Don't throw the bathwater out with the baby
Dear Bonner County commissioners:
I have copied staff on this letter so that it is included in public record.
When I first read of your agenda item to defund Panhandle Health I thought surely it must just be an opportunity to rant against the mask mandate rather than a serious attempt to defund; I was wrong.
The authority of Panhandle Health to impose a mask mandate in the name of public health is supported by the following code/rules of the state of Idaho: Idaho Code 56-1003(7), IDAPA 16.02.10.065.09, Idaho Code 39-415, and Idaho Code 67-5247.
Although you may not like the imposition of the mask mandate, Panhandle Health is within their right to do so. Additionally I would argue not to would be a dereliction of duty to protect the public.
Perhaps you are unaware of what Panhandle Health provides to our citizens. Here is a list of the services we would lose if you chose to defund:
- Clinical services
- Family planning/birth control HIV testing Immunizations
- STI testing & treatment
- Women’s health services
- Blood pressure management
- Breast exams
- Cancer screening (colorectal, cervical, skin, and breast
- Cervical polyps
- Colposcopy
- Dental health and care
- Diabetes prevention programs
- Endometrial biopsies
- Eye, ear, nose, and throat infections
- Fit and Fall Proof
- Flu symptoms
- Immunizations, including travel immunizations
- Menopausal management
- Minor upper respiratory infections
- Minor skin problems (mole removal, biopsies, rashes, warts etc.)
- Minor sprains and strains
- Pap smears and abnormal pap smear management
- PrEP
- School/sports physicals
- Thyroid
- Type 1, 2, and gestational diabetes management
- Urinary tract infections
- Vaginal infections
- Wellness exams
- Home health care
- Nurse-family partnership
- Parents as teachers
- Quitting tobacco
- Community programs
- Disease reporting and health data
- Emergency preparedness
- Idaho physical activity and nutrition
- Substance misuse prevention
- Senior Companions program
- Suicide prevention
- Teen pregnancy prevention
- Telehealth resources
- Environmental health
- Child care resources
- Complaints
- Food safety
- Institutional controls programs
- Land development
- Lead health information
- Pests, mold, ticks and bed bugs
- Public pools
- Septic permits and records
- Solid waster
- Water protection
- Women and Infant Children’s Nutrition Program
I’m sure you’ve heard the old saying: Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. Perhaps this is a case of throwing out the bath water with the baby. Either way, you are making a huge mistake because of an ideological difference. Protect public health.
CARRIE LOGAN
Sandpoint