New hospital welcomes first baby
RIVERVIEW, Fla. (October 24, 2024) – AdventHealth Riverview welcomed its first baby just hours after opening Oct. 23.
Baby Melanie, the youngest of four sisters, was born to Gabrielle Jimenez of South Hillsborough County. Melanie was born at 3:12 p.m. She measured 19 3/4 inches long and weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces.
Melanie’s arrival marks a special moment in the hospital’s history as she was born on the very first day of operations.
“It was a good experience with amazing nurses who were super helpful,” Jimenez said. “The unit was quiet, which helped with our experience.”
AdventHealth Riverview features a secure mother and baby unit equipped with eight labor and delivery rooms and two dedicated c-section rooms.
Veterans can get free dental care in Stars, Stripes and Smiles
NEW PORT RICHEY – Dentists have volunteered to provide urgent dental care at no cost to 75 military veterans living in Pasco County who have been suffering with untreated dental pain and infection.
The West Pasco Dental Association, Office of Congressman Gus Bilirakis and Pasco-Hernando State College are partnering on the Stars, Stripes and Smiles event Nov. 8 in New Port Richey.
“These heroes deserve a system of care to ensure their oral health care needs are met,” said Dr. Zacharias Kalarickal of the West Pasco Dental Association. “Until that can become a reality, it is our professional privilege to serve this special segment of our community.”
Currently, dental care through the VA is limited to those who are 100% disabled or have a direct service-connected injury impacting their oral health.
“Our veterans have sacrificed so much in defense of our freedom and they deserve access to high quality health care,” Bilirakis said. “I am continuing to push a bill that will expand veterans’ access to dental care; however, I am very grateful for the generosity of the dentists from the West Pasco Dental Association who are not waiting for a change in law.”
DOH-Pasco issues mosquito-borne illness advisory
PASCO COUNTY – The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County informed residents of confirmed human cases of locally acquired Dengue.
DOH-Pasco reminds the community to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes by taking basic precautions.
The department continues to conduct statewide surveillance for mosquito-borne illnesses, including West Nile virus infections, Eastern equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, malaria, chikungunya and dengue. Residents are encouraged to report dead birds to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s site.
