Health Department will have executive team to address issues

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Mecklenburg County Health Department, which has been plagued by several controversies in 2017, is making sure such things never happen again.

Health Department officials said they have has put together a new executive team to help prevent future issues in the department.

The new team will consist of six people who will start realigning programs to meet the Health Department's overall mission.

Officials will also implement new initiatives to address tobacco use and HIV in the county.

Health Director Gibbie Harris came under fire in November when she linked HIV rates in Charlotte to the city being a party town.

Last February, the department admitted that 185 women were never notified about abnormal Pap smear results.

Health Department officials said they need to hire two of the six positions on the executive team.

The team will be functional by the end of this month.

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