BUFFALO, NY – The City of Buffalo and Erie County have partnered to launch a lead awareness and education campaign, coinciding with National Lead Poisoning Awareness Week.
The aim of the $25,000 effort is to spread the word among the public-- particularly those most at risk, about the potential dangers of lead.
"Getting the word out is extremely important," said Buffalo Common Council Member,
Ulysees O. Wingo, Sr., in whose Masten District can be found some of the highest incidents of lead poisoning among children.
"The first phase includes 28 “Wipe Out Lead” billboards across the City of Buffalo,” said Mayor Byron Brown. “In addition, we will place 120 interior advertisements on NFTA busses. We are also unveiling new educational flyers," the Mayor said.
The city will distribute some 100,000 of the flyers, printed in several languages and containing information about the dangers of lead to community centers and schools throughout Buffalo.
“Through this partnership, when we work together, can prevent lead poisoning in our children going forward," said Superintendent of Schools Kriner Cash.
Through our partners at Investigative Post, 2 On Your Side has reported extensively on the lead issue, including a year ago when we reported none of Buffalo's building inspectors were certified to conduct tests to find lead hazards in homes, and that the 12 county health sanitarians who were, would need three decades to inspect the 85,000 housing units in the city that are at risk for lead hazards.
That reporting has gotten results as well, with the county hiring an additional five inspectors since then.
These workers have already inspected 100 homes as part of their training and they are ready to hit the streets today,” said Erie County Health Director Dr. Gale Burstein.
Along with the inspectors the county also added a nurse case manager, to work with families of kids found to have lead poisoning, and work with their pediatricians to steer them toward appropriate services