Community Health Workers
You definitely know that the coronavirus (COVID-19) is one of the most dangerous epidemics to hit humanity in modern times, but do you know how the story of this disease began? On January 20, 2020, China announced the spread of the coronavirus among the residents of the city of Wuhan, which became the epicenter from which the pandemic spread across the world. A day later, the Chinese foreign ministry announced that 6 people had died from the new virus, and by January 23, the death toll had reached 17 with 614 confirmed cases. After that, countries around the world began detecting cases in people who had visited China during that period. When diseases and epidemics break out, governments and health organizations send specialists to towns and cities to investigate outbreaks and run tests on suspected individuals. These specialists are called "public health workers," and their core mission is to educate people about new diseases and epidemics and how to deal with them, and to develop health protocols that help reduce the spread of infection.
Meet the Writer: Waleed Abo Omiraa
What You'll Actually Do
The core tasks and responsibilities that fill a typical day.
- Advise clients or community groups on issues related to improving general health, such as diet or exercise.
- Attend community meetings or health fairs to understand community issues or build relationships with community members.
- Contact clients in person, by phone, or in writing to ensure they have completed required or recommended actions.
- Distribute flyers, brochures, or other informational or educational documents to inform members of a targeted community.
- Identify or contact members of high-risk or otherwise targeted groups, such as members of minority populations, low-income populations, or pregnant women.
- Maintain updated client records with plans, notes, appropriate forms, or related information.
- Refer community members to needed health services.