Mississippi County Health Department to mark 75 years

CHARLESTON, Mo. — The Mississippi County Health Department will celebrate its 75th anniversary with other local organizations later this month.

Barbara Chimienti, a member of the event’s committee, said the celebration will be free and run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, July 25 during a health and community fair at the health department, 1200 E. Marshall St., in Charleston.

However, prior to the event, Chimienti said there will be a one-mile community walk, with participants receiving a free T-shirt if they registered by July 11. The one-mile community walk will start at 7:15 a.m.

According to Chimienti, Shoes from the Heart, based in Macon, Missouri, will also be at the event, donating 50 pairs of shoes to participants on a first-come, first-serve basis.

“Free, rapid HIV and syphilis testing and free gonorrhea and chlamydia screening will also be available,” Chimienti said. “We will also have a free cooking demonstration and taste testing provided by DAEOC (Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corp.) Adult Learning Center.”

Chimienti added dancing and movement classes will be held every hour for individuals to participate.

The Southeast Missouri Food Bank truck will also be present at the celebration, serving 250 families on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 11 a.m.

There will also be a blender bike with healthy smoothie sampling and recipes from the University of Missouri Extension Center. 

“We also will have free health testing services, Which will be visual acuity, color and depth perception testing, bone density scans, skin cancer screenings, and cholesterol and glucose screenings,” Chimienti said.

There will also be many kid-friendly activities at the celebration, such as face painting, an obstacle course, on-site EMS and health promotion activities.

The Southeast Missouri Humane Society will be present with an animal petting pen where attendees can see all of the adoptable animals.

Chimienti said one of the reasons they decided to host a 75th anniversary celebration was their strong desire to help their community. 

“We just love serving our community and having an opportunity like being established for 75 years is a great time to take a moment and appreciate the community,” Chimienti said. “Without the community, we wouldn’t be here. It’s also a chance to get all of these resources together in one place so that people can hopefully find resources that they need that they didn’t know were here.”

Chimienti said during her 13 years at the Mississippi County Health Department, various services have been added in response to community needs.

“Just since I’ve been here what I’ve seen added are lab services, blood pressure programs, chronic disease classes,” Chimienti said. “I feel like it’s not just standardized care but it’s more what the community needs.”

Chimienti said they started the lab services because people were not able to afford labs to get their medicines refilled. 

Mississippi County Health Department as locations in both Charleston and East Prairie.

Chimienti said she wants to encourage residents to come out to the celebration.

“We should have something here for everyone,” Chimienti said. “So we would love to see as many people come out as possible.”

There will also be door prizes, giveaways and more including a chance to win $150 and $75 Visa gift cards for participants who visit all booths at the event. 

For more information, contact the Mississippi County Health Department at 573-683-2191.