Health Equity: being your healthiest self.
Everyone deserves to be their healthiest.
Did you know that some populations are at higher risk during health emergencies than others? That’s why aiming for health equity for all people is imperative to creating an overall healthy community.
According to the CDC, health equity is the state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health. That means ample resources, education, and access to healthcare for all individuals within a community. Barriers to these vital resources create health disparities that are largely determined by social contexts such as:
Healthcare access and use
Neighborhood and physical environment
Workplace conditions
Education
Income and wealth gaps
Discrimination based on these factors often leads to certain populations bearing a greater burden during a health crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, an individual living in a low-income neighborhood may be more likely to work at a physically taxing job with no health insurance and few options for quality healthcare centers. If this person were to get sick or injured, it may be hard for them to receive the care they need.
That’s why it’s important for us to advocate for health equity so that no person is barred from receiving the medical care they need to live their best lives. Educating ourselves on the factors preventing health equity is the first step. As we learn more, we can communicate more effectively and advocate more strongly for positive change. It could be as simple as promoting healthier diets to your friends and family, or could go as far as contacting your local lawmakers to push for more accessible healthcare policies for your community. Whatever avenue you take, remember that we are in this together so that everyone can be their healthiest selves.
