Since the Corona pandemic, the health department has come into the public spotlight as a central pillar of health protection. In memory of the birthday of Johann Peter Frank, the founder of public health, social hygiene, and the public health service, March 19 has been regarded as the "Day of the Health Department" since 2019. This year's motto, "Prevention and Health Promotion," is based on his goals of improving the health of the population and creating health-promoting living conditions.
The interdisciplinary collaboration of the various departments within the Saarpfalz district public health office aims to prevent health-related issues. This is achieved through proactive planning in the area of prevention as well as through a continuous health-promoting advisory service.
“In the fight against the corona pandemic, the team of the health department was pushed to its limits. I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank them for their dedication and perseverance. No one should be unhappy that we are now again able to focus on our core tasks. Challenges await us there as well, and we gladly take the occasion of Health Department Day to provide a brief overview of the core competencies of the health department,” informs District Administrator Dr. Theophil Gallo.
The individual departments of the Saarpfalz district health office are roughly divided into the medical officer service, the social psychiatric service, the child and youth medical service, as well as hygiene surveillance and health protection.
Public Health Service
The public health officer's service offers citizens a variety of expert assessments and consultations. The main issues addressed in the reports to be prepared include the fitness for duty of civil servants, the necessity of expenses and measures according to the subsidy regulations, the capacity to be detained and to stand trial, as well as the necessity of placing a person due to self- or third-party endangerment.
Social Psychiatric Service
The social psychiatric service offers a wide range of assistance and counseling. These include, among others, addiction counseling, family counseling, counseling for individuals with mental illnesses and their relatives, as well as assessing the support needs of elderly people or individuals with intellectual or physical disabilities.
Children's and Youth Medical Service
The Child and Adolescent Medical Service also includes the area of Early Support. It is responsible for school entry examinations, the preparation of expert reports on various issues, and health protection in kindergartens and schools.
Child and Adolescent Dental Service
The pediatric and adolescent dental service of the health department is responsible for the organization, coordination, and implementation of dental screening examinations in elementary and special schools in the Saarpfalz district.
All primary school students in the district are annually examined by dentists at the schools, and the parents are informed about the results. If necessary, they are advised on the need for dental or orthodontic treatment.
Hygiene Monitoring and Health Protection
The task of health protection is to safeguard the citizens from health hazards and to prevent the further spread of communicable diseases. This includes monitoring public facilities, controlling drinking and bathing water, as well as providing advice on hygiene-related matters.
If you have any questions, citizens can reach the health department of the Saarpfalz district from Monday to Thursday between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., and on Fridays between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. at Tel. (06841) 104-7170.
