2942 Public Health | Medicaid

Women and children receive nutritious foods and nutrition information through the Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC). The perinatal case management program works with low-income pregnant women to help them have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. Family planning services are provided to men and women. Chronically ill and physically disabled children are helped through the Children’s Medical Services Program. Infants, children and adults are immunized against infectious diseases. School children are screened for vision, dental health, hearing and scoliosis and visit the health department for assessment and care.

County health departments treat persons for gonorrhea and syphilis. At public health clinics, people are screened for hypertension and women are screened for cervical and breast cancer. Migrant workers are treated or referred for treatment by the migrant health program in the Columbus, Macon, Metter and Dublin districts.

The division’s regulatory functions include licensing and monitoring ambulance services and certifying Emergency Medical Technicians. Other regulatory activities include evaluations of personal care homes and inspections of restaurants, tourist accommodations, and other facilities.

Health education, testing for HIV infection, counseling and referral services are provided throughout Georgia.

The Office of Epidemiology collects data on reportable diseases and investigates disease outbreaks.

The state laboratory in Atlanta and three regional laboratories aid in the control of infections and chronic disease by processing patient specimens and performing exams on these specimens.

The unit registers records of births, deaths, spontaneous abortions, induced abortions, marriages and divorces.

Fifteen federally-funded and five state-funded centers provide primary health care. Clinics in Atlanta and Savannah, which are state-supported, provide basic health care to homeless persons.