Contributed photo

Anton Gunn spoke during the Community Healthcare Forum held July 14 at Pee Dee Union Baptist Church. Mr. Gunn, M.S.W. is Regional Director at the Region IV Office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He has served on a White House Health Care Task Force of State Legislators for Health Reform since 1996.

slideshow

A community health forum was held July 14 at Pee Dee Union Baptist Church with guest speaker Anton Gunn of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Gunn is a health care reformer and community organizer in South Carolina, working to expand health care access for low income families. He is also the director for South Carolina Fair Share, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group seeking affordable health care in the state.

The health care forum has been a program that has is important to Cheraw Council Woman Jacqueline E. Shannon who helped to organize a similar event earlier this year.

“Our current health care system in America is not affordable for families, businesses or government,” said Shannon. “We need an American solution to secure our families health and a healthy economy. All of us, individuals, employers and government have a shared responsibility to realize comprehensive reforms in our health care system.”

During the health care forum, Gunn addressed the community about the benefit of healthy communities and his belief that we all have a right to affordable, quality health care from a provider of our choice, when we need it, and at a cost we can afford. He was able to use his professional experience in the industry to weigh in on the issues currently facing families throughout the nation.

Following Gunn’s presentation Cheraw Mayor Scott Hunter presented a proclamation regarding healthy communities and the future of Cheraw and health care.