Dr. Paschal Nwako currently serves as the County Health Officer & Public Health Coordinator for Camden County Department of Health. With direction from the Board of Commissioners, Dr. Nwako develops and administers a wide range of public health programs including, but not limited to, environmental health services, maternal and child health services, public health nursing services, infectious and chronic disease control services, public health laboratory services, and health education services. He is responsible for all 37 municipalities within Camden County as their general agent to enforce their health ordinances and health laws of the state and federal government. Dr. Nwako serves as the key public health representative in the local community, promoting the use of local health services, advocating for public health policy initiatives with local and state policymakers, and aiding local public health education and promotion initiatives. In addition to listed services, the Office of the County Health Officer also performs grant reviews and approvals for public health agencies, organizations, and entities in the county.
Dr. Nwako also aids and assists the New Jersey Department of Health and collaborates with the State in county emergency preparedness response and planning, including implementing orders of isolation, quarantine, or emergency legal measures required.
Dr. Nwako participates in developing and reviewing local emergency plans and serves as the spokesperson to the media, public, and medical community in a public health emergency. Dr. Nwako coordinates the evaluation of public health services, problems, and needs of the public and works with community groups to help them recognize their public health problems and methods of solving them. Dr. Nwako coordinates the development of grants, operational budgets, performance goals, outcomes, and measures that grant-related program activities are implemented per program specifications outlined by the grantor.
Dr. Nwako obtained his Ph.D. in Health Sciences from Seton Hall University. Master’s degree in public health from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, now Rutgers University. Dr. Nwako is a Registered Environmental Health Specialist, Licensed Health Officer, and Certified Health Education Specialist in public health practice. He advocates for public health and has worked in the field of public health for over 25 years.
Dr. Nwako is a Diplomat of the American Academy of Sanitarians. He received the National Environmental Health Association Certificate of Merit for contributing to Public Health in New Jersey, United States, and Public Health outreach in West Africa. He received the NJEHA President’s Award and the City of Philadelphia Excellence in Public Health Practice. He has served on many public health boards, including the New Jersey Association of City & County Health Officials, the New Jersey Prevention Network, the Public Health Management Corporation Philadelphia, and the Rowan SOM Advisory Board. He received the 2016 New Jersey Local Boards of Health Association Certificate of Recognition and the 2017 NJ Health Officer of the Year Award.