State public health director visits Southern Seven

As local agencies struggle against the rising cost of serving people in Southern Illinois, one agency welcomes a closer look into meeting those needs. 

On Thursday, July 11, Illinois Department of Public Health director Dr. Ngozi Ezike, assistant director Evonda Thomas-Smith and chief of staff Justin DeWitt spent several hours with the staff at Southern Seven Health Department in Ullin to learn about the challenges faced by the department in order to facilitate concrete solutions. 

During the meeting Southern Seven executive director Rhonda Andrews-Ray presented demographic evidence and health data that validated the purpose of the visit.  

Department supervisors shared the details of program services and their concerns and ideas for moving the department forward. 

“It is always a good sign when a department director gets out of the office to visit where the rubber meets the road and talk to the employees on the front lines,” Andrews-Ray said in a news release. 

“We appreciate the fact that Dr. Ezike was really concerned about our issues and is interested in the greater good of Southern Illinois.” 

Since Southern Seven serves everyone living in the lower seven counties in Illinois, it covers more territory than any other health department in the state at 2,003 square miles.  

The department serves more than 65,000 people with services that take a proactive approach to health and safety including controlling communicable diseases, providing assistance to families, and maintaining a safe water supply. The Department is also home to the area’s Head Start program.  

For more information about Southern Seven Health Department, call 618-634-2297 or visit southern7.org.