KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - Tomorrow, during "Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day," Public Health - Seattle & King County, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and First A.M.E. Child & Family Center are sponsoring a community health fair to promote disease prevention and highlight the need to continue to close the gap on health disparities in Seattle and King County.

The community health fair, featuring health screenings and information, will be held on Tuesday, September 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Rainier Beach Community Center, 8825 Rainier Avenue South.

Media: A brief program at 1 p.m. on Tuesday will feature Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, Public Health - Seattle & King County Director Dr. Alonzo Plough, HHS Regional Director Beverly Clarno, and others.

"We can't shy away from our ideal of providing excellent health programs and services to everybody in King County," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "Access to care and preventive services are a cornerstone of healthy communities."

"We know that both nationally and locally there are serious barriers, including ethnic and racial discrimination, to accessing health care services," said Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. "By taking a friend, neighbor or family member to the doctor, we help a loved one access care and seek preventive health services."

Health disparities in King County

"In King County there are serious health disparities in disease and access to care, and eliminating these disparities for ethnic minority and lower income populations is central to our public health mission," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County.

Health insurance: Locally, one out of 10 adults does not have health insurance. The uninsured are more likely to require emergency care, and they have poorer medical outcomes and a lower quality of life.

Adults and families may be able to get free or low cost health insurance through the Basic Health Plan or Medicaid. To get help applying for insurance or to find a clinic, visit: www.metrokc.gov/health/insurance

Breast and cervical health: Population groups with lower screening rates include older women, the uninsured, ethnic minorities (especially Latina/Hispanic women, African Americans and Asian Americans), and low-income women, particularly those in rural areas.

For more information on accessing free Pap test and mammograms, please visit: www.metrokc.gov/health/women/mammogram.htm

Diabetes: Low-income persons tend to be twice as likely to have diabetes than persons of higher incomes. Diabetes rates are significantly higher among African American, Latino/Hispanic, American Indian and Alaska Native, and some sub-Asian Pacific Islander populations, compared to whites.

Community-based diabetes intervention activities, such as support groups, education classes and self-management classes, are available free to the public. Please visit the REACH Coalition diabetes webpages at: www.metrokc.gov/health/reach

Asthma: Children in low-income neighborhoods in King County are about three times more likely to be hospitalized with asthma than those in higher-income neighborhoods.

For asthma facts and resources, including information on the King County Asthma Forum coalition, visit: www.metrokc.gov/health/asthma

Dental: In King County there are currently over 50,000 Medicaid eligible children five years of age and younger, but less than a third of this population utilizes dental services and less than 5% of infants and toddlers (one year or less) have seen a dentist.

For more information or assistance in enrolling a child, visit: www.metrokc.gov/health/oralhealth and www.metrokc.gov/health/kgc/abcd

Community partners for the local "Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day" event:

African American Reach and Teach Health Ministries · American Diabetes Association Serving Washington and Idaho · American Heart Association · Cancer Information Service · Center for MultiCultural Health · Country Doctor Community Health Centers · International Community Health Services · Kin On Health Care Center · Northwest Kidney Centers · People of Color Against AIDS Network (POCAAN) · Puget Sound Neighborhood Health Centers · Sea Mar Community Health Centers · Seattle Parks and Recreation, Rainier Beach Community Center · Senior Services of Seattle/King County · Washington Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons · Washington State Hospital Association · Washington Health Foundation · Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner-SHIBA HelpLine