NJDOH awards $2.3M to local agencies to up communicable disease response

The New Jersey Department of Health announced on Wednesday $2.3 million in funding to local health departments to detect and respond to communicable disease outbreaks.
Department of Health Acting Commissioner Judith Persichilli announced the grants during the annual “State of Health” Address to county and local health officials at the League of Municipalities Conference in Atlantic City.
The funding, included in the budget Gov. Phil Murphy proposed, includes nearly $2 million in grants of $95,000 each to 21 local health departments. Letters announcing the grants were sent to local health departments earlier this month. In addition, $350,000 in state funds will be made available to 73 local health departments through training scholarships. Each of the 73 local health departments will receive $3,000. The funding will be distributed to by the New Jersey Association for County and City Health Officials.
“When there is an outbreak of a communicable disease like measles or Hepatitis A, local health departments provide the front-line public health response. They notify residents who have been potentially exposed, set up vaccination clinics, and respond to local public health concerns,” said Persichilli. “These grants will help our local health agencies better prepare for and respond to outbreaks in their communities.”
Twelve county health departments received grants: Camden, Bergen, Burlington, Cumberland, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset and Sussex. Three regional health commissions received grants in Essex, Hudson and Monmouth counties. Six towns also received funding: Trenton, Montgomery, Paterson, Jersey City, North Bergen and Westfield.

CREDIT: Anthony Vecchione