Georgia Coastal Health District

There are two free HIV testing events happening in April where you can get a gift card just for getting tested!

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National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day: Testing event on April 2

On April 2nd, the first 50 youth and young adults to get tested for HIV at this event will receive a free gift card! Visit the Chatham County Health Department’s Midtown clinic between 10a and 4p for free testing.

National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NYHAAD) highlights the impact of HIV in young people and raises awareness about ongoing efforts in HIV prevention, testing, and treatment for this population. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that in the United States, 19% of new HIV diagnoses in 2021 were among young people aged 13-24. The CDC found that in 2021, 6% of high school students had never tested for HIV.

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National Transgender HIV Testing Day: Testing event on April 16

For National Transgender HIV Testing Day, we’re offering free testing at the Chatham County Health Department’s Midtown clinic at 1602 Drayton Street on April 16 from 10a-4p. We’re giving away free gift cards, safe sex kits, and more.

National Transgender HIV Testing Day (NTHTD) acknowledges the disproportionate impact of HIV on the transgender community while encouraging routine HIV testing, prevention, and care among transgender and gender non-binary people.

Expecting moms and parents of young children are invited to a community baby shower at the Chatham County Health Department on March 31, 2025. Free baby items, raffle prizes and giveaways will be available from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Midtown clinic at 1602 Drayton Street in Savannah.

The event is free and open to pregnant women as well as parents and caregivers of children up to age 5. No registration is required.

In addition to free baby items, the event will include information on safe infant sleep practices, breastfeeding support, nutrition programs, car seat safety and more. Parents can also sign up for safe infant sleep classes where they can receive a free pack-n-play.

The event is sponsored by the Chatham County Health Department, the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program, Over the Moon Diaper Bank, Healthy Savannah, Coastal Children’s Advocacy Center, Peach State Health Plan, Mary’s Place, Savannah Care Center, Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE), Child Support Services, Safe Kids Savannah, Coastal Coalition for Children, MedBank Foundation, and Step Up Savannah.

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Free mammograms will be available by appointment for eligible women at the Chatham County Health Department on March 25, 2025. The St. Joseph/Candler Mobile Mammography Unit will be in the parking lot of the main health department clinic at 1395 Eisenhower Drive from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. The no-cost screenings are open to women aged 40 and older without health insurance coverage.

Space is limited – appointments are required and can be scheduled by calling the Chatham County Health Department’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Program at 912-356-2946 or 912-307-9235.

Breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second-leading cause of cancer death in women. However, many cancer deaths can be avoided through regular screening. When breast cancer is detected and treated early, the chance of survival is greatly increased.

The Breast and Cervical Cancer Program helps increase access to life-saving screenings for women who do not have health insurance coverage for mammograms and cervical cancer screenings. For more information about available services, please visit our Breast and Cervical Cancer Program page.

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A raccoon in Bloomingdale in west Chatham County has tested positive for rabies. The Chatham County Health Department’s environmental health office reminds all residents to avoid contact with wild animals and ensure pets are properly vaccinated against rabies.

A family dog encountered the sick raccoon outside a residence near the intersection of Highway 80 and Pooler Parkway on February 3. Fortunately, no humans were exposed to the raccoon, and the dog has received a rabies vaccination booster.

This incident is a reminder that several species of wild animals in our area can carry rabies, including raccoons, foxes, and bats. Rabies is a potentially deadly virus that is primarily spread by infected animals. Following these tips can protect you and your family from rabies:

• Avoid contact with animals you don’t know.
• Make sure your pets receive the proper immunizations. Dogs and cats should get rabies vaccines after 12 weeks of age, followed by a booster shot within one year and vaccination every 1-3 years depending on veterinary recommendation and vaccine used.
• Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or by leaving pet food out at night.
• Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not try to nurse sick animals to health. Call animal services or a properly licensed animal rescue agency for assistance.
• Teach children to never handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly. “Love your own, leave other animals alone” is a good principle for children to learn.

Symptoms of rabies in animals include a change in behavior, biting, aggression, showing no fear of natural enemies (such as humans), foaming at the mouth, and paralysis. If an animal ever bites you, seek medical care immediately and contact Chatham County Animal Services at 912-652-6575 and the Chatham County Environmental Health office at 912-356-2160.

Treat your heart right this February and get free blood pressure screenings, blood glucose tests and more during the Chatham County Health Department’s Heart Health and Wellness Fair. The event is planned for Friday, February 28 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the clinic at 1395 Eisenhower Drive.

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There is no cost for the health screenings, and no appointment is needed. The event will also feature door prizes, as well as information and education from several community vendors.

Health screenings are very important for protecting yourself from health complications such as diabetes, heart disease and heart attack. High blood pressure is often called the “silent killer” because it usually has no symptoms. The only way to know you have high blood pressure is to measure it through blood pressure screening. If your blood pressure is too high, lifestyle changes or medicine can reduce your risk for heart disease or heart attack.

Blood glucose screenings check for health concerns like pre-diabetes and diabetes. Once you know your blood glucose levels, you can make any needed adjustments to your diet, exercise, or medications to improve your health.

The Coastal Health District has several programs to help you manage blood pressure and blood glucose levels. Find out more about these programs and other local resources at the event on February 28 and on our chronic disease prevention page.

Haga clic aquí para obtener información en español.

The Chatham County Health Department and Healthy Savannah are hosting a cervical cancer awareness and screening event on February 20. Eligible women can get cancer screenings and HPV vaccinations at no cost, and no appointment is required.

Almost all cervical cancers are preventable, but vaccination and early detection are crucial. Regular screenings like pap smears can detect precancerous lesions, giving women a chance to begin treatment early when survival rates are highest. Additionally, a vaccination against HPV helps to prevent infection with a virus that can lead to cervical cancer.

The cervical cancer awareness event will be held Thursday, February 20 from 8 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. at the Chatham County Health Department at 1395 Eisenhower Drive in Savannah. This is a walk-in event and no appointments are needed. However, anyone needing a cervical cancer screening should arrive by 5:30 to ensure there is time to be seen before the clinic ends.

Uninsured individuals will be able to receive services at no cost. Individuals with insurance will have no out-of-pocket costs for cervical cancer screenings or HPV vaccinations; however, they should present their insurance card at check-in to avoid problems/bills from their insurer later.

The cervical cancer screenings will be available to women 21-64 years of age and HPV vaccines will be available for people age 11 to 26. Anyone age 27 to 45 wanting the HPV vaccine should talk with a health care provider to determine if it’s appropriate for them.

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