BISBEE — Vaira Harik, director of the Cochise County Health Department, plans to continue most services even though state funding has been reduced for some programs.

During Tuesday’s meeting with supervisors Pat Call and Ann English, Harik explained the reduction in Pre-Natal Block Grant funding in this fiscal year that dropped from $60,725 to $46,037. The grant program, sponsored by the state health department, promotes healthy families and pregnancies among county residents.

“The $46,000 effectively removes funding in the fourth quarter,” Harik said. “This is a reflection of the budget crisis at the state level in this fiscal year. We have also learned that this funding will not be available in the 2009-2010 fiscal year.”

She said the service to the PNBG clients would be maintained through the end of the fiscal year in June thanks to a carry forward balance.

“Loss of this program will halve the Health Department’s case management services to pregnant and parenting families in the county. According to the Arizona Department of Vital Statistics, in 2006, Cochise County had the highest rate of infant mortality and low birth weight babies in the state, which indicates the services are greatly needed,” Harik said.

The future of the First Things First Program grant, which is funded by money from cigarette taxes to support early childhood health and development, appears to be in good shape, she added. The county is set to receive $1.975 million for this program and will expand the home visitation programs that target newborns to 5-year-olds.

The Health Department will be able to continue programs such as the children’s vaccination program, tuberculosis control and surveillance, and it will not be adversely affected by state cuts, she said.

“In spite of the state and local budget reductions, we are maintaining our momentum with hard work and creativity,” Harik said.

In a report on the state of H1N1 in Cochise County, Harik emphasized that no cases of swine flu have been reported.

“This is a new novel strain and we didn’t know until 10 days into it that the strain was not serious,” she told the supervisors. “Though it appears to be no more serious the normal flu, that does not mean that it could not become dangerous.”

In the 1918 flu pandemic, the first round that hit in the summer turned deadly by fall, she said. “This has been good practice for us. If something does happen, we’re ready for it,” Harik added.

Call asked if some of the deaths that occurred from the swine flu in Mexico City could have been caused by the notorious smog that covers the city. Harik replied that it had not been determined conclusively.

Just in case, the department does have supplies to fight the illness. Masks, gowns, gloves and Tamiflu have bewen sent to each of the satellite offices.