Features

Health Officials Warn Against Baby Poultry As Easter Gifts

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Baby chicks require proper care and safe handling. Photo by Todd Johnson/OSU

NMDOH News:

SANTA FE — Despite their seasonal appeal, baby chicks and ducklings pose significant health risks as Easter gifts, particularly for young children. 

Children who handle, snuggle, or keep poultry inside homes face increased exposure to Salmonella bacteria. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates Salmonella causes about 1.35 million infections in the United States every year. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps.  

There are between 100-130 cases of Salmonella reported Read More

Los Alamos Health, Wellness And Resource Fair May 3

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C’YA News:

Planning is almost complete for a Health, Wellness and Resource Fair in Los Alamos. The event is scheduled to take place May 3 at 2525 Canyon Road. The United Church of Los Alamos has furnished a large space to allow Champions of Youth Ambitions (C’YA) to host the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. event.

“The idea came as a result about sharing the news about our free suicide prevention trainings,” Bernadette Lauritzen C’YA Executive Director said. “We pitched the idea about getting out a lot of information for health and wellness resources to 100 Men Who Care, and they loved the idea.”

The health Read More

Measles Case Diagnosed In Doña Ana County

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NMDOH News:

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) reports an unvaccinated child in Doña Ana County has been diagnosed with measles – the first measles case in that county. 

The Doña Ana County case plus four additional cases among unvaccinated people in Lea County brings the total number of measles cases in New Mexico to 63.

Due to the ongoing risk of exposure to measles, New Mexico Department of Health recommends a dose of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine for infants aged 6-11 months who live in Doña Ana County, or who will be traveling to Doña Ana and Lea Counties. 

“Given Read More

Luján Resolution Highlights National Public Health Week

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U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján

U.S. SENATE News:

Washington D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) introduced a resolution highlighting National Public Health Week, celebrated April 7 to April 13 this year.

This resolution is meant to raise awareness about the importance of public health amid the firing by the Trump administration of nearly 25 percent of the workforce at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the elimination of critical subagencies at HHS that keep Americans healthy.

Sen. Luján’s resolution also outlines issues facing the U.S. including pandemic preparedness, access Read More

Op-Ed: About Diabetes Risk Check

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By BILL HEINMILLER
Los Alamos

Regarding the Diabetes risk check published on March 28 (link), it is understood T2D is very common, and it is managed, not cured. The linked quiz requires less than a minute. It asks 8 questions (9 if a woman) regarding age, sex, family, blood pressure, exercise, race and BMI to determine your overall risk to T2D. 

There is no zero risk response. One caution is if one gets a low risk response, they should not conclude low risk means no risk and nothing more need be done. Similarly, one who gets a high risk response should not choose to do nothing because they are not experiencing Read More

State Awarded Competitive Community Care Corps Grant

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ALTSD News:

SANTA FE — New Mexico has been selected to receive $100,000 from the National Community Care Corps to strengthen senior services in rural areas of the state.

New Mexico’s Aging and Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD) is one of 23 organizations chosen from a pool of 122 national applicants to receive funding. Grant recipients were determined through a highly competitive process that prioritized innovation, community need, and a commitment to serving diverse and underserved populations.

The Community Care Corps is a nationwide collaboration between the Administration for Read More

Wernicke: Donate Life

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Alejandra Wernicke of Los Alamos meets her kidney donor 10 months after her transplant. Courtesy photo

By JAMES WERNICKE
Grateful Husband
Los Alamos

April is National Donate Life Month. For my family, it’s more than an awareness campaign. Organ donation gave my family a future. In 2017, my wife Alejandra’s kidneys were failing. Dialysis was keeping her alive, but just barely—every week was a cycle of exhaustion, nausea, and the creeping fear that time was running out. In 2019, we got the call that she had a living donor match.

Her donor was a former drug addict who had not only turned his own life Read More

Medical Associates Of Northern New Mexico Announces Appointment Of Doug Bishop As Practice Administrator

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MANNM News:

Medical Associates of Northern New Mexico announces the appointment of Doug Bishop as its new Practice Administrator. In this role, Bishop will oversee day-to-day operations, strategic planning, and practice management to ensure continued excellence in patient care and organizational growth.

With more than 30 years of experience in healthcare administration, Bishop brings a strong background in operational leadership, financial management, and team development. Most recently, he served as Practice Administrator at U.S. Oncology, where he led initiatives that improved Read More

Still Time To Register For Los Alamos Public School’s MLSS & SAT Information Night Scheduled For Wednesday April 16

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LAPS News:

There’s still time to sign up to attend the Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) MLSS & SAT Information Night 5-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 16 in the Los Alamos High School Speech Theater.

Parents and caregivers of students of all ages are invited to attend.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn how the school supports students through the Multi-Layered System of Supports (MLSS) and the Student Assistance Team (SAT) process.

This session is perfect for families who want to better understand how academic, behavioral, and emotional needs are identified and addressed—with Read More

Governor Signs Supported Decision-Making Act

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ALTSD News:

SANTA FE — New Mexicans with disabilities and older adults are one step closer to having greater autonomy in their decision-making after the governor signed SB 535 into law last week. 

SB 535, an omnibus bill addressing various public health, safety and welfare measures, includes the Supported Decision-Making Act, which will establish a new program within the Office of Guardianship dedicated towards supported decision-making agreements, an alternative to adult guardianship. The New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD) will collaborate closely with the Read More