August 10, 2016 Department of Health has resumed services at East Baton Rouge Parish Health Unit

Baton Rouge, La., Aug 10, 2016 - The Department of Health announced today it has resumed services at the East Baton Rouge Parish Health Unit on Florida Blvd. starting today, Wednesday, Aug. 10. The health unit was closed on July 7 after LDH received a report that detailed the presence of mold throughout the building. 

The health unit provides various health services and serves as the office of many public health programs, including:

• reproductive health clinics (family planning and STD/HIV prevention and care),
• regional tuberculosis services,
• immunizations,
• children’s special health services clinics,
• vital records,
• sanitarian services and
• Nurse Family Partnership services.

The building is owned by the East Baton Rouge City-Parish but is staffed by the Department of Health’s Office of Public Health.

Dr. Marilyn Reynaud, regional medical director for the Office of Public Health, said the building has been cleaned and is now safe.

“As the East Baton Rouge Parish Health Unit provides essential services to the community, we were very pleased at the quick response by the city-parish to address this mold problem, and we are pleased to restore services at the site in t just over a month after the closure. We will continue to work with the City-Parish to address any structural problems that contribute to the mold,” Dr. Reynaud said. “The health and safety of our patients and staff is of paramount importance, and we are working hard to ensure that conditions at the health unit remain safe.”

Cary “Bubba” Cashio, interim director for Buildings and Grounds with the City-Parish, said, “We have worked to remove the mold, tested for asbestos, inspected and repaired leaks in the roof and windows, sanitized the HVAC system and cleaned and sanitized the entire building. All reports we have received show levels far below hazardous conditions. We feel assured the employees working in this building and patrons will not be exposed to any health hazards. We will continue to work with the Department of Health to make any other necessary improvements and repairs that will keep this problem from reoccurring.”

A directory of health unit services can be found on the Department of Health’s website here.

The Louisiana Department of Health strives to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all state residents. To learn more about LDH, visit www.ldh.la.gov. For up-to-date health information, news and emergency updates, follow LDH's Twitter account and Facebook.