PHAP@Work—Melia Haile

How Melia Haile’s Outreach Efforts Led to Increased Public Health Engagement in Charlotte County, Florida

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PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN: Zika virus (Zika) infection during pregnancy can cause a birth defect of the brain called microcephaly and other severe brain defects. In February 2016, Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a public health emergency in four Florida counties that had evidence of travel-associated Zika—Hillsborough, Lee, Miami-Dade, and Santa Rosa. The governor’s executive order required the state health officer to “take any action necessary to protect public health” in the affected counties to reduce populations of the mosquitoes that spread the virus. While Charlotte County had not experienced local transmission, the Florida Department of Health in Charlotte began preparing for the likelihood of local transmission because there were travel-associated cases and large populations of the mosquitoes that can spread viruses in these areas.

ACTION TAKEN: In response to the emergency declaration, PHAP associate Melia Haile took the initiative to focus on strengthening relationships with diverse regional and community partners to improve Charlotte County’s Zika response readiness. Melia facilitated and evaluated a Zika tabletop exercise with more than 50 physicians, airport representatives, elected officials, and hospital CEOs from the federal, state, and local levels. She then drafted a Zika response strategic plan for Charlotte County under the guidance and review of her host site supervisor, Ana Scuteri, disease control prevention and preparedness and health promotions director for the Florida Department of Health. In creating the plan, Melia drew on information and best practices gathered from colleagues in programs such as public health preparedness and mosquito control.

Melia also developed two Zika assessment and screening process flow charts, as well as testing forms for healthcare providers, which led to an improved and more efficient Zika testing policy at the health department. One of the flow charts Melia created helped summarize technical and dense research results and guidance on Zika testing, resulting in a process flow that was easy to understand and reference for healthcare practitioners, such as OB/GYNs, and other hospital and clinic personnel. Both flow charts guided healthcare practitioners in assessing risk and recommended next steps (for example, when to report a case and what tests or samples to request) based on the level of risk.

In collaboration with the Charlotte County health department’s preparedness planner, Melia also helped develop the county’s emergency operations plan, which guides Zika-related testing and screening activities. The plan synthesized data and policies based on the results of the tabletop exercise, guidance from the state and CDC, best practices, testing forms, and health education materials.

Melia Haile (left) receiving the 2017 Louis Salinas Outstanding Public Health Associate Award from her CDC supervisor, Shannon White, and PHAP Director Heather Duncan.

RESULTS: Melia identified local partners instrumental to the Zika response and mined public health data, legislation, and policies to develop culturally competent and informative presentations about Zika for community partners to use. Melia’s outreach significantly increased community engagement.

“I was able to be the public health ambassador for Zika—talking to community groups, nurses, nonprofits, and more,” says Melia. “Being stationed in Florida, I had the unique opportunity to see emergency operations at work. We are one of only two states to have locally acquired Zika, and we have additional risk of Zika infections because mosquitoes are active here year-round.”

Melia was born and raised in Atlanta, so moving to the small town of Port Charlotte was a big change for her. “Where I am now is very different from Atlanta—slower, smaller. But, being placed at a small health department has given me amazing opportunities,” she says. “We have to host major events and implement initiatives with a very small budget, but it’s incredible how much we accomplish. One of the most valuable skills I’ve learned is to initiate change using a limited budget.”