PIKE COUNTY, PA — During their meeting, the Pike County commissioners recognized the effort that health care workers have been making throughout the area, as well as the nation.

A motion was made proclaiming August 8 through 14 as National Health Center Week.

Health centers are a network of clinics staffed by groups of nurses and general practitioners. They have proved themselves to be a vital and necessary staple within rural communities for resources in testing and treatment during the height of the pandemic, many say.

Two representatives from Wayne Memorial Community Health Center were in attendance. The health center employs close to 300 people. Since its launch in 2007, it has served many of those in need in the Wayne and Pike county communities.

“We encourage all residents of Pike County to take part in this week by visiting their local health centers and celebrating the important partnership between Wayne Memorial Health centers and the communities they serve,” said Pike County Commissioner Vice Chairman Ronald R. Schmalzle.

The commissioners thanked the representatives for their continued efforts. “What Wayne [Memorial] Hospital did during this time, working with our emergency services, I again just want to say thank you for what you’ve done for us, the residents are very grateful,” said chairman Matthew Osterberg.

Another health-related area of concern that the commissioners plan on addressing relates to overdoses. Overdose Awareness Day will be observed on August 31.

The Carbon-Monroe-Pike Drug & Alcohol Commission and the Pike County Substance Abuse Taskforce will be distributing Narcan at 10 Buist Road, suite 201 in Milford from 2 to 4 p.m.

A Celebration of Recovery event is scheduled for September 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Akenac Park in Dingmans Ferry.

A symbolic pinwheel display, commemorating the 100 overdose deaths in Pike County since 2014, will be displayed on the courthouse lawn from August 23 to September 3.

Pike County Children and Youth Services are organized a Back-to-School event. The event was held on August 5 at Ann Street Park in Milford from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The first 100 attendees of the event were eligible to receive a free backpack filled with school supplies. The Pike County commissioners were among the event’s sponsors.