Columbus County Health Department

06/24/2026

💙June is Men's Health Month and PTSD Awareness Month 💚

This month serves as a reminder that health includes both our physical and mental well-being.

Men's Health Month encourages men and boys to prioritize preventive care, healthy habits, regular checkups, and physical activity.
PTSD Awareness Month helps raise awareness about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, a condition that can affect anyone who has experienced or witnessed a traumatic event.

Taking care of your health means:
✅ Scheduling routine checkups and screenings
✅ Staying active and eating healthy
✅ Managing stress and getting enough sleep
✅ Checking in on your mental health
✅ Reaching out for support when needed

Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength. Together, we can help reduce stigma and build a healthier, more supportive community.

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 for free, confidential support.

06/19/2026

🎉 Stop by and see us! 🎉

The Columbus County Health Department is currently tabling at the Juneteenth Celebration hosted by the Dream Center! We’re here sharing information about our programs and services, providing health resources, and connecting with members of our community.

Come visit our booth, meet our staff, and learn more about how we can support you and your family’s health and wellness. We look forward to seeing you there!

❤️💚🖤

06/16/2026

Congratulations Mrs. Sessions! We are proud to call you one of our Columbus County Board of Health members! Thank you for your contributions to Columbus County!

Amy Sessions, owner of Baldwin Woods Pharmacy in Whiteville, has been named the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists' 2026 Community Care Pharmacist of the Year.

06/15/2026

🚨 PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT: Infant Formula Recall & Infant Botulism Outbreak 🚨
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a food safety alert regarding a multistate outbreak of infant botulism linked to Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula.

As of June 13, 2026, three infants from California, Pennsylvania, and Washington have been diagnosed with infant botulism after consuming this formula. The infants ranged in age from 2–5 months old. All three infants were hospitalized and treated with BabyBIG®, the FDA-approved treatment for infant botulism. No deaths have been reported.

🚨 Nara Organics has recalled ALL Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula products, including all lot numbers and both can sizes. These products have been sold online and through major retailers nationwide.

What Parents and Caregivers Should Do:
❗ Stop using Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula immediately.
✅ If you have unopened cans:
• Throw them away or return them.
✅ If you have opened cans:
• Take a picture of the can and record the lot number and use-by date.
• Consider keeping the opened formula if your infant has consumed it, as health officials may want to test it if symptoms develop.
• Clearly label it “DO NOT USE” and store it away from other food and formula products for at least one month.
• If no symptoms develop after one month, dispose of the formula.
🧼 Wash bottles, feeding supplies, utensils, and surfaces that may have come into contact with the recalled formula using hot, soapy water or a dishwasher.

Watch for Symptoms of Infant Botulism:
Parents should monitor infants who consumed this formula for up to one month after their last exposure, as symptoms can take several weeks to appear.
Seek immediate medical care if your infant develops:
• Poor feeding
• Difficulty sucking or swallowing
• Constipation
• Loss of head control
• Weakness
• Decreased facial expression
• Altered or weak cry

About Infant Botulism
Infant botulism occurs when spores of Clostridium botulinum grow in a baby's intestines and produce toxins. If left untreated, the illness can progress to flaccid paralysis, breathing difficulties, and may require weeks of hospitalization. Early treatment with BabyBIG® is recommended for suspected cases.

For additional information about this recall and outbreak, visit the CDC website or contact your healthcare provider.
Please share this information with parents, caregivers, childcare providers, and anyone who may be caring for an infant.

👶🩺🚨

06/13/2026

📣 Happening Today! Join Us for Columbus County Day of Hope! 💙

Bring the whole family out to this FREE community event today from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM at Boys & Girls Homes of NC, 400 Flemington Dr., Lake Waccamaw!

✨ Free Backpack Giveaway (10 AM–12 PM)
👁️ Free Eye Exams with the Lions Vision Van
🩺 Free Physical Exams
🚓 Touch-A-Truck featuring local law enforcement & first responder vehicles
👧 Kids Fingerprinting Safety Station
🏎️ BTS Race Car
🎉 Fun Kids Activities
🍔 Food Trucks
📚 Educational Exhibitors & More!

No appointments or IDs are required. We hope to see you there for a day of fun, resources, and support for Columbus County children and families!

💙☀️

06/12/2026

🎉Exciting News from the Columbus County Firearm Safety Team🎉

We are thrilled to announce that our application for educational materials through the Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program has been approved!

Thanks to this opportunity, our team will be receiving free educational resources, including activity books, parent guides, reward stickers, and Spanish-language materials to support firearm safety education throughout Columbus County.

The Eddie Eagle program by the National Rifle Association teaches children a simple but powerful message:

🛑 STOP
🚫 DON'T TOUCH
🏃 RUN AWAY
🗣️ TELL AN ADULT

These age-appropriate materials will help us expand our outreach efforts in schools, community programs, and family events as we work together to prevent firearm-related injuries and promote safe behaviors among children.

We are grateful for the support that allows us to bring these valuable resources to our community and look forward to putting them to good use in the coming months.

Stay tuned for updates as the materials arrive and as we continue growing our firearm safety education initiatives across Columbus County!

06/11/2026

🚨 Notice for Our Patients 🚨

Due to a water service interruption by Public Utilities, our Women's Health location at 604 N. Madison Street will be closed for the remainder of today.

Our other locations, including Pediatrics, Dental, Environmental Health, and Administration, remain open and operating as normal. Patients may still call to make, reschedule, or cancel appointments during regular business hours.

We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience and understanding. The Women's Health location is expected to resume normal business hours tomorrow from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Thank you for your understanding. We will provide updates if anything changes.

06/09/2026

We are grateful for amazing neighbors! You can reach our new office by calling 910-640-6615 Option 3!

We're so excited to welcome our new neighbors, Whiteville Pediatric Dental Clinic 😁🦷

06/08/2026

📢 Service Update

Good news! Our internet and phone service have been fully restored and are working properly again.

Thank you so much for your patience and understanding while we worked to resolve the issue. We appreciate your support!

06/08/2026

📢 Important Notice

At this time, we are experiencing technical difficulties with our internet and phone services. As a result, we are currently unable to make or receive phone calls.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and want to assure our community that we are working diligently to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through these unexpected technical challenges.

For those with scheduled appointments today, please note that we are still open and actively seeing patients.

We will provide an update as soon as our internet and phone services have been fully restored. Thank you for bearing with us during this time.