Ribbon cutting marks opening of new Public Health building

WASHINGTON — Washington County’s public health department celebrated its new digs with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 22.

Public Health Director Jenifer Roberts said the office on Orchard Hill represented a much-needed upgrade, and said she was pleasantly surprised by a turnout of roughly 100 people for the open-house event Friday afternoon.

“It was a lot of fun,” Roberts said. “The community members really showed their support for us.”

Asked about the functional improvements of the new space, the director said Orchard Hill’s building came with a number of upgrades and was “100% better than being on three different floors.”

“Now we have two exam rooms along with two consult rooms for our immunizations and WIC clinics,” she said. “And they actually have sinks in them, because we did not have running water in our old exam rooms.”

The building has a separated clinic wing and administrative wing. With the extra space, Roberts said WCPH planned to ramp up its Women Women, Infant, and Child Nutrition programs from two days a month to five.

“We know the services are needed in this county, and sometimes, the two that are offered a month are not accessible for some of our patients,” she said.

The new public health building is located at 2175 Lexington Blvd., Building 2, in Washington. The local agency has, for years, rented office space in the Federation Bank Building on the northeast corner of Washington’s square, but moved to the newly renovated building at Orchard Hill in mid-July, according to its Facebook page.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com