During the month of April, the Macon County Public Health Center celebrated Public Health Month by recognizing a Public Health Hero. The objective of making this award is to broaden people’s awareness and understanding of the important role that public health plays in all of our lives.

The health center asked the public to submit nominations for individuals who had made an exceptional contribution toward promoting and protecting the health of citizens in Macon County. In addition, the nominees must have performed their services as volunteers without financial compensation.

About 38 percent of the population is eligible to donate blood; however, only three percent actually do. The American Red Cross is encouraging individuals to join those who have stepped up to help save lives by donating blood or platelets with its spring promotion, “Just 3% do, will you?”

The Red Cross appreciates those who make it a priority to give blood and will offer a chance to win one of three $1,000 gift cards to presenting blood and platelet donors through June 30, 2013.

In March of this year, Macon County Health Director Jim Bruckner informed the public that the county's recently implemented well program revealed that a string of private drinking water wells were contaminated with a significantly high amount of lead.

“Since July 1, 2008, the Health Department has been operating under the requirements of the new permitting rules for private drinking water wells,” said Bruckner. “These new rules require water testing as part of the permitting process for newly constructed private drinking water wells. Recently, our environmental health staff has noticed a trend toward high levels of lead in some of these wells. Exposure to lead is a significant health concern, particularly for young children and infants; therefore, by way of this notice, we are reminding owners of private drinking water wells that they should regularly test their well water for contaminants, including lead.”

MedWest Health System’s 2013 printed physician directory is now available to the public.

The directory is a 28-page guide that lists all MedWest medical providers, including doctors and mid-level practitioners, by specialty, alphabetically. The included providers are either employed by the MedWest Physician Network, or have privileges at a Med- West hospital. Each listing provides practice contact information and education information for the provider beside their photo.