ABOUT the achd

Serving the Audrain County Community since 1961

Audrain County Health Department was established in March 1961 as the City-County Health Unit of Audrain County. The Health Unit operated under representatives of the City of Mexico, the County Court, and the Hospital. This list eventually expanded to six members: the Mayor of Mexico, the Mayor of Vandalia, the Presiding Judge of the County Court, the President of Audrain Medical Society, the President of the Audrain Osteopathic Society, and the Chairman of the Hospital Board of Trustees.

The Health Unit has had many different locations, but it started in the hospital’s main building, and the original staff consisted of only three employees: a sanitation officer, a community health nurse, and a clerical person. Eventually, in 1979, the Health Unit settled in a building on East Jackson Street, and the number of employees grew from three to thirty.

At first, the Health Unit’s main concerns were immunizations, the inspection of local restaurants, meatpacking houses, milk products sold in the area, and school lunch facilities. Over the years, more federal and state programs offering aid to the community (nursing and environmental services) were implemented, and they all fell under the Health Unit’s responsibility.

Some of these current services include Foot Clinic, WIC (Women, Infants, Children), Communicable Disease, Blood Pressure Screening, Vital Records (birth and death certificates), Immunizations, Lead Testing, Car Seat Program, Safe Crib Program, STI Testing, and more.

To learn about any of our services please contact us at your convenience.