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COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA <br />Portsmouth Health Department <br />1701 High Street, Suite 102 <br />Portsmouth, VA 23704 <br />(757)393-8585 <br />FAX: (757) 393-8027 <br />October 16,2024 <br />Steven Carter, MBA, CGCIO <br />City Manager <br />801 Crawford St. <br />Portsmouth, VA 23704-3822 <br />PRTSMOUTH <br />Health Department <br />Charting a Course for Good.7fealth <br />Kavita Imrit-Thomas, MD <br />Health Director <br />RE: FY25 Additional Funding Request <br />Dear Mr. Carter, <br />WIC PROGRAM <br />1701 High Street, Suite 102 <br />Portsmouth, VA 23704 <br />(757)393-5340 <br />FAX: (757) 673-2018 <br />The Health Department is requesting $115,000 non -match funding to expand upon its work in overdose <br />prevention and explore innovative and accessible ways to support persons with substance use disorder <br />(SUD). This will enable us to sustain our efforts in targeting opioid use in Portsmouth. We have established <br />the Portsmouth Coalition for Overdose Action Team (PCOAT), which has been instrumental in bringing our <br />community partners together to develop a robust Community Action Plan. This plan focuses on primary <br />prevention, harm reduction, evidence -based treatment, and recovery support, all of which have contributed <br />to a decrease in overdose deaths since our efforts. <br />Our other Harm Reduction goal is to reduce negative health outcomes caused by SUD, including infections <br />like hepatitis B, hepatitis C and sexually transmitted diseases which includes syphilis and HIV. The <br />Hamptons Roads area has the highest rate of sexually transmitted diseases in comparison the rest of the <br />state. Therefore, among the health department's top priorities is addressing such preventable infections. <br />The additional funding will support our work to include the development of prevention strategies and <br />strengthening our treatment infrastructure. <br />Opioid Use/Overdose Prevention $55,000 <br />Communicable Disease Program: Infectious Diseases $50,000 <br />Community Outreach Efforts $10,000 <br />Total $115,000 <br />Respectfully, <br />Kavita Imrit-Thomas, DO <br />Health Director <br />o NGtlry err <br />The Portsmouth Health Department received accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board by meeting national <br />* standards for high quality public health services, leadership, and accountability. <br />