The Voice for Public Health in Montgomery

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Covid-19 has brought public health to the forefront. From the initial guidance on social distancing to the testing and rollout of mRNA vaccines, people have looked to government leaders and health care experts on ways to best navigate through the pandemic. 

As the country attempts to rebound, it’s also important we acknowledge the work that takes place in our own county—the Board of Health is the policy and rule-making, adjudicatory body for public health in Montgomery. The committee often meets with BOH's from the surrounding townships to discuss county-wide issues.

In recent months, the BOH has been monitoring reported cases, performing contact tracings, and evaluating the effectiveness of mitigation strategies at schools. In mid-February, they contacted the Montgomery school district to recommend a more efficient hybrid model for students—a schedule that would increase in-person attendance to all five days of the week. 

It is unlikely school will return to ‘normal’ by June (there will have to be some virtual component present). Still, full-time, in-person instruction is on the horizon! 

According to the BOH, schools have been a relatively infection-free zone, thanks to students and faculty adhering to social distancing guidelines. They have expressed cautious optimism for a full return by September—masks will still be present, along with other preventative measures.

In addition to monitoring schools, the BOH is also advocating for a local satellite clinic in Somerset county; currently, the dwindling vaccine supply is hindering plans to speed up distribution. They hope the clinic will increase vaccine megasites’ capacites and hopefully set up appointments for the local health departments. Overall, the ability to adapt to the country and county’s ever-changing health conditions has become increasingly important. 

Outside of Covid, the BOH handles food safety inspections, water quality checks, and outbreaks of food-born illnesses, such as hepatitis. What’s most surprising about the BOH is their involvement with Montgomery’s vulnerable population.

Most recently, the BOH began a Food Security and Wellness Program, intended to target the most vulnerable (homeless, at-risk youth, seniors, and undocumented citizens) by limiting and preventing their exposure to Covid-19. With the aid of Princeton Elks Lodge, Rotary Club, Montgomery Food Pantry, and the Municipal Alliance, this will include distributing groceries and shelf-stable items and providing resources to over forty families. 

Through meeting with the Health Officer, Stephanie Carey, I have also learned how public health and mental health are heavily intertwined—by addressing issues such as limited access to health care or unsafe housing conditions, overall community wellbeing increases as a result. 

Therefore, it is important we recognize local governments’ contributions outside of the pandemic. Outside of this crazy year, the BOH works constantly to launch initiatives and improve community health and safety. Recognizing the lack of civic awareness in Montgomery, I hope to combat this problem head-on.

The first and easiest way is to make committee live streams more accessible; one way is to include a linktree of all township meetings on our social media and their dates and discussed topics. Staying informed mid and post-pandemic will foster greater awareness about public health issues and promote transparency and accountability in local government. 

Furthermore, I hope to foster youth engagement through newsletters, social media, or high school outreaches. The key to generating interest is to showcase public health’s relevance to people’s normal lives—from protecting their drinking water to performing inspections of septic systems or foods at local restaurants.

I encourage Montgomery students to stay civically engaged and be community leaders. If you have questions or suggestions, contact the board! I encourage the BOH to expand their reach and find ways to make Montgomery a more civically progressive township. 

It’s easy to get frustrated with the ongoing pandemic, but please don’t pin the blame on our public health officials! They are doing their best to enforce social distancing guidelines, restrictions, and mitigation orders, but it’s also up to us to spread the word and continue staying informed. 

To my fellow youth: your voice is not limited to your age or position, merely how you aim to impact.