Small steps

摘要

Rural Kentucky, and particularly eastern Kentucky, is poor and relatively unhealthy. The people who live in the hills and hollows of central Appalachia face high rates of diabetes, heart disease, cancer and respiratory illness. Some of the area's problems are common across America: many rural Kentuckians are uninsured, for example, which discourages them from seeking preventive care. Other hazards are distinct to the area. Walking can be a dangerous form of exercise, with oversize log and coal trucks barrelling down the twisty mountain roads. Some people live without running water, or in homes heated by kerosene. In any of these cases, people could do with a local expert to help them navigate the labyrinthine American healthcare system.