Health

Health

DHEC encourages testing on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control is partnering with community-based organizations to sponsor HIV testing events this week in celebration of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on February 7. “We know that almost 10,000 African-Americans in our state are living with HIV/AIDS,” said Janet Tapp, director of the agency’s STD/HIV Division. “There are more, however, who have […]

Health

DHEC helps uninsured smokers quit with free nicotine replacement therapy

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control announced that free nicotine replacement therapy is available to smokers who do not have health insurance through the agency’s tobacco quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW. “Many people without health insurance delay using effective aids like nicotine gum or patches to help them quit smoking because they worry about the costs,” said Sharon Biggers, director […]

Health

DHEC Announces Expansion of Newborn Screening Program

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has announced plans to expand the agency’s Newborn Screening program (NBS). NBS tests every newborn for difficult to diagnose metabolic disorders that disrupt the body’s natural processes. The panel of tests will include a new test for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID), a rare and potentially fatal disorder characterized by an inability […]

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Teen pregnancies in Berkeley Co., statewide down

According to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, the state’s teen birth rate has fallen 47 percent from 1992-2012. From 2011 to 2012, the teen birth rate declined by 7 percent, now standing at 36.5 births per 1,000 girls age 15-19. According to SC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, underage births in Berkeley County for 2012 cost […]

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BCSD releases update on Stratford TB case

GOOSE CREEK, S.C.–A spokesperson for the Berkeley County School District says DHEC will notify the district of overall numbers of positive and negative TB results, while it also works to ensure the privacy of all tested individuals. DHEC tested approximately 170 individuals on Friday, January 17 at Stratford High School for tuberculosis. As a follow up to the testing, the […]

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DHEC, BCSD investigate Stratford TB case

GOOSE CREEK, S.C.– Late Monday afternoon, DHEC officials say they were informed by a medical facility of a possible case of tuberculosis infection involving a student at Stratford High School, and took immediate action to thoroughly assess and contain the situation. DHEC’s standard, thorough protocol went into effect: • DHEC medical staff met with the patient Tuesday morning for an […]

Health

DHEC to offer free whooping cough shots

BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C.—If you’re a parent and have a soon-to-be seventh grader in need of vaccination for the whooping cough, listen up. The Department of Health and Environmental Control will offer T-dap vaccines at two area clinics on August 17th. For the 2013-2014 school year, the T-dap vaccine is a new school entry requirement for all incoming seventh graders. Health […]