Goshen, N.Y. – Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus has recognized the County Health Department’s Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Unit as the Citizens of the Month Award winners for the month of April.
The recognition of the MRC comes during National Public Health Week, which runs through Sunday, April 11th.
“Our MRC has gone above and beyond to provide essential medical services to our community during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Neuhaus said. “The MRC performs their work with pride and compassion, and we have all been inspired by their resilience and selflessness during this unprecedented public health emergency. This award is representative of not only the work of the MRC, but all our diligent volunteers. The County has received important contributions from, among others, the Bruderhof Community as well as various groups and organizations. We are very fortunate to have such caring people looking out for the health and well-being of our residents.”
The purpose of the MRC is to supplement the Health Department’s personnel with volunteers that are medically and non-medically trained. Its primary mission is to assist the Health Department during a public health emergency or a large-planned event in the County and may include the mass distribution of antibiotics, antivirals and vaccines with some of these distribution activities including writing prescriptions, dispensing other medications, conducting vaccinations, providing behavioral health support, and assisting with triage and treatment at a field hospital.
Early on during the COVID-19 pandemic, the MRC assisted with contact tracing, communicable disease (intervention) investigation, and helped staff the Health Department’s busy COVID-19 call center at the Emergency Services Center. The MRC has been an integral part of the County’s COVID-19 vaccination clinics at 23 Hatfield Lane in Goshen and various other locations throughout the County, providing vaccinations and support to County Executive Neuhaus and Health Commissioner Dr. Irina Gelman.
“MRC provides another resource when responding to emergencies and their work has been critical during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Gelman said. “We are grateful of these volunteers who have helped ensure that our communities are safe and well cared for. I thank County Executive Neuhaus for recognizing the Health Department and the hard-working MRC team.”
Neuhaus introduced his Citizen of the Month Award, which acknowledges outstanding Orange County residents, in January of 2017. To nominate someone for the Citizen of the Month Award, please email ceoffice@orangecountygov.com or mail a letter to “Citizen of the Month” at 255-275 Main Street Goshen, N.Y. 10924. Be sure to include the nominee’s name, hometown, a list of their accomplishments, why you are nominating them and any other pertinent information. Nominees must be from Orange County.
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