Creating Health Equity for All Coloradans
By Ned Calonge, MD, MPH, The Colorado Trust
Colorado has significant differences in health and wellness that have persisted or worsened over the past few decades, even as we continue to be recognized as one of the healthiest states in the nation. Illness, infant mortality and reduced life expectancy disproportionately affect different racial and ethnic groups, people with low incomes and other vulnerable populations.
Reports from the state’s Office of Health Equity show that a Hispanic baby born in Colorado is 63 percent more likely to die in the first year of life than his or her white counterpart, while African American babies are three times more likely to die their first year than white babies. Hispanic and African American adults suffer from higher rates of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer death.
In addition to these health disparities that affect communities of color or traditionally underserved populations, differences in the so-called social determinants of health, such as income and education, are barriers to living healthy, productive lives and limit the opportunities for individuals and families to make healthy decisions.
In a state and nation that prizes opportunities for individuals to make personal choices that affect their lives, these inequities should not be acceptable, and must be addressed.
The Colorado Trust is a private health foundation that, since its creation in 1985, has been dedicated to advancing the health and well-being of Coloradans. We believe all Coloradans should have fair and equal opportunities to lead healthy, productive lives regardless of race, ethnicity, income or where we live. Thus, starting now, The Trust is refocusing its vision to address health equity issues.
Colorado’