By George Fernandez

It seems like each month, even day-after-day, stands to acknowledge some new trigger or initiative preventing for public consideration – and furthermore – public motion. April is not any exception. A fast Google search tells us it’s Group Service Month, Earth Month, and even Nationwide Humor Month.

With so many observations preventing for our consideration, it’s laborious to chop by means of the noise and shine a correct highlight on the intense points which are devastating our communities, notably proper right here in Pennsylvania. Well being fairness is on the prime of such examples, but many aren’t conscious that April is Nationwide Minority Well being Month (NMHM), not to mention why it issues and what must be completed proper right here in our communities.

In accordance with the CDC, NMHM is noticed each April to underscore the significance of enhancing well being outcomes for racial and ethnic minority teams. The significance of addressing the hole in minority well being fairness is at an all-time excessive for the reason that onset of COVID-19. The pandemic has affected racial and ethnic minority teams, and individuals who dwell in rural areas by inflicting extra extreme sickness and demise than in different teams due to low revenue, discrimination, and lack of healthcare entry.

And let’s not overlook the longstanding systemic well being and social inequities which have put many individuals from racial and ethnic minority teams at elevated threat of getting COVID-19 or experiencing extreme sickness, no matter age. Extra folks from some racial and ethnic minority teams work in important work settings, resembling healthcare amenities, farms, factories, grocery shops, public transportation, and different service-related jobs than different teams of individuals. Some individuals who work in these settings have extra possibilities to be uncovered to COVID-19.

Why ought to this matter, notably in Pennsylvania? Latinos are the fastest-growing ethnic inhabitants within the Commonwealth. In accordance with U.S .census knowledge, the Latino inhabitants grew by 82.6 p.c between 2000 and 2010 and can be the fastest-growing subgroup nationwide.

With over a quarter-million Latinos calling Pennsylvania house, well being fairness for minority teams must be elevated to our most urgent concern.

Extra than simply merely being conscious, or “observing” the problem, we have to roll up our sleeves and take motion! The specter of COVID-19 shouldn’t be going away. As an alternative, we have to modify to this new actuality by supporting our minority communities in tangible, proactive methods.

Pennsylvania faces main gaps in well being fairness exasperated by the pandemic. For months, hospitals didn’t do elective surgical procedures, preventive care was positioned on the again burner, and psychological well being issues went from a gradual burn to a speedy boil with dire penalties which have unfold additional than we ever might have imagined.

With April shining a highlight on enhancing minority well being, we have to use this as a ringing alarm that we should get again into movement and make minority well being fairness a prime precedence. I cost our medical neighborhood, authorities leaders, and each particular person to take a crucial take a look at the place you might have the affect to make a distinction. Particularly, we have to give attention to getting again to preventative care to handle most cancers, diabetes, HIV and Aids, tobacco and substance abuse, cardiovascular points, and far more. Furthermore, we have to guarantee preventative care is free and simply accessible to our minority inhabitants.

Minority well being impacts every considered one of us. When the individuals who make up the spine of our neighborhood should not effectively, Pennsylvania shouldn’t be effectively. The vibrancy of our economic system, workforce, training, tradition and a lot extra depends on the well being and wellness of our Latino neighborhood.

Earlier than April, and NMHM come to a detailed, I’m hopeful that that is only the start of the dialog and that everybody will step as much as do their half to make sure well being fairness for everybody in Pennsylvania.

George Fernandez is the Founder and CEO of Latino Connection, a nationwide chief in neighborhood training, well being outreach, and wellness programming centered on reaching low-income, uninsured communities.