TOLLESON, AZ — Community health workers, known as promotoras in Spanish, will visit every household in Tolleson in an effort to curb the spread of coronavirus.
The West Valley has seen some of the highest coronavirus rates in the state. This summer, Tolleson, a city with about 7,300 residents, had a case rate double the Maricopa County average.
Maricopa County is now helping the City of Tolleson with several intensive public health programs to better educate the residents to slow the spread of the disease and financially assist families affected by the pandemic.
The promotoras have already visited 25% of Tolleson households. They give out masks and hand sanitizer. They also have information on how to get coronavirus testing and help with rent and utilities.
"It’s been an amazing experience," said Tolleson Human Services Director Santiago Cornejo. "We are learning so much more from our residents in Tolleson - what are needs that they have and so forth, and what are their struggles."
City officials say, since the promotoras started, more people are using the free 24-hour coronavirus testing site at Tolleson city hall.
