November is National Prematurity Awareness Month, bringing attention to the health of mothers and babies affected by preterm birth, with a goal of reducing the number of premature babies born.  Preterm birth is when a baby is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. It’s the second leading cause of infant death before age one.

How can preterm birth be prevented?

  • Prenatal Provider Visits: It’s very important to work with a medical provider who can identify any problems or needs as early as possible.
  • Stop smoking or using tobacco products: Smoking and tobacco use increase the risk of preterm birth and low birth-weight.
  • Enroll in a program to help: First District offers a number of programs to help ensure your baby is born healthy and on time:

 

Any parent of a newborn can enroll in the High Priority Infant (HPI) program – whether for a premature infant, a baby with special needs, or just for extra help and support.

Did you know?  Donating blood is a way to help premature babies, as some may require special medical attention, including blood transfusions. O- blood is universal and can be safely transfused to people of all blood types.

 

Smokers and users of vaping devices are encouraged to participate in the Great American Smokeout by setting their quit date as Thursday, November 21. Quitting commercial tobacco and nicotine is one of the best steps you can take to improve your health, reducing the risk of respiratory diseases like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Every year, around 1,000 North Dakotans die from commercial tobacco use.   

Bonnie Riely was a pack a day smoker for over 30 years.  When she started having heart pains and wheezing, she decided to quit smoking.  Bonnie also watched her mother, who was also a long-time smoker, struggle with COPD.  Bonnie had tried several times and knew it wasn’t going to be easy.  She made a plan and enrolled in the Quit Smoking program at First District Health Unit.  With the help of Nicotine replacement aids, support from others who were going through the same journey, and the motivation to be healthier, she has been smoke free for 15 years.  

Bonnie is now a Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist at First District Heath Unit.  She holds Kick Start quit classes and will do consultations for individuals who are interested in quitting smoking, vaping or chewing.   As a former smoker she can relate to individuals and help them plan their quit. You may contact her at bfriely@nd.gov or 701-837-5171. 

 

Sarah’s Story 

“When I would wake up the first thing I would do is smoke, when on break at work the first thing I would do is smoke, before and after meals I would smoke and also right before bed. Smoking controlled my life. One afternoon after a cigarette I felt a flutter in my chest. It was scary and at that point I knew enough was enough. I also thought about how much money I was going to save being a pack a day smoker since I was 14 years old.  

I started working with Bonnie and she gave me the tools and guidance to help me quit. Her classes are really fun and informative, and she is an amazing teacher and mentor! I wouldn’t have been able to quit without her help and the tools she provided me. My lungs owe her the biggest thank you. I am no longer out of breath doing simple tasks like going down the stairs. With her help I am now a year and a half smoke free!” 

First District Health Unit in Bottineau is taking applications for an Administrative Assistant to handle calls and appointments, assist with clinics, do data entry, and complete other clerical tasks.  Great weekday hours!  Excellent benefits include employer-paid family health insurance, retirement, sick leave, and paid vacation.  Starts at $16.50/hr.  Apply by April 15th. Find all the details on the Employment page.

Most of the time, public health works behind the scenes to keep our communities safe and healthy.  National Public Health Week is a time to recognize the contributions of public health to our world and communities.  In keeping with this year’s theme Protecting, Connecting and Thriving: We Are All Public Health, First District Health Unit (FDHU) will showcase some of the ways public health works in our local communities.

→  A public open house on Monday, April 1 from 3:00 – 6:00 at the Minot office (801 11th Ave SE, Minot). This is a great opportunity for area leaders, community partners, and the general public to learn more about public health in the community. Staff members will introduce, explain and demonstrate many available public health programs and services, such as:

      • ID scanners for reducing alcohol sales to minors
      • Plus Optix automated vision screener
      • Narcan’s role in reducing opioid overdoses
      • Reducing the risk of diseases like tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and STI/STDs
      • Tobacco prevention and control, including vaping
      • WIC nutrition program
      • Water testing and septic systems
      • Zoonotic diseases
      • Car seat safety
      • Emergency preparedness and response
      • Food safety and inspections

 

→  There will be a free showing of a documentary for parents, teens, teachers, and others who want to learn more about helping kids be smart and safe online. The movie, Sextortion, follows the stories of several teens who begin communicating with someone they met online, and how the situation escalated.  The movie, which runs 1 hr 25 min, will be shown at Oak Park Theater in Minot at 7:00 on April 3. It is suitable for teens and adults.

