Kansans Encouraged to Participate in
Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day on September 21
KDHE and KDOA Secretaries to Participate

State officials are urging Kansans to participate in Take A Loved One to the Doctor Day on September 21, 2004.

Take A Loved One to the Doctor Day is vital because too many racial and ethnic minorities are dying prematurely and suffering from preventable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, infant mortality, and vaccine-preventable diseases.

Research has demonstrated that despite the gains made in life expectancy in the United States over the past century, gaps in health outcomes persist among ethnic groups. Together, through education and by helping people access the health resources in their communities, lives can be improved and diseases prevented.

The focus of the day is to encourage individuals to take charge of their health by visiting a health professional (a doctor, a nurse, a nurse practitioner, or another health provider). Or make an appointment for a visit, attend a health event in the community, or help a friend, neighbor or family member to do the same.

While Take A Loved One to the Doctor Day is specifically targeted towards racial and ethnic minorities who suffer from the greatest disparity in overall good health, all Americans should focus on prevention and early detection, beginning by going to a health care professional for a check-up.

"It is essential that all of us get regular check-ups to prevent serious disease and to avoid the devastation that could otherwise be avoided, both for ourselves and our family members", said Roderick L. Bremby, Secretary of Kansas Department of Health and Environment. "Many diseases can be prevented if detected early and statistics show minorities are especially at risk for many diseases that when detected in the beginning stages can result in individuals leading healthier, longer lives."

Take A Loved One to the Doctor Day will help us focus our efforts to encourage communities to lead healthier lives," said Pamela Johnson-Betts, Secretary of Kansas Department on Aging. "Using health services regularly can prolong and increase the quality of life for vulnerable populations such as communities of color and for our seniors, who often begin to reduce their health care visits as they get older, due to barriers such as travel, transportation, or affordable health care."

Fortunately there are low cost and discount health care services in place for those with limited or no health insurance. Contact a local community health center or the local health department and ask about low-cost care. Additional information on Kansas health care centers may be found at http://www.kdheks.gov/olrh/download/ PCClinicList.pdf . If you need additional assistance finding a health provider in your community, call 1-800-444-6472 or go to www.omhrc.gov/healthgap/.

Even individuals with health insurance sometimes don't use it until an emergency happens, but regular health check ups can prevent some of those emergencies from occurring. Changing our attitudes about preventative care can change the outcome of our lives.

Take A Loved One to the Doctor Day is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services "Closing the Health Gap." Over the next year, a series of health specific, targeted radio messages will focus on cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke, HIV/AIDS, immunizations, infant mortality and SIDS, and other health issues disproportionately affecting racial and ethnic minorities. These will be aired on 240 ABC Radio Network stations across the United States. Listeners will be urged to call 1-800-444-6472 for information about specific diseases and to find health centers in their hometown.

More information about the Closing the Health Gap campaign and Take A Loved One to the Doctor Day is available on the Office on Minority Health Resource Center web site: www.omhrc.gov/healthgap/, or at www.kdheks.gov.

Back to KDHE News Release Index