KDHE encourages Kansans to participate in
Take a Loved One for a Checkup Day, September 19

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is encouraging Kansans to participate in Take a Loved One for a Checkup Day, September 19 as part of the Closing the Health Gap Campaign. The focus of the day is to encourage individuals to take charge of their health by visiting a health professional (a doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, or other health provider), making an appointment for a visit, attending a health event in the community, or helping a friend, neighbor, or family member do the same.

“All Kansans should make it a priority to tend to their health care needs. Regular checkups, health screenings and immunizations are an essential part of good health for children and adults. This is a great reminder to anyone that has been putting off a doctor visit to call and make an appointment,” said KDHE Secretary Roderick L. Bremby.

While Take a Loved One for a Checkup Day encourages all Americans to focus on prevention and early detection, the campaign emphasizes the importance of ethnic minority groups to participate, as ethnic minorities experience greater health care disparities and gaps. According to a report released in 2005 entitled “Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Kansas: A Data and Chartbook,” ethnic groups in Kansas experience the following health disparities:

• Native Americans die sooner than others from diabetes and report higher rates of risk behaviors that lead to injury or death.
• African-Americans have higher infant mortality, die sooner than others from cancer and diabetes, and often die from avoidable causes, such as homicide.
• Asians and Pacific Islanders may be reluctant to submit to certain health screenings/tests and are at-risk for late detection of some diseases.
• Latinos seek prenatal care less often than other groups and die more often from diabetes than other ethnic groups.

“We are working with our partners to try to break down the barriers faced by minorities as they attempt to access health care. This involves understanding why some groups are affected more than others by certain conditions and how culture and attitude factor into people’s health care choices. Understanding these issues will help us balance access to health care across the state,” said Bremby.

For more information about KDHE programs and services, please visit www.kdheks.gov .

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