Healthy kids are a vital priority

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We may not all have the same ideas when it comes to healthcare reform but it's hard to imagine that we don't all want our children to have the best healthcare possible.

Unfortunately, this is a struggle for many children right here in Douglas County due to poverty, lack of health insurance, living far from centralized health services, inadequate hygiene and minimal health education. However, while you are driving by Parkway Medical Center you might just see a festively painted van with Health Kids Outreach (HKO) written on the side. This van is the result of the coordinated efforts of the Mercy Foundation and a multitude of concerned individuals and community partners that recognize the importance of taking healthcare to our children where they spend a majority of their time…school.

The Healthy Kids Outreach program was created to provide basic health education to underserved, rural school age children in Douglas County by providing one nurse educator in each of the 13 school districts; and to provide diagnosis and treatment of basic medical conditions using volunteer mid-to-high level medical and dental professionals and a mobile medical van, resulting in increased health education, prevention, triage, intervention and connecting parents to critical resources. UCC is partnering with HKO by assigning nursing students to the HKO nurses on a weekly basis to learn more about bringing healthcare to those who need it most.

This is just one example of what can be accomplished when a need is recognized and addressed. However, the van is only reaching a fraction of our youth needing services. In the meantime, I encourage each of us to give some thought to what we, as individuals and community partners, can do to help facilitate this worthwhile endeavor. Please contact Mercy Foundation, (541) 677-4818 for more information.

Donna Wellington

Roseburg