New Bedford celebrates health workers leading COVID-19 response

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell celebrated community health workers Friday for Community Health Worker Awareness and Appreciation Day.

The event at Kilburn Hills was hosted by the Southeast United Network of Community Health Workers, which was created in June of last year — after the COVID pandemic highlighted the importance of health worker advocacy, support, and workforce development.

The network said community health workers led the pandemic response by conducting contact tracing, home visits, and community outreach, and still act as an important link between doctors and patients.