When love is in the air and romance is at its peak, what better time to make sure we are practicing safe sex? 

That special chocolate and heart-filled day kicks off National Condom Week, which began on Sunday, Valentine’s Day, and runs until Feb. 21.

It is fitting that National Condom Week begins on Valentine’s Day, as the conversation on safe sex goes hand in hand with the most romantic day of the year. 

One of the most important aspects of safe sex is the use of condoms. They are a great way to reduce the risks associated with unprotected sex, but must be used correctly in order to maximize their effectiveness.

For an in-depth breakdown of proper condom use, visit this link for males and this link for females.

Here are some do’s and don’ts for a male condom:

• DO use a condom every time you have sex.cdc
• DO put on a condom before having sex.
• DO read the package and check the expiration date.
• DO make sure there are no tears or defects.
• DO store condoms in a cool, dry place.
• DO use latex or polyurethane condoms.
• DO use water-based or silicone-based lubricant to prevent breakage.
• DON’T store condoms in your wallet as heat and friction can damage them.
• DON’T use nonoxynol-9 (a spermicide), as this can cause irritation.
• DON’T use oil-based products like baby oil, lotion, petroleum jelly or cooking oil because they will cause the condom to break.
• DON’T use more than one condom at a time.
• DON’T reuse a condom.

Here are some do's and don'ts for a female condom:

• DO use a female condom from start to finish, every time you have vaginal sex.*
• DO read the condom package insert and check the expiration date.
• DO make sure there are no tears or defects.
• DO use lubricant to help prevent the condom from slipping and tearing.
• DO store female condoms in a cool, dry place.
• DON’T use a male condom with a female condom, as this can cause tearing.
• DON’T reuse a female condom.
• DON’T flush female condoms as they may clog the toilet.

When they are applied the right way, condoms are very good at reducing the risk of STD transmission. Yes, you should use a new one with every sexual act, but it is just as important that you do so the right way to protect yourself and others. 

The most effective ways to avoid being exposed to STDs are always to abstain from sex or be in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship. But when you take that extra step to elevate intimacy with your partner, know that there is always a level of risk. Wear a new condom each time and make sure you put it on right.

Condoms can reduce the likelihood of unintended pregnancy, but they continue to show that they are really best at preventing the spread of STDs. Consistent and correct use can prevent:

• HIV 
• Gonorrhea
• Chlamydia
• Trichomoniasis
• HPV and related diseases, including cervical cancer

And when in doubt, individuals can take advantage of Monongalia County Health Department Clinical Services’ free STD testing and treatment.

Condoms work by creating an impermeable barrier between you and microscopic pathogens. Like building a wall to keep you protected. At the end of each sexual act, be sure to carefully remove and dispose of used condoms in order to minimize possible exposure.

This year and every year show your partner that you really care for them by being safe and responsible.

Free condoms are available at MCHD Clinical Services with a free or low-cost appointment. Call 304-598-5119 for an appointment.

​Mikhail Conrad’s first visit to the dentist took place after he had just spent time at a hospital, said his mother Tina, so he was not very happy to undergo more treatment.

But these days, Mikhail is a pro. On Friday, he sat patiently as dental assistant Stacy Croston  cleaned his teeth as part of Give Kids a Smile at Monongalia County Health Department’s MCHD Dentistry.

“They worked with him and now he just — you see, he just went in by himself,” Conrad said from her car. “He didn’t want me to go in.”

And that’s a key goal of Give Kids a Smile, which provides dental cleanings and checkups to children 18 and under who don’t have dental insurance. 

“We do everything we can to make it a positive day for the kids,” said Dr. Daniel Carrier, program manager for MCHD Dentistry.

After all, it’s important to instill good dental habits in children early on. That not only includes teaching them to brush and floss twice a day, but also to visit the dentist every six months for checkups, restorative work if needed and oral health education.

Established by the American Dental Association (ADA) in 2003, Give Kids a Smile encourages dentists to hold events around the country. Each year approximately 6,500 dentists and 30,000 dental team members volunteer at local GKAS events to provide free oral health education, screenings and preventive and restorative treatment to more than 300,000 children, according to information on the ADA’s website.

MCHD Dentistry has participated every year since 2011, in spite of some challenges. Those have included snowstorms that hit on the first Friday in February, the day the event is traditionally held, in spite of otherwise mild winters, during the past two events. The snowstorms impacted attendance but also led to a new goal of providing more restorative work to the patients who do show up.

This year, of course, MCHD Dentistry had better weather but also had to contend with the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents were allowed to come in with their children but they also could choose to wait in the car, as Conrad did, to promote social distancing.

Other precautions taken this year included temperatures taken at the door, a questionnaire, air purifiers in treatment rooms and N-95 masks and face shields that were worn by providers. 

In addition to the typical helium balloons tethered by tubes of toothpaste for children to take home, this year’s décor also included floor stickers reminding everyone to remain 6 feet apart

For the first time this year, Give Kids a Smile benefited from the presence of a second dentist. Dr. Youseph Kassar joined MCHD Dentistry last summer. His role in Friday’s event was to provide the restorative care, such as fillings and extractions, when necessary.

Early in the morning, he had already done a couple of each. The concept of Give Kids a Smile was not new to him, as he had participated in a couple during dental school at WVU School of Dentistry.

“It’s good to give back,” Dr. Kassar said. “It’s good to see kids who wouldn’t normally see a dentist.”

Dr. Kassar enjoyed interacting with his young patients. “And then they leave with a balloon,” he said. “It’s a festive day.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cavities are one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood in the United States. Left untreated, cavities can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing and learning.

Also, the CDC reports, about 1 in 5 children ages 5 to 11 years old have at least one untreated decayed tooth, as do about 1 in 7 adolescents ages 12 to 19. And at 25 percent, children ages 5 to 19 years old from low-income families are twice as likely to have cavities than children from higher-income households. That figure is 11%.

Sometimes, children just need a little nudge from a dentist. Tongju Guan, who brought her children Larry and Laura Du, said they don’t always listen to her.

“But the dentist is very thoughtful and nice,” she said. “If the doctor tells them to do that, they really follow their direction.”

What a difference a year makes. 

Last January, just ahead of the 2020 state legislative session, Monongalia County Health Department implored our state legislators not to weaken West Virginia’s vaccination laws, which are among the most stringent in our nation. 

Now, from where we sit, vaccines for COVID-19 are very popular. During January, telephones at our health department rang off the hook as individuals called, very anxious to get an appointment for an inoculation for themselves, or their elderly parents, or their spouse with health issues, or for an essential worker in their family. You get the idea.

Of course, we know that vaccines are our best defense against the pandemic that was declared last March. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean that everyone is on board with getting inoculated. 

But for those who weren’t around to witness the ravages of a virus like polio, which was eventually wiped out by vaccines, or measles, which had been eradicated in the United States until it re-emerged in 2019 when vaccinations were reduced, it has been a great illustration on the part science plays in our health.

And, because the West Virginia Legislature will come into session a week from today on  Feb. 10, it’s also a great time to address another component of health, and in this case, public health. And that would be funding.

A few years ago, the Legislature cut funding for public health by 25%. If there ever was a year in which that decision came home to roost, it was 2020, as MCHD, along with health departments all across the state, were required to mount a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But just like freedom, public health isn’t free. 
​
Since March, MCHD’s part-time and full-time employees have increased from 65 to 107. When you consider that we also until recently had a contingent of both West Virginia National Guard troops and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)  all embedded and working out of our conference rooms, that has meant a pretty packed health department building. To make room for one more worker to help us answer phones recently, mailboxes were taken down so that the countertop beneath them could be turned into a desk.

In March, the health department was open seven days a week and even though that’s not the case on weekends anymore, all seven days are covered by employees working in shifts. This allows the processing of all the positive COVID-19 cases, including disease investigation and contact tracing. 

Additionally, MCHD has continued to perform community testing twice weekly. And since Dec. 15, we have added providing vaccines to our community to the list. 

During all this time, our employees have had to learn a total of 10 new software systems in just about as many months.

Like other businesses during the pandemic, we’ve taken on new expenses. In addition to salaries for new employees, these include new equipment such as phones, laptops, printers and workstations; personal protective equipment such as surgical masks, N-95 masks, face shields, gowns and hand sanitizer; new vaccine refrigerators and ultra-cold freezers that will safely store Pfizer vaccine at -80 degrees Celsius, and a walk-through temperature scanner that somewhat resembles a metal detector.

Many of these expenses have been taken on without knowing whether reimbursement will come from one source or another, be it state, county or federal sources.

And at the same time, MCHD is performing all the other required duties it did before. Take, for instance, MCHD Clinical Services, which has been busy setting up appointments and administering COVID-19 vaccines to first responders and health care workers. 

That’s also where community members can go for other vaccines, such as influenza, shingles, pneumonia, measles, etc. As well as free STD and tuberculosis testing and treatment, family planning, pap tests and breast exams, all of which people still need.

Or MCHD Environmental Health. Our registered sanitarians have responded to hundreds of COVID-19-related complaints. But they still need to conduct regular inspections on restaurants, hotels, motels, tattoo studios, and more. The COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t made radon disappear, so we still have a specialist who can test for the levels in area homes and businesses.

And even though 2020 was a very light year for rabies compared to 2019, sanitarians still went out into the Morgantown area in August and distributed rabies vaccine baits by hand to help keep raccoons and other animals well. Because if they didn’t, rabies would return.

Then there is MCHD Dentistry, which has had to take on new PPE and safety procedures in order to treat patients. And on Friday, they will provide free dental checkups to uninsured children 18 years and younger as part of its annual Give Kids a Smile event.

Threat Preparedness, of course, has been busy with setting up the logistics of the testing and vaccine clinics as well as running them. And the MCHD Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program is bustling as well, teaching breastfeeding techniques and nutrition to participants remotely and getting ready to debut a new test kitchen where healthy recipes can be showcased.

We hope that the COVID-19 vaccines are the start of the light at the end of the tunnel and that next year, when the Legislature gets ready to convene again, the pandemic will be behind us or at least stabilized.

But there will be other viruses. There will still be the need for rabies control, radon testing, flu vaccines, STD testing and treatment, restaurant inspections and more. The list goes on.
Fewer than two months since the COVID-19 vaccines debuted, West Virginia has hovered at or near the No. 1 spot in shots administered, a fact that has received a lot of attention in the national news this week. Clearly, public health is important to residents of the Mountain State.

Let’s remember that when it comes time to fund public health.