Partners in Prayer & Prevention Newsletter
September / 21 / 2016
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Welcome to the First P3 E-Newsletter!

Partners In Prayer and Prevention (P3) is an initiative through the VDH: Office of Health Equity to connect and work with faith and inter-faith based congregations, associations and groups to promote health equity.  Your voice is a driving force in our communities. P3 was created to provide a hub for public health resources, facilitate new partnerships and provide technical assistance to empower you to bridge the gap between faith and health with ease. Together we can defeat the enemy of health disparities by educating and promoting equal opportunities for good health throughout all of our communities.
 
Please feel free to share any information provided with your congregations, associations, groups, communities, families and friends. All questions and/or inquires can be directed to Veronica Cosby, P3 Coordinator at   veronica.cosby@vdh.virginia.gov .
 
Thank you for your time and keep an eye out for future editions.
 
Veronica Cosby, P3 Coordinator
In This Issue
Travelers
If you are planning to travel to an area with Zika, there are some things you should know! If you are pregnant, do not travel to an area with Zika. If you are thinking about becoming pregnant, talk to your doctor about your travel plans. During your trip, protect yourself and your family from mosquitoes by using insect repellent, and by covering your skin with long, loose and light colored clothing. Keep mosquitoes outside by staying somewhere with air conditioning and window and door screens, or by using a bed net if you are staying outdoors. After your trip, protect yourself from mosquito bites for 3 weeks, even if you do not feel sick. You should also protect yourself during sex, especially if your male partner traveled to an area with Zika or if you are pregnant or considering getting pregnant. If you feel sick after returning from an area with Zika, talk to your doctor.
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Pregnant Women
If you are pregnant, there are steps you should take to prevent getting the Zika virus.
  1. Do not travel to areas with Zika
  2. Prevent mosquito bites by covering your skin with insect repellent and wearing long, loose and light colored clothing. You should also remove or stay away from mosquito breeding sites, like containers with standing water.
  3. Prevent getting Zika through sex.  Pregnant women with sex partners who live in or have traveled to an area with Zika should either use a condom or abstain from sex during their pregnancy.
If you are pregnant and have traveled to an area with Zika, be sure to talk to your doctor or healthcare provider, even if you don't feel sick.
Mosquito Control
Stop the spread of Zika by stopping the breeding of mosquitoes around your home or business. Mosquitoes only need as little as one teaspoon or bottle cap of water standing for a week to be able to breed and multiply. Check around your home or business to make sure you have put away items that are outside and not being used. At least once a week, be sure to empty, turn over or cover anything that could hold water. This includes tires, buckets, toys, pools and pool covers, birdbaths, trash and recycling containers, roof gutters, coolers and pet dishes. In your garden, flush out flower pots and sauces to keep them free of standing water. Flush out any water-holding plants with your hose once a week.
Tip Toss and Cover
Asian Tiger mosquitoes have the potential to spread the Zika virus. These mosquitoes breed in shallow standing water and are aggressive about biting. But YOU can stop Zika and prevent it from spreading in your area! Just remember to
Tip, Toss and Cover:

Tip  - drain standing water from containers around your home like garbage cans, house gutters, pool covers, coolers, toys and flower pots.
Toss  - discard old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots and pans and broken appliances outside that aren't being used. They could collect water.
Cover  - cover up when you are outside by wearing long, loose and light-colored clothing, and shoes and socks. And don't forget to apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing. Use mosquito netting to protect children younger than two months. 
Did You Know?
Beginning August 22, 2016 Virginia Medicaid will cover certain insect repellent products as a Medicaid benefit for the prevention of Zika virus. This benefit is available to all Medicaid Fee-for-Service, FAMIS, FAMIS MOMS, Governors Access Plan (GAP) and Medicaid Managed Care members. The coverage is limited to Medicaid recipients who are currently pregnant OR women and men of child bearing years (ages 14-44).




For information related to the Medicaid/FAMIS Managed Care Plans' policies including the repellents covered by each plan, please go to  zikava.org  and click on the link for Medicaid.
Quit Now
Quit Now Virginia provides free information and coaching by telephone or web to residents who want to quit smoking or using smokeless tobacco. The counseling offered by specially trained Quit Coaches, combined with medication prescribed by healthcare providers, gives the patient the best chance of quitting successfully.  Details about the Quitline services can be found on the VDH Tobacco Use Control Project website  here.

For additional information about Fax to Quit (or to request a site registration form) contact
Rita Miller at804-864-7897 or by email at  Rita.Miller@vdh.virginia.gov.

Million Hearts
Is your congregation a part of the Virginia Congregations for Million Hearts?

Congregations for Million Hearts is a faith-based program designed to help guide congregations toward a heart-healthy lifestyle.

Joining is easy, and the benefits of signing up could mean the difference of life and death for members of your congregation. Complete the Million Hearts® Sign Up Form available on our website at:  http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/health-equity/million-hearts/  and send it via email to Augustine Doe, Health Equity Specialist at the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Health Equity, at  Augustine.doe@vdh.virginia.gov  or fax to 804-864-7440.