Letters to the editor

Where is my vote?

Dear Editor:

This statement resonates the same feeling I have felt for the last 14 years while trying, without success, to get the board and managers of Continental Divide Electric Coop to run a fair election process; instead of having the bylaws in place needed to negate our vote, by simply nulling the count. The unjust practice of requiring three percent of all district is just that - unjust.

The three percent requirement should be three percent of the members present, or even three percent of the district up for reelection.

This method would be unfair in their eyes, for they would no longer have their advantage.

Sincerely,

Ruben Sandoval

Grants

School nurses need honor

Dear Editor:

The Region Health Officers from all regions within the New Mexico Department of Health and the School Health Officer from NMDOH would like to publicly acknowledge the role of school nurses during the last few weeks, as New Mexico, the United States, and the world adjusted to the appearance of a new strain of influenza.

The Department of Health recognizes school nurses as an essential part of public health efforts in the state. State legislators have acknowledged this importance in statute which links Region Health Officers and school nurses. School nurses support the control of vaccine-preventable infections, work to prevent chronic disease, and educate students and families about important topics, such as substance abuse and injury prevention. The importance of school nurses came to the forefront, however, during the recent experience with a novel influenza A (H1N1) virus.

During the emergence of influenza A (H1N1), school nurses were on the front lines. They identified many of the early cases in the state, managed questions and concerns within their schools, and worked with NMDOH and the Public Education Department to address gaps or confusion in official guidance or public information messages. Their calm, their organizational skills, their insights, and their caring approach to students and families, communities, and staff contributed enormously to the state's response to this infectious disease challenge.

We salute and thank New Mexico's school nurses.

Sincerely,

Naomi Kistin, MD, MPH, Regions 1 and 3 Health Officer, Albuquerque

Chris Novak, MD, MPH, Region 2 Health Officer, Santa Fe

Winona Stoltzfus, MD, Region 4 Health Officer, Roswell

Eugene Marciniak, MD, Region 5 Health Officer, Las Cruces

Mary Ramos, MD, MPH, School Health Officer, Albuquerque