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Westfield Health Bulletin: Ending racial inequity in public health will take more than data

Racial inequity in health care is ubiquitous. It has been an enormous problem in this country for hundreds of years.

In 1865, President Lincoln appealed to Congress to address the social and health needs of newly freed slaves and low-income white people. Many in government, public health, health care and other entities are still working to close the gap of those disparities. Most recent in health care, the coronavirus pandemic brought attention to how disparities increase the risk of more serious illness and death for certain populations.

The pandemic highlighted the inequities we have seen throughout history. There was a higher percentage of those in minority groups with jobs that didn’t allow working from home, thus increasing their exposure. Lack of insurance and pay rates less than a living wage also hindered care. Initial locations of testing sites limited access to testing. They were unable to take time off for testing or medical care because of limited or no paid leave. Previous health conditions caused by inequities such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular and lung disease made them more susceptible to severe COVID-19. Multigenerational households and poor living conditions lead to more spread. Misinformation targeting ethnic minorities dissuaded many from testing, vaccination and health care.

The pandemic scenario is illuminating but microscopic compared to how pervasive health disparities are. The CDC and many other organizations are dedicated to eliminating these inequities. The core of public health is to assess research to provide data on who is affected and what the risks are. The data must be validated, analyzed and shared. Policies and programs are then developed based on findings.

It is recognized by public health experts that the data systems that are just looking at the disparities and not the deeper problems that contribute to racism in our society are ineffective. Health disparities are not biological or behavioral. Richard Besser, M.D., of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a former CDC professional, stated, “We need a robust, modern data infrastructure that collects the data we need, and connects the dots between public health data and other sectors — housing, education, unemployment, for starters — to create a more equitable future.”

The CDC states “we will do what we do best by using science to investigate and better understand the intersection of racism and health and then to take action.” They plan to address health equities rooted in racism through scientific research, community programs, policy efforts and workforce development.

Without minimizing the work the CDC does, Aletha Maybank, M.D., MPH, of the American Medical Association, at a recent symposium made a simple, true and significant statement that caught my attention. She commits to the narrative that racial inequities in society and health care are due to a moral condition, not a lack of data. She stated, “We are not fighting against science, because the evidence is there that inequities exist.”

She promotes a charge to value each other equally. She states, “The work of equity is about being a good human being. If we really valued each other, we wouldn’t be in this environment.”

She advocates acknowledging history, having humility about things one does not know, seeing humanity in every person encountered, being aware of other cultures and redistributing resources.

The simple call to be a good human being could be so impactful if heard. I recently read a wonderful book called “How to be a Good Creature.” The author shares Dr. Maybank’s words. It delivers a message of love, empathy, gratitude, forgiveness and how to be a good creature in the world.

Take care of yourself and someone else.

And be a good human.

Juanita Carnes is a Westfield resident and a nurse practitioner with 38 years of experience in a hospital emergency department and urgent care facilities. She served 30 years on the Westfield Board of Health.

This post was originally published on this site