To mount a public health response of appropriate scale and scope, we need to provide reinforcements. Across the country, Community Health Workers have become trusted messengers on the front lines of strong primary care systems, accompanying patients, helping manage care, and coordinating with health centers and hospitals. These health workers are also building trust in the Covid-19 vaccines by supplying transparent information, and helping residents sign up for and get to vaccination appointments. When state and local authorities work directly with trusted members of the community, we can bolster our overstretched public health systems with local health workers and ensure we reach every community, from our biggest cities to our smallest rural towns. And, when this pandemic finally ends, we can deploy these workers to address other ongoing public health needs, including maternal and child health, nutrition, mental health and more.

Source: The Nation February 24, 2021 23:03 UTC