→  Multiple First District offices will hold food drives throughout the week. The donations will be used locally to benefit a food pantry or backpack program in the host community. Click for more information on dates and drop-off locations in your area.

All First District programs are available to everyone in Bottineau, Burke, McHenry, McLean, Renville, Sheridan, and Ward counties, through either the local office or the Minot office.

February Special!

$10 Fluoride Treatments
Up to 18 years of age until 2/29/24

😁Special offer during Children’s Dental Health Month!
During the month of February, 🩷🦷First District Health is offering $10 Fluoride Treatments for children 17 and under.

Fluoride varnish is a safe and effective treatment recommended for children and adults to help prevent cavities. It is made from a naturally occurring mineral and helps strengthen teeth. The varnish can be applied to the surfaces of the teeth by your dentist or other health professional. Some insurances do not cover the cost of this treatment.

Schedule the entire family in one trip! All First District offices offer fluoride treatments for all ages. Cost is $27 per treatment. Programs are available for un/under insured to help with cost. Call your local office for more details or to schedule an appointment.

 

Additional State Resources

 

The Oral Health Program in HHS supports children’s dental health through prevention, education and SEAL!ND – a school-based sealant program. This program uses public health dental hygienists, private practice dental professionals and Federally Qualified Health Centers to provide oral health education, dental screenings, sealants and fluoride varnish treatments to thousands of children across the state.

In the North Dakota Health and Human Services Department, North Dakota Medicaid also supports children’s dental health. North Dakota Medicaid’s Health Tracks benefit pays for dental care including exams, cleanings, x-rays, sealants and fluoride treatment for enrolled children. There are no copays for qualifying families. For more information about Health Tracks, visit hhs.nd.gov/health-tracks.

HHS encourages North Dakotans of all ages to care for their smiles by following these tips: 

    • Brush teeth at least twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste
    • Floss teeth daily
    • Eat a balanced diet
    • Drink tap water and limit sugary drinks and snacks
    • Avoid using cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and electronic nicotine or vaping products
    • Replace toothbrushes every three to four months and after an illness
    • Schedule regular dental checkups and cleanings
    • Talk to a dentist about fluoride varnish and sealants for children to prevent cavities

 

In addition to daily dental care at home, HHS also encourages North Dakotans to schedule an annual checkup with a dentist. Learn more about oral health and the HHS Oral Health Program at hhs.nd.gov/health/oral-health-program.

 

FULL RELEASE ONLINE: hhs.nd.gov

 

 

 

 

 

New in 2024! A Preventative Health Clinic is now held every other month in our Towner office. Services are available for both men and women. Appointments are preferred but not always needed. A Nurse Practitioner from our Minot office will offer services that include:

  • STD/STI testing and treatment, including tests for syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, hepatitis C, and HIV
  • Pregnancy testing
  • Birth control exams and options, including pills and Depo injections (We are not able to fill existing prescriptions for birth control)
  • Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) testing and treatment
  • Pap smears
  • Hemoglobin/Iron Testing
  • Mental health screening and referrals.


All services are confidential. To make an appointment in Towner, call 701.537.5732.  We can bill your insurance, or if you choose, you may pay at the time of service. Fees are determined on a sliding scale, based on income.

Clinic dates:
January 9
March 12
May 8
July 9
September 10
November 12

These services are also offered through the  our Minot office on a regular basis.  To make an appointment in the Minot office, call 701.852.1376 and select option 6.

What is Shingles?

About 1 out of every 3 people in the United States will develop shingles, also known as herpes zoster. Shingles is a painful rash illness, which sometimes leads to long-term nerve pain. If you’ve ever had chickenpox, you can get shingles. Chickenpox and shingles are related because they are caused by the same virus (varicella-zoster virus). After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays dormant (inactive) in the body. It can reactivate years later and cause shingles. Your risk of shingles increases as you get older.

Is there a vaccine available?

A vaccine called Shingrix is the best way to help protect yourself against shingles and is more than 90% effective at preventing shingles and long-term nerve pain.  You may have already got a different shingles vaccine called Zostavax, which is no longer in use in the United States. If you did, you still need 2 doses of Shingrix.

