Health Dept. Dir.: Services To Stay The Same

By Ashlie Hardway

EL PASO – Health services which used to be provided by the city and county will soon belong exclusively to the city, under a new agreement that is due to take effect at the beginning of next year.

In a little over a month, the El Paso City-County Health District will no longer be in existence. Once that happens, Commissioners Court will have almost no involvement in terms of oversight and management of the new health department.

In signing the interlocal agreement,city and county leadersagreed the city will take care of services for all county residents. These services include immunizations, dental care and vector control.

With the change, Dr. Robert Galvan will be the director of the city’s new health department. Galvan said residents can expect everything to stay the same. “All the services that we have provided in the past will continue to be provided. It’s a total transference of services. Those services will be provided throughout just as we have in the past,” he said.

The county’s official withdrawal date from thejoint health ventureis Dec. 31.The department will become the City Health Department on Jan. 1.