Kansas Public Health Collaborative

Facebook-f Twitter Linkedin

Grassroots Efforts in Southwest Kansas Educate Refugee Communities about COVID-19

Image of PA Erin Keely and Clinic Manager Lacey Mollel taking a selfie with a community member who served as Somali translator, during a COVID-19 education, screening and testing event that took place in 2020.

By: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

“When COVID-19 hit Southwest Kansas in the spring of 2020, there was little information available about the disease in languages other than English. Many essential workers from refugee communities turned to their neighbors, Physician Assistant Erin Keeley and Doctor Rachael Svaty, with their questions. The providers had a difficult time finding educational materials for auditory learners who prefer face-to-face interactions.”

Read more about the efforts carried out by southwest Kansas to educate refugee communities about COVID-19.