Knox County Health Department — National Public Health Week 2026

Knox County Health Department Public Health Administrator and CEO Michele Gabriel and Assistant Administrator Wil Hayes join Galesburg's Morning News for National Public Health Week, which runs through Saturday, April 12. Gabriel and Hayes discuss 34 years of public health progress in Knox County, Friday's free Drug Take Back event in partnership with OSF HealthCare, and what the health department offers that many residents may not know about. Topics covered in this interview: What public health actually does — prevention vs. treatment Americans live 35 years longer than when the APHA was founded — what drove that Knox County teen birth rates — once among the highest in Illinois, now drastically reduced Childhood immunization rates holding at 95% or higher in Knox County Oral health access — KCHD dental services since 1996 Zero confirmed foodborne illness outbreaks in Knox County last year How restaurant inspections work — risk categories and the FDA code Drug Take Back event — Friday, April 10, 9 a.m. to noon, Knox County Health Department Knox Community Health Center services — medical, dental, behavioral health, WIC The biggest misconception about the health department Public health book displays at Galesburg Public Library and Wordsmith Bookshoppe   Related: Knox County Health Department marks National Public Health Week with Drug Take Back event Friday