SENIORS SAVE THE DATE!
March 27, 2024APRIL IS NATIONAL MINORITY HEALTH MONTH!
April 4, 2024
(Toms River) – In April of 1924, the Ocean County Health Association was established in partnership with the Directors of the Ocean County Christmas Seal Association, the County Agents for the New Jersey Tuberculosis League, and the Ocean County Superintendent of Schools to promote and protect equitable access to public health services including tuberculosis control, dental health, and speech therapy for our county’s children.
Now 100 years later that small public health group has grown into the Ocean County Health Department (OCHD) – now the largest local government health agency in New Jersey.
“One-hundred years is quite a milestone; there is so much history to recognize and celebrate,’ said Daniel Regenye, OCHD Public Health Coordinator. Regenye has been with the health department for 30 years with almost half of that time as Health Officer.
“I’ve certainly witnessed so much growth in just my time here, but when you look back 100 years it’s really a testament to the skillful leadership, we’ve had in this county over that time to recognize and implement solutions to the emerging public health needs of our residents.’’
New Jersey State Senator, Robert Singer, and current Ocean County Board of Health (OCBOH) Vice Chairman has served the board for over 4 decades and is proud of the agency’s extensive history of public health services. “I really have to commend the Commissioners, the visionaries they were years ago, and currently, by consistently meeting the essential needs of our residents all across the decades.’’
The Ocean County Health Department has come a long way from those fledgling services offered in the early years. After one-hundred years the OCHD has come full circle and the mission of keeping in step with changing trends and demographics has not altered.
In close partnership with our residents, we will continue to maintain our commitment to promote healthy lifestyles, support a clean and safe environment, and provide timely, effective, and quality public health services for our expanding population.
Gary Quinn, Ocean County Commissioner Deputy Director, and liaison to the Ocean County Board of Health added, “Over the last 100 years, the Ocean County Health Department has evolved – and will continue to evolve – to provide the relevant public health services and support for our residents including the hundreds of thousands of visitors to our county.’’
The 100 Year Anniversary will coincide with National Public Health Week (NPHW), which falls during the first week of April 2024. The well-known public health slogan, “Prevent, Promote, Protect,’ is only appropriate for this 100 Year Anniversary as the OCHD renews its commitment and dedication to those crucial public health ideals.
“We wanted to take this opportunity during National Public Health Week to stop and recognize not only this historic milestone but to acknowledge all the employees over the decades who contributed their dedicated efforts to the agency,’ explained John (Jack) Mallon, OCBOH Chairman.
I’m my over 30 years here, we’ve had so many terrific individuals who have worked side by side during public health emergencies such as Hurricane Sandy, and the variety of communicable disease crisis’ such as H1N1 flu, Measles, Ebola, and, of course, the COVID-19 pandemic.
We’ve even dealt with saving farm animals during area forest fires and pet hoarding cases. The list goes on and on.”
“Ocean County has certainly changed in so many ways since 1924 and an anniversary of this magnitude is a great opportunity to reflect on that history,” said Veronica Laureigh, OCBOH Secretary/Treasurer and board member since 1999.
When you’re one of the largest counties in the state it’s a huge responsibility to ensure the safety and health of the people that live, work, and recreate here and all the generations to follow.
The Ocean County Health Department has humbly gone about its business year in, and year out doing their part and it has earned its rightful place in this county’s long and distinguished history.”
To celebrate our 100 Year Anniversary don’t forget to download the Ocean County Health Department mobile app free from the Google Play/Android and Apple APP stores.
