Burlington County held a ribbon cutting to mark the 50th anniversary of the Raphael Meadow Health Department building in Westampton and the completion of $3 million in renovations to the facility.
Burlington County Commissioners celebrated the newly renovated Raphael Meadow Health Department building on Oct. 6, saying the improvements would enhance the county’s public health infrastructure and make it better prepared for any future health emergencies.
The re-dedication ceremony was held on the 50th anniversary of the building’s 1975 opening. Meadow was the county’s first health officer and coordinator.
“Good health-care services shouldn’t be reserved just for the wealthy and well-connected,” said Commissioner Tyler Burrell, liaison to the County Health Department. “It needs to be accessible for everyone, including our most vulnerable populations.”
About $3 million was spent on the upgrades, work done by the county’s Department of Public Works-Construction Services Division. That amount was part of $6 million in federal funding awarded to the county by the state’s health department and the New Jersey Association of County and City Health Officials.
The renovations expanded the health department’s clinical space, moving it to the front of the building to improve access. The changes also enable the facility to serve as a mass vaccination site during a health emergency.
The Raphael Meadow Health Department building now has five exam rooms, up from two, plus a vaccine room; dedicated HIV and STD testing space; meeting room; new restrooms and flooring; signage; and LED lighting.
Commissioner Tyler Burrell gets a flu shot. The Meadow facility can serve as a mass vaccination site during a health emergency.
The 25,267-square-foot center is also the headquarters for the county health department and its many programs, including community nursing, communicable disease control, environmental health, WIC (Women Infants and Children) and health education. Clinical space is used for services like child immunizations, COVID and flu vaccine clinics and Access to Reproductive Care and HIV (ARCH) nursing services.
Last year, the health department administered more than 900 flu shots, distributed more than 3,400 COVID test kits, screened close to 1,300 people for HIV/AIDS and delivered clinic-based services to more than 3,400 residents, according to Burrell.
Congressman Herb Conaway – the county health department’s director from 2019 until the end of last year – was among department leaders at the ceremony, including current county administrator Eve Cullinan.
“Buildings like this deliver such important care,” Conaway noted. “But it’s not just about the building, it’s the people who work in it. During my time here, it was a privilege to work with so many people who were dedicated to the mission of public health, and not just the health department, but other county agencies and community partners who were aligned with us to make sure the mission was accomplished.”
The county also unveiled the health department facility’s newly purchased Mobile Health van, which will be used to bring general health screenings, community outreach, immunizations and HIV/STD testing directly to local communities. It was paid for with funds from the county.
“In my 23 years here at BCHD (the Burlington County Health Department), I’ve seen the department grow, adapt and expand services we provide to our residents,” stated Dr. Holly Funkhouser Cucuzzella, county health department director. “This renovation is more than new walls and spaces. It represents our continued commitment to public health, innovation and community service.
“Public health often works behind the scenes, and while our efforts may not always be visible, they are always vital,” she added. “From protecting our most vulnerable to responding to crises, to ensuring a healthier future for all, we do it all, and we do it with pride.”
