 1701 High Street – Suite 102 Portsmouth, VA 23704 |
The Portsmouth Health Department is dedicated to promoting, protecting, and preserving a healthy and safe community. Main Office (757)393-8585 – Monday through Friday – 8AM to 4:30PM WIC(757)393-5340 – Mon, Tue & Wed, 7:40AM to 5:45PM; Thu 1PM to 6:45PM; Fri Closed Contact us at phd.info@vdh.virginia.gov.To report a public health emergency, such as a reportable disease or environmental public health hazard, after business hours, on holidays or weekends, please contact (866)531-3068. |
What is Public Health?
Public Health focuses on the health of the population as a whole and is that branch of medicine that addresses hygiene, disease prevention, epidemiology, injury prevention, and good health outcomes.
What do we do?
Portsmouth Health Department is committed to the promotion, protection and preservation of a healthy and environmentally safe community. As such, based on health assessments conducted across the city, we have developed strategic priorities to better mitigate poor health outcomes and meet our vision to be recognized as a leader and advocate safeguarding public health and the environment.
Our strategic priorities include:
- Quality Improvement.
- Use a formal quality improvement program to improve PHD’s programs and services.
- Utilize funding effectively.
- Ensure funding is making a positive impact on the health the Portsmouth Community.
- Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to improve health outcomes.
- Identify new partners, strengthen existing ones, and evaluate programs to identify partnership needs.
- Focus on workforce development and staff retention.
- Create a skilled, valued, and motivated workforce at PHD.
- Embrace and utilize technology to improve capabilities and readiness for any emergency.
- Evaluate technology needs and limitations.
Why it matters:
Public health protects communities against diseases, prevents injuries, promotes improved health outcomes and safe environments, resulting in reduced infant mortality, increased life expectancy, active lifestyle and the potential for economic prosperity.
How vaccines work in our bodies
Partnership for Public Health: Vaccines Across Our Lifespan
Meningococcal Disease
Meningococcal disease is a potentially deadly bacterial infection. It is mainly caused by 5 types of meningococcal bacteria: A, B, C, W, and Y. The outbreak in Virginia is caused by type Y. Symptoms of the disease come on fast and include the following: high fever, stiff neck, vomiting, purple, dark brown or black rash, headache, altered mental state, and muscle aches. Meningococcal disease can kill in as little as 24 hours or cause permanent complications like brain damage, hearing loss, learning disabilities or limb amputations. The disease is easy to spread from person-to-person through sharing anything that comes in contact with saliva, being in close quarters, sharing tobacco or marijuana products, kissing, or being sneezed or coughed upon. Thankfully, you can protect yourself from meningococcal disease with vaccination. For more information on the meningococcal vaccines, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mening/index.html If you have any questions, please call 757-393-8585 x8701.
Mpox Info
The Virginia Department of Health continues to respond to mpox vaccination efforts. For information on mpox in Virginia, please visit the VDH mpox website.
COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics
Please call 757 393-8585 ext. 8616 for more information and to schedule an appointment.
Do you need additional services not provided by the Portsmouth Health Department?
Complete a self-referral form to be connected to more than 200 trusted community service partners. After Submission, someone will contact you to connect you to the service that you need.
Portsmouth Health Department Receives National Accreditation
The Portsmouth Health Department is accredited through the Public Health Accreditation Board, and is the first health department in Eastern Virginia to achieve this designation. We are committed to the promotion, protection, and preservation of a healthy and environmentally safe community. Through data collection, continuous quality improvement, and community partnerships, the Portsmouth Health Department works to ensure the health and well-being of Portsmouth residents.
Volunteer for the Portsmouth Health District MRC
PHDMRC volunteers support local public health initiatives and emergency response. There are roles for both medical and non-medical volunteers. Participate in mass prophylaxis and vaccinations exercises and community disaster drills. Train with local emergency response partners. To volunteer, visit www.vamrc.org