Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) launched a fresh campaign to address an age-old problem: Explaining the role of public health in building healthier communities.  Enter the Public Health Heroes League campaign, featuring a diverse cast of fictional graphic novel characters rendered in saturated, vibrant color, to convey the story of how the health department works with the community to tackle real public health challenges and prevent illnesses, injuries and deaths.  Over the next couple months, the Public Health Heroes League will be “visiting locations near you,” on suburban Cook County buses, billboards, websites and social media sites. The graphic narratives show the heroes fighting the opioid epidemic and tuberculosis, guarding against lead hazards, promoting immunizations, conducting community outreach and providing resources to schools. There will also be a series of three, 30-second animated videos. Episode 1, “Dawn of Vigilance,” introduces the league’s main characters – like Community Engagement Specialist Nia Jackson, “empowering communities to take charge of their health,” Epidemiologist Dr. Tahira Al-Zahid, “unraveling health mysteries, keeping us steps ahead of diseases,” and Public Information Officer Gabriela Torres, “spreading the word, not the virus, to keep us informed and safe.” In Episode 2, “Smoke and Mirrors,” the league stops the illegal sale of flavored nicotine products to minors, and in Episode 3, “Outbreak Detected,” they tackle a measles outbreak.  Learn more about CCDPH and the Public Health Heroes League campaign at PublicHealthHeroesLeague.com

Photo Credit: Cook County Department of Public Health