Counsel #3 — Challenges To Health Equity

Picture: Counsel #3 — Challenges To Health EquityCSI 131.1

People from different social groups often experience different levels of health. For example, people of color are more likely to be uninsured than white people, and they are also more likely to die from preventable diseases.^{[180]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4194634/} Additionally, people of color may experience disparities in access to healthcare, healthy food, housing, education, and other resources that impact health, particularly in rural areas.^{[181]https://www.americanbar.org/groups/crsj/publications/human_rights_magazine_home/the-state-of-healthcare-in-the-united-states/racial-disparities-in-health-care/}CSI 131.2

Lack of diversity in the healthcare workforce can lead to bias and discrimination in care since the healthcare workforce is not as diverse as the population it serves. Also, there is not enough data on health equity. This makes it difficult to track progress and identify more areas where change is needed.^{[182]https://adventistreview.org/news/adventhealth-vows-to-keep-fighting-inequities-in-health-care/}CSI 131.3

“Learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.” Isaiah 1:17 NKJVCSI 131.4

“The sufferings of every man are the sufferings of God’s child, and those who reach out no helping hand to their perishing fellow beings provoke His righteous anger.” Ellen White in The Desire of Ages, p. 825CSI 131.5

Reflect: As you consider these challenges to fairness in health care, can you think of ways you might improve the situation?CSI 131.6