This past Wednesday, the Disparities Action Network (DAN) organized a successful advocacy day at the State House. To our knowledge, this is the first time people across Massachusetts have been mobilized to call for public action to eliminate disparities.
The day was a culmination of discussions and reports and dialogues taking place for over a decade. Over 300 people packed Nurses Hall to draw attention to the need to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities in Massachusetts. The crowd included over 40 students from Health Careers Academy, 40 elders from Reach Boston Elders 2010 and supporters from all over the state including Lawrence, Worcester and Springfield.
April Taylor, co-chair of the DAN Coalition, and Dr. Deborah Prothrow-Stith, the two mistresses of ceremony, rallyied the crowd and highlighted the issue and those who will make change happen. Legislators included bill lead sponsor Rep. Byron Rushing, Sen. Dianne Wilkerson, Rep. Peter Koutoujian and Rep. Gloria Fox. Other legislators in attendance included Rep. Jeff Sanchez, Sen. Susan Fargo, Rep. Steve D’Amico and Rep. Denise Provost.
Thirty-two DAN coalition members gave brief statements about the importance of taking action to eliminate health disparities. Worcester advocate Fatima Mohamed spoke about her personal health experience and 15 year old Alexandera Puckerine ended the program. The highlight was Governor Deval Patrick coming and joining the rally. He welcomed students into “not the State House, but their house”. He vocalized his support of the issue and left to a standing ovation.
After the rally, advocates visited legislators. Legislative offices were given information about the bill. The message of the event was inspired by Neil Calman, MD (President of the Institute for Urban Family Health), “Although the determinants of health disparities are complex and carried, we do not need to unravel every last piece of this puzzle to begin to take action.” No one bill will have all the answers to eliminating racial and ethnic health disparities, but we need to start to take action. 300 people started to take action on Wednesday.
For those unable to attend the rally and who support the cause, make a call to your legislator and tell them you support House Bill 2234, An Act to Eliminate Health Disparities in the Commonwealth.
I think its noteworthy that that Dr. Calman referred to the “determinants of health.” Access to acute care services is one of the least powerful of the determinants of health, while factors such as smoking, obesity, and alcohol consumption are stronger determinants of health. It doesn’t sound like H2234 is aimed at these factors.