COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS MAKE IT POSSIBLE

World Kidney Day is possible thanks to Community Health Workers who work to address chronic diseases in rural areas. A community health worker is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the worker to serve as a liaison between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery.

A community health worker also builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support and advocacy.

Community Health Workers collaborating with community-based organizations in their area to offer these health fairs is another example of how essential they are to Illinois’ public health infrastructure. This World Kidney Day, consider attending the health fair closest to your community and help IPHA raise awareness about kidney disease.