West NY News

The Chautauqua County Health Department (CCHD) is commemorating its 60th anniversary as it celebrates National Public Health Week. Recent events have honored the county's initiatives and recognized significant achievements in public health over the years.

Chautauqua County Public Health Director, Lacey Wilson, shares insights on the county's public health objectives: “It can be easy to misunderstand or be confused by what Public Health is or is meant to do. In short, public health efforts aim to improve and promote health status and overall wellness for whole groups and communities of people.” Wilson highlighted the importance of collaboration: “Over the course of my first year in this role I have been extremely impressed with the willingness on behalf of our local groups, organizations, elected leaders, municipalities, churches, etc. to come together, align priorities and work toward shared community-wide health improvement goals.”

Recent public health milestones in Chautauqua County highlight a range of activities and regulations aimed at improving community health. Initiatives include a 2007 comprehensive water system evaluation, extensive efforts during the H1N1 influenza pandemic in 2009, and the 2015 update of the sanitary code for tattoo shops and body artists. In 2016, the legal age for tobacco purchase was raised to 21, prior to New York State's similar law in 2019. The CCHD assumed oversight of the Chautauqua County Coroner Program in 2018, while in 2020, efforts were focused on the COVID-19 pandemic. The county jail's medical unit received national accreditation in 2023, underscoring a commitment to comprehensive healthcare. A new mobile health vehicle was launched in 2023, expanding access to services.

Wilson expresses optimism about the ongoing community-driven efforts: “The public health of Chautauqua County has improved largely due to the work of our community. People and organizations coming together, motivated to effectuate positive change to improve the health of the people living here by fixing what needs repaired.”

As this series on the history of public health in Chautauqua County concludes, the commitment of CCHD to support community health remains central. The department emphasizes providing technical assistance and innovative approaches to prevent disease and promote wellness across the county.

For more information, visit the Chautauqua County Health Department's website at www.HealthyCHQ.com.