases is to be involved in contact tracing for those individuals that have tested positive; health department staff is also involved in isolation and quarantine orders for those positive individuals. The health department has a responsibility for checking in with those positive persons and determining when their case has recovered and when insolation orders can be lifted.

County Manager Vincent Jones clarified that the curfew would not prevent residents from conducting essential business and making essential trips as provided for in the governor’s executive order. He also stated that surrounding counties -including Franklin and Halifax – also have the 9 p.m. – 6 a.m. curfew.

County Attorney Hassan Kingsberry stated that the guidance from the Governor’s Office for essential employees traveling after 9 p.m. and prior to 6 a.m. is to have your work identification, such as an ID badge, handy while commuting. Law enforcement will work with you as long as your reason for traveling past the curfew is related to essential business as outlined in the governor’s order.

“Now is not the time to become relaxed because the weather is changing… We have seen instances of people holding gatherings of larger than ten people – cookouts – while not observing social distancing,” stated Chairman Davis. “We understand we have major holidays coming up… this is not the time or the year for that, unfortunately. Teens are playing basketball and hanging out in groups. We have to take this seriously. Community spread is here. As a rural community with less access to medical resources, it is important that we recognize the seriousness of this pandemic. We have to do this together.”

Sheriff Johnny Williams joined the meeting via telephone and stated that the Sheriff’s Office will be working with the public to help enforce the curfew. If residents see a large gathering, they should call the 911 non-emergency line at 252-257-3456 and a deputy will respond.

The Town of Warrenton passed its own State of Emergency declaration; they will consider amending their own order should they chose to enact a curfew.

For more information, contact the Warren County Manager’s Office at 252-257-3115 or visit www.warrencountync.com. You may also call the Warren County COVID-19 Information Line at 252-257-7132.

First Baptist Church to Hold Maundy Thursday Vespers & Home Communion

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-Information courtesy First Baptist Church

First Baptist Church of Henderson will hold a Maundy Thursday Vespers and Home Communion on Thursday, April 9, 2020, beginning at 7 p.m.

Maundy Thursday commemorates the events of the evening of Jesus’s life, including his institution of the Lord’s Supper before his betrayal and arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. We normally gather as a church to worship and share communion, preparing our hearts for the remembrance of Good Friday and the pursuant wait for Easter Sunday.

This year we cannot gather in our Sanctuary, but those who can may gather virtually using Zoom.

During this service, we will read scriptures, offer prayers, meditate on music, and share communion with others in our homes.

Just as the disciples had to prepare for that last meal, we ask you to prepare. Prepare materially by making sure you have communion elements on hand, a bit of bread and a cup of juice for each participant. Prepare spiritually, praying beforehand that God’s presence will be real, uniting our hearts in mutual concern.

Please plan to log-in to the service 5-10 minutes early so that we may begin on time.

Join via computer or smartphone app: https://zoom.us/j/301238905
Join via phone call: (301) 715-8592, Meeting ID: 301 238 905

Oxford Logo

Oxford Board of Commissioners’ April 14 Meeting Canceled

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-Information courtesy Cynthia Bowen, City Clerk, City of Oxford

Notice is hereby given that the monthly regular meeting for the Oxford Board of Commissioners that was scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, 2020, has been canceled.

If you have any questions, please call City Hall, 919-603-1100, and watch the City’s website www.oxfordnc.org for updates as they become available.

NC Coop Extension

NC Cooperative Extension to Offer Backyard Agriculture 101 Online Workshop Series

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-Information courtesy Paul McKenzie, Agricultural Extension Agent, NC Cooperative Extension

Want to learn more about raising your own food, or about taking care of your small farm? NC Cooperative Extension will offer Backyard Ag 101, an eight-part online course to show you the basics.

This series is free and will be offered via the Zoom video conferencing platform. It will include topics such as vegetable gardening, managing backyard poultry, small fruit production, managing small woodlots, small-scale livestock & pasture management, landscape basics, and IPM (bugs, weeds, and plant diseases).

This is an 8-week series beginning Wednesday, April 15 and continuing each Wednesday through June 3 from 10 – 11:30 a.m. The course will be taught by Agricultural Extension Agents from the Vance, Warren, Granville, and Person County offices.

To see the full schedule with dates and times and to register for this FREE series visit https://go.ncsu.edu/BackyardAg101. Please note that space is limited and registration is required.

If you have questions, please call 252-438-8188 or email paul_mckenzie@ncsu.edu.