Management of the health departments in Covington and Butler counties will be absorbed into the responsibilities of the administrator of Public Health Area 9 following the December retirement of longtime administrator Ziba Anderson on Dec. 31.

Ricky Elliott, Area Administrator of Public Health Area 9, comprised of Baldwin, Butler, Clarke, Conecuh, Covin-gton, Escambia, Monroe and Washington counties, said retirements and attrition have helped the health department deal with financial challenges.

“Ziba retired Dec. 31 after 41 dedicated years with the Alabama Department of Public Health,” Elliott said. “He will be missed.

“As you know, we have been going through some very challenging economic times for the past four years. That last two years have been especially difficult for us,” he said.