Community News

 

ASHEVILLE, NC – January 18, 2023 – The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the mental health and well-being of college students, faculty and staff at colleges while bringing its importance to the foreground. In response, a health promotion program, called the Student Health Ambassador (SHA) program, was created more than a year ago to provide education and support locally. The program was led by the University of North Carolina Asheville (UNCA) and involves Brevard College, Mars Hill University, Montreat College, Warren Wilson College and Western Carolina University.

The project has been funded by 2 grants from the Dogwood Health Trust private foundation. The initial grant for the 2021-2 academic year was nearly $490 thousand. The most recent grant for this academic year is for almost $175 thousand. Dozens of students have served as public health ambassadors at the 6 college campuses. The program is run jointly by the NC Center for Health and Wellness (NCCHW) at UNCA and the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC).

The program uses peer support, peer education and other outreach methods to promote student health. It started out by teaching best practices for reducing the spread of the coronavirus. During the height of the pandemic, the student ambassadors were involved in COVID testing, delivering meals and providing human connection to classmates in quarantine and isolation. Sometimes, this meant hand-written notes and at other times workout guides. Now the program has to deal with the after effects of the lockdowns on campus and the disruptions in learning. The mental and emotional health of students, faculty and staff have been impacted by isolation. As told to the WNC magazine last month, Amy Lanou, executive director of the NCCHW at UNCA, said that the program will “support the achievement of each individual’s full health potential, build resilience, and support well-being among students, employees, and their communities.” In addition, health disparities in the adjacent communities will be addressed.

The new grant will fund a new Community Health Needs Assessment for each of the 6 college campuses. This will be known as the WNC Collaborative Network for Campus-Community Peer Support and Health Education project. By using the surveys, the SHA will be able to better prioritize the community’s needs and address any gaps.

The SHA program will continue to support the student’s mental health and well-being through health promotion and public health endeavors such as building community resilience and expanding the workforce.

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

 

ASHEVILLE, NC – January 25, 2022 – There is a trend downward to the pre-holiday season COVID-19 community levels. The CDC reports that the community level for Buncombe County is low for the week ending January 16th. Almost one-half of the counties in North Carolina are medium. Most of the counties in the U.S. are at a low level with about 6% of the counties at a high level down from almost 14% last week.

The Buncombe County COVID-19 metrics are on the North Carolina COVID Dashboard. Data from the week ending on January 14th indicate:
• Last week’s total cases are down 31% from the previous week.
• 68% of the total population have received their initial vaccination series.
• 31% of people with their initial vaccination series have had the updated booster. An increase of 1% from last week.
• The seven-day daily average of COVID-19 hospitalizations is unchanged since last week, and of ICU patients increased by 25% from the previous week.

An updated COVID-19 booster is now available for eligible persons 6 months and older. It is more effective at protecting against severe illness and death from the new variants. Eligible persons must have the initial vaccination series and be at least 2 months after any prior COVID-19 shots. The CDC advises delaying the booster 3 months for people who recently had COVID or after a positive COVID test if they were asymptomatic.

The Department of Health and Human Services recommends:
• Stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines and the updated booster.
• People with any COVID symptoms should get tested
• People who are positive for COVID-19 or do not feel well should stay home

For a county at a low community level, like Buncombe County, the CDC recommends:
• If you are at high risk for getting sick, wear a high-quality mask in a public indoors space and take additional precautions.
• If you plan being with someone at high risk for getting sick, consider self-testing for COVID-19 infection and wear a high-quality mask when indoors with them.

Vaccination sites and testing sites can be located through the North Carolina and Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services.

The updated booster shot is available at the Department of Public Health Coxe Avenue vaccination clinic, pharmacies, community health centers and rural health clinics.

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

 

WASHINGTON, DC – January 9, 2023 –  On December 14^th, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced that the agency will consider regulating gas stoves after its emissions were linked to respiratory illness. The CPSC is an independent federal agency that develops safety standards, conducts research and works to make products safer. Recent studies have identified that gas appliances and stoves emit nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and fine particulate matter that have been linked to respiratory illness, heart disease, cancer and other medical problems. According to Richard Trumpa, Jr., a CPSC commissioner, the agency will be putting out a formal request in the spring for public information on hazards that are linked with the use of gas stoves and for ways to reduce risk.

Curbing the use of gas stoves can reduce the amount of methane emissions from leaks. Gas stoves burn natural gas, which is comprised predominantly of methane, a greenhouse gas. The annual methane emissions from gas stoves in the U.S. are estimated to be equal to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of one-half million cars.

Almost 13% of U.S. childhood asthma cases are associated with having a gas stove in the home according to a peer-reviewed study in the December issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. This illness is more frequent in children of color and those living in low resource neighborhoods. The study was performed by RMI, an environmental think tank. Childhood asthma is a leading cause of emergency department visits, hospitalizations and missed school days.

Improving indoor air quality can reduce the incidence of childhood asthma. New York City, San Francisco and Seattle have banned all gas stoves and appliances from new residential construction. However, gas stoves are still used in about 35% of American homes. The recent Inflation Reduction Act promotes a transition from fossil-fuel burning appliances and cars to clean technology like electricity. It offers tax credits, electric appliance rebates, and subsidies to cover other conversion costs. Rob Jackson, a Stanford University gas stove researcher said, “No child should have asthma from breathing pollution from gas stoves when safer electric options are available.”

A gas stove needs to operate with an adequate ventilation system that removes the noxious emissions from the kitchen before they are inhaled. Indoor emission concentrations can rise to unsafe levels if the ventilation system is inadequate or not operating when the stove is on.

A gas appliance ban has drawn criticism from Republicans and natural gas industry supporters. Most of the arguments are business-related and critical of the science behind the studies. Restaurant groups feel that certain foods taste better when cooked with gas. The hotel industry feels that its laundry costs are cheaper with gas appliances.

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

 

DENVER, CO – January 9, 2023 – A recent United Nations’ report finds that the Earth’s protective ozone layer continues to heal slowly. The scientists predict that a full recovery will be in about 2040 except over the South Pole where it should heal by 2066. The report was presented on January 9th at the American Meteorological Society conference in Denver. At this rate, 2 million persons are saved from developing skin cancer every year. The United Nations performs a scientific assessment of the ozone layer every four years.

The Earth’s atmosphere protects us from the harmful effects of the sun’s rays which has been linked to skin cancer, cataracts and crop damage. The protective ozone layer in the stratosphere, between 10–25 miles above the Earth’s surface, absorbs most of the harmful ultraviolet-B radiation. However, in 1985, scientists published a paper identifying the depletion of the ozone layer over the South Pole and speculated that this was due to increased levels of halogenated hydrocarbons. This group of gases was commonly used in fire extinguishers, refrigerants and as propellants in aerosol cans. Halogenated hydrocarbons are very stable chemically and remain in the atmosphere for years. In the 1970’s, U.S. chemists found that these chemicals would react with the sun’s harmful rays to produce a chlorine atom which causes the breakdown of large amounts of ozone in the stratosphere.

The United Nations mobilized its member countries to address this potential worldwide health crisis in order to protect human health. In 1987, 46 signatories and 198 nations, signed an international treaty called the Montreal Protocol. Its purpose is to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of chemicals that are responsible for ozone depletion. Every nation in the world has agreed to stop producing these ozone-depleting chemicals. Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan stated that “perhaps the single most successful international agreement to date has been the Montreal Protocol.” This was the first international treaty to address the world’s commitment to global environmental protection. It has become a big ecological victory for humanity. In a prepared statement, World Meteorologic Organization Secretary-General Petterl Taalas said that “Ozone action sets a precedent for climate action.”

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

 

ASHEVILLE, NC – January 18, 2022 – There has been a surge of respiratory disease as people spend more time indoors during the winter months and due to an increase in indoor gatherings and travel during the holidays. The CDC reports that the community level for Buncombe County is medium for the week ending January 9th. Most of the counties in North Carolina are high. Most of the counties in the U.S. are at a low level with almost 14% of the counties at a high level down from almost 20% last week.

The Buncombe County COVID-19 metrics are on the North Carolina COVID Dashboard. Data from the week ending on January 7th indicate:
• Last week’s total cases are down 10% from the previous week.
• 68% of the total population have received their initial vaccination series.
• 30% of people with their initial vaccination series have had the updated booster. Unchanged from last week.
• The seven-day daily average of COVID-19 hospitalizations has increased by 32% since last week, and of ICU patients increased by 33% from the previous week.

An updated COVID-19 booster is now available for eligible persons 6 months and older. It is more effective at protecting against severe illness and death from the new variants. Eligible persons must have the initial vaccination series and be at least 2 months after any prior COVID-19 shots. The CDC advises delaying the booster 3 months for people who recently had COVID or after a positive COVID test if they were asymptomatic.

The Department of Health and Human Services recommends:
• Stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines and the updated booster.
• People with any COVID symptoms should get tested
• People who are positive for COVID-19 or do not feel well should stay home

For a county at a medium community level, like Buncombe County, the CDC recommends:
• If you are at high risk for getting sick, wear a high-quality mask in a public indoors space and take additional precautions.
• If you plan being with someone at high risk for getting sick, consider self-testing for COVID-19 infection and wear a high-quality mask when indoors with them.

Vaccination sites and testing sites can be located through the North Carolina and Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services.

The updated booster shot is available at the Department of Public Health Coxe Avenue vaccination clinic, pharmacies, community health centers and rural health clinics.

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour