The Office of the Board of Health is located at 175 Massachusetts Ave. in the Fox Community Center. The mission of the Board is to assess the health needs of the Town, to develop initiatives to protect the public welfare, and to prevent the outbreak of infectious diseases and to control environmental health hazards by evaluating current health services and enforcing state and local health regulations.
The Board of Health enforces all laws, codes, and regulations that fall under the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Department of Environmental Protection. The Board annually permits and inspects 170 food establishments, twenty-seven tobacco vendors, seventeen massage therapy establishments, ten pools, six tanning establishments, and an ice-skating rink. In addition, inspections are conducted, upon complaint, at any housing unit or for any environmental concern within the Town. Over 300 resident complaints were investigated in 2002.
To protect the community against the spread of contagious illnesses, a rigorous communicable disease tracking system is in place. When a doctor diagnoses a resident with a communicable disease, the public health nurse conducts an investigation to determine if further control measures are needed. The illness is then recorded and reviewed to identify and respond to any disease trends of concern. During 2002 over 115 communicable diseases were monitored. Other efforts for disease prevention during 2002 included immunization clinics such as influenza vaccine clinics in the fall where over 100 elders were vaccinated and the rabies vaccine clinics in the spring where over thirty dogs and cats were vaccinated.
In addition, childhood vaccines are provided to pediatric health care providers free of charge through the Vaccines for Children Program that is sponsored by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Through this program all children, regardless of a family’s ability to pay, will have access to necessary vaccines. The Arlington Board of Health is the local vaccine depot for the State.
During 2002, West Nile Virus surveillance efforts were improved. In total fifty-one dead birds were reported to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Thirteen were tested for West Nile Virus and six tested positive for the virus. Efforts to limit mosquito breeding were employed throughout the Town. Complaint investigation and community wide education campaigns were increased during the summer months.
The Sealer of Weights and Measures conducts inspections of all scales, scanners, and dispensing equipment to ensure compliance with the Consumer and Merchant Protection Act. These inspections include retail stores, gas stations, oil trucks, and food establishments. The Sealer responds to all consumer complaints to ensure fairness and accuracy.
The three member Board of Health meets on a monthly basis. During meetings, community health issues are addressed, public hearings are held, and policies are reviewed. In 2002, several meetings were held to revise the Town’s Massage Therapy, Bodywork, and Energy-Work Regulations in response to the growing number of energy-work practitioners coming to Arlington. In the future, the Arlington Board of Health will continue to protect the public health and strive to improve the overall environment in which the community lives.
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