ANNA MONICA / L’Observateur / April 28, 1999

RESERVE – National Public Health Week was observed throughout the United States April 5-11. The St. John Health United in Reserve commemorated theevent with an “open house” during the week. This event, which has been going onfor several years, was created to make people aware of public health and what it does for them.

Health units utilize federal and state money and are governed by the state, which must also conform to federal guidelines when administering federally- funded programs. St. John Parish also passes a millage every 10 years to addsupport to the health unit in Reserve which is available to all citizens of the parish.

Immunizations through the health unit are popular, readily available and are especially emphasized and advised. Frances McDonald, St. John Parish nursingsupervisor, stresses that no one is ever turned away for immunizations and they encourage even more adults to come in for them.

“We are never through with immunizations,” she said. “We need them throughoutlife.”A large influenza program for the elderly is conducted annually, and the nurses visit different places, such as Place DuBourg, to administer the immunizations.

Child health, WIC clinics, family planning, prenatal care, treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis are some of the programs offered by the health unit. Health care workers conduct vision and hearing program with theschools, training volunteers for private and parochial schools and working with the school nurses for the public schools.

Environmental quality is also a concern of the health unit, covering such issues as drinking water, approving eating facilities in restaurants, jails, etc. Also, allvital statistics in the parish go through the health unit, and office manager Brannetter James handles all of that paperwork.

The WIC (Women, Infants and Children) federal program is heavily utilized at the health unit but is not the major activity. It provides food and formula for babiesfor income-eligible individuals. Eligibility is based on the income and size of afamily. Some programs are aid-focused, but certainly not all.Approximately 1,000 nursing services a month, 12,000 a year, are administered by the health unit. The branch clinic in Edgard is served by nurse Anne Rodrigueand is open all day on Tuesday and for special clinics such as child health, medicals, blood pressure, family planning and pre-natal.

Transportation in this area for those in need of health care is indeed a problem as seen by health care workers. They have experienced people unable to get intoa clinic or doctor’s office because of lack of transportation, and there is hope that eventually the parish will be able to provide a transportation service for those in need.

Originally from Edgard, supervisor Frances McDonald has been a nurse for 37 years with 22 of them in public health. She has been supervisor for 18 years.She started in Concordia Parish and was drawn to public health because of her school age children and of the variety of services it offers to the public, which she thoroughly enjoys. Married to Glen McDonald of Sabine Parish, a basketballcoach in Edgard when they met and who eventually retired from East St. John,they have two children.

Linda Monica is assistant nursing supervisor. Her special assignment at thehealth unit is “Family Planning.” She has been a nurse for 31 years and while atCharity Hospital conducted in-service education. Fellow employee Ledger Smithwas one of her students. Becoming the widow of the late Anthony F. Monica afterjust nine months in public health, Linda considers her employment in Reserve for 11 years a good thing. The work situation is favorable because of familyconcerns, and she gets to practice all aspects of nursing. Besides, she claimsthat “her in-laws didn’t want her to go too far away.” She appreciates thebenefits of a state job, working with local people and taking care of the needs in the community. Her two sons are Matthew, 18 and Michael, 16.Debbie Berns is the child health nurse. A nurse for 15 years, she started out inpsychiatry and has been in public health for 10 years. An Oklahoma native,Debbie grew up in Baton Rouge, began her work in Lutcher and transferred to Reserve. She likes the versatility of her job, especially assessing newborns.”You have to be quick on your feet, think and have a sense of humor,” she said.

Husband Benny Berns, a Lt. Commander in the Navy, is also a nurse and now ahospital administrator. Their children are Phillip, 12 and Emily 6. They live inLaPlace.

In Public Health for four-and-a-half years and a nurse for 33 years, Sylvia Hymel worked with sick people for most of her career. The prospect ofprevention really appeals to her and she is dedicated to it. Communicablediseases, such as tuberculosis, is her main assignment to which she devotes more time and study. Both Sylvia and her husband, Francis, are from Vacherie,where they live. They have one son, Francis Jr., and one 17-month-old grandson.A nurse for 23 years and in public health for 10, Anne Rodrigue worked in hospitals, school nursing and home health. She, too, likes the idea of preventivehealth and the good hours this state job affords. Married to Tommy Rodrigue ofVacherie, she is from St. James and started working in public health there. Anneserves the clinic in Edgard and also assists in Reserve. The only nurse in Edgard,she is responsible for multiple disciplines. She and Tommy are the parents ofthree children.

In Public Health for four and a half years and a nurse for seven, Allison Lucia has the realization that nursing is not just in a hospital setting but actually “out there” in the community and she likes that idea.

“In the community you help people who really need you – they always have a need. The need never seems to end in the public sector,” she said.Formerly a staff nurse at Ochsner, Allison, the STD nurse at the health unit and a Reserve native, wanted good hours close to home. She and husband Stephen livein LaPlace with children Andrew, 5 and Sarah, 2. Allison also attends theUniversity of Phoenix, working on a master’s of science degree in nursing.

Public health assistants include Brannetter James, office manager and local registrar who has been in public health for 26 years; Ledger Smith, who has worked 24 of her 26 years in Reserve; Veronica Ross of Mt. Airy, a five-yearemployee; Daphne Dunn of Reserve who has 10 years, eight in Reserve; and Linda B. Johnson of Garyville, who has spent all 25 years of her service in Reserve.Sanitation manager Ken Delhonde and Dale Tinsley are part of the team at the health unit and work on environmental concerns.Back to Top

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