MEDIA, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — The Delaware County Health Department was created two years ago due to necessity, borne out of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as it celebrates its second anniversary this week, department officials reflected on the leaps and bounds the department has made in its efforts to service the community.
Before and during the pandemic, Delaware County shared public health department services with Chester County.
So when the county established its own health department, its staff learned what it meant to build something from the ground up.
"Many of them walked in and may or may not have had a computer and may or may not have a chair," said department director Melissa Lyon. Now, she says, the department has a staff of 90 people with an annual budget of $19 million. Wellness centers, clinics and a fleet of vehicles are among the resources at their disposal.
Its work in the community, according to Lyon, has included healthy eating classes, HIV clinics, immunization clinics, blood pressure screenings and a recently-completed community health assessment.
"The community health assessment helps us gain a complete understanding of the public health issues affecting the Delaware County residents and allows us to collaborate with our partners and solve these complex public health issues of today," she said.
As for the department's goals going forward, Lyon says mastering the services it offers tops the list, "so everything we established is operational [and] it is functional. We're aiming for mastery."
