HEALTH DEPARTMENTS WILL BE CLOSED AUGUST 12TH DUE TO FURLOUG *WIC OFFICE IN COLUMBUS AND FORT BENNING WILL BE OPEN*

The Columbus (Muscogee), Macon, Marion, Quitman and Schley County Health Departments in the West Central Health District will be closed on Friday, August 12th and employees required to take a day off without pay due to budget cuts.  However, the Women, Infant and Children (WIC) office will remain open in Columbus and Ft. Benning and continue to serve the public.  
 
"As the need for furloughs continue, I recognize there is a decrease in the quantity of days we are open to the public, but not the quality of services we provide.  We certainly regret having to continue furloughing; however this is an unfortunate consequence of our budget cuts.  We hope the need for furloughs does not continue the entire year, but this must be determined by future budget allocations.  Most importantly, I wish to thank the entire staff of the West Central Health District for their understanding, support and loyalty to public health and the communities we serve," states Dr. Beverley Townsend, District Health Director. 
 
The Columbus Department of Public Health resides in the Health and Human Services Building located at 2100 Comer Avenue.  Please note this facility houses multiple agencies.  This notice of agency closure pertains specifically to the Columbus Department of Public Health located on the 2nd floor.
 
Furloughing of staff is not something any of our Boards of Health take lightly and they understand that it affects our employees and the communities we serve.  Currently, Health Departments affected by furloughs are:  Columbus (Muscogee), Crisp, Macon, Marion, Quitman and Schley County.  The following health department projected furlough dates and holiday schedule for September, October and November 2011 in the West Central Health District are as follows: 
 
County Board of Health Authorized
Closure Dates - Due to Budget Cuts/State Holiday

Friday, September 2, 2011   Furlough Day due to budget cuts
Monday, September 5, 2011   Closed due to State Holiday
Friday, October 7, 2011   Furlough Day due to budget cuts
Monday, October 10, 2011   Closed due to State Holiday
Friday, November 11th, 2011   Closed due to State Holiday
Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011   Furlough Day due to budget cuts
Thursday, November 24th, 2011   Closed due to State Holiday
Friday, November 25th, 2011    Closed due to State Holiday