July 22, 2025
Community Health Corner
Submitted by Stephanie Gutierrez
In America’s Health Rankings report for 2024, Kansas is ranked number 28 of the 50 states in overall health of its residents. We need to raise that ranking which was once in the top 10! K-State Extension is working with others to improve everyone’s health, and we want all to join the effort. From urban, metro, suburban, rural and frontier locations, Extension works in partnership with communities to deliver meaningful and relevant programs and initiatives to keep health closer to home. The following resources help us improve well-being, achieve Healthy People 2030 objectives and follow recommendations included in the National Extension Framework for Health Equity and Well-being.
Strengthening the Public Health Workforce Through Data
The de Beaumont Foundation and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) released the PH WINS (the Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey), which supports the governmental public health workforce by measuring strengths and gaps to inform future investments in funding, training, recruitment, and retention. The 2024 data, from a survey of nearly 57,000 state and local public health employees at all levels, was released yesterday along with an interactive dashboard that allows users to filter and compare data by a variety of factors, and practical tools and recommendations to act on the data.
A New Approach to Malaria Control: Treating the Mosquito
In an innovative twist on malaria prevention, researchers supported by the NIH have identified compounds that can kill malaria parasites inside mosquitoes—before they have a chance to infect humans. By embedding antimalarial drugs into bed nets, this strategy targets resistant mosquitoes that no longer respond to traditional insecticides. Two promising compounds (ELQ-453 and ELQ-613) were effective at preventing infection when mosquitoes came into contact with treated materials. Early results are hopeful, showing long-lasting effects without encouraging drug resistance. Much more testing is needed, but this discovery could offer a powerful new tool in the global fight against malaria. Read more about this groundbreaking study on the NIH website: Slowing malaria by treating mosquitoes.
At-Home HPV Kits Could Help Close Cervical Cancer Screening Gaps
A new NIH-supported study shows that mailing at-home HPV self-collection kits can significantly boost cervical cancer screening rates, especially among women who are uninsured, live in rural areas, or face other barriers to care. In the trial, participants who received home test kits were more than twice as likely to complete screening than those who only received phone reminders. The approach was particularly well-received by underserved populations and could be a promising tool in reducing preventable cervical cancer cases. Read the full article from NIH to learn more: Home test kits boost screening for cervical cancer.
For more information and resources contact Elaine Johannes, ejohanne@ksu.edu; and Stephanie Gutierrez, smgutier@k-state.edu