Who should get the Shingrix vaccine?

Adults 50 years and older should get two doses of Shingrix, separated by 2 to 6 months. Adults 19 years and older who have or will have weakened immune systems because of disease or therapy should also get two doses of Shingrix. If needed, people with weakened immune systems can get the second dose 1 to 2 months after the first.

You should get Shingrix even if in the past you:

  • Had shingles
  • Received Zostavax*
  • Received varicella (chickenpox) vaccine

There is no maximum age for getting Shingrix.

Is Shringrix covered under my health plan?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires all Health Insurance Marketplace plans and most other private health insurance plans to cover all ACIP-recommended vaccines, including SHINGRIX, with no cost sharing (deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance) if administered in-network. Most insurances and Medicare Part D (prescription plan) are now paying for some or all of the cost of Shingrix. You should call your insurance provider before your appointment to see if it is covered.

Information above was found at www.cdc.gov Learn more about Shingles and the Shingrix vaccine by clicking the button below.

Don’t wait, vaccinate! Learn about shingles.

Colorectal cancer is the second most diagnosed and second leading cause of cancer death in North Dakota for men and women combined.  Colonoscopy screening can not only detect colorectal cancer, but can detect and treat precancerous polyps, helping to prevent colorectal cancer as well.  Regular screening is recommended for everyone age 45 – 75.  Talk to your doctor to set up your screening.

Colorectal cancer is often thought of as a disease that only affects older people. But the face of colorectal cancer is changing. Over the past four decades colorectal cancer has been steadily increasing in young people, and by 2030, it is on track to become the number one cancer killer of people ages 20-49.   Although regular screening starts at 45, you may need to be tested earlier or more often than other people if you have—

  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • A personal or family history of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps.
  • A polyp-related genetic syndrome

 

If you think you are at increased risk for colorectal cancer, be sure to talk to your doctor and formulate a screening plan that’s right for you.  Learn more about colorectal cancer and screening.

 

December 9, 2022

It’s not too late to give yourself and your family the best chance at a healthy winter: get your flu shot and COVID-19 booster.  First District has made a few changes to make vaccinations more accessible:

Minot office: No appointment currently needed for flu or COVID-19 vaccinations.  Walk in from 8:00 – 12:00 and 1:00 – 4:00 Monday through Friday.  If you prefer, you can still schedule online in the Minot office, or call 701.852.1376 for an appointment.

All other offices also offer flu shots and COVID boosters by appointment.

Remember:

  • The flu and COVID vaccinations can be given in the same appointment.
  • Everyone 6 months and older should have a flu shot every year and vaccinated for COVID-19.
  • If you have been vaccinated for COVID-19, and haven’t gotten a booster since September 2022, you are due for the new bivalent booster.  The Pfizer bivalent vaccine is authorized for everyone, no matter what brand of vaccine you’ve had before.  The bivalent vaccine protects against the two primary strains of COVID-19 that are currently circulating.
  • People  with a current COVID-19 infection or positive test should wait to get vaccinated at least until their isolation period is over.  Those who recently had COVID-19 infection may consider waiting for 3 months from when their symptoms started or they tested positive.

See our  COVID-19 Vaccinations and Boosters page for more information.

12-11-2023

What’s worse than being sick over the holidays?  Taking Grandma down with you😒!   Get your flu shot and COVID-19 booster now to stay healthy later, and to protect the ones you love.  It takes two weeks from the time of vaccination for immunity to develop, so don’t wait – make your appointment today!  Schedule online in the Minot office, or call your local office for an appointment.

  • The flu and COVID vaccinations can be given in the same appointment.
  • Everyone 6 months and older should have a flu shot every year and vaccinated for COVID-19.
  • Everyone aged 5 years and older should get 1 dose of an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against serious illness from COVID-19. None of the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccines is preferred over another.

 

People  with a current COVID-19 infection or positive test should wait to get vaccinated at least until their isolation period is over.  Those who recently had COVID-19 infection may consider waiting for 3 months from when their symptoms started or they tested positive.

See our Flu Vaccination or COVID-19 page for more information.

CDC -Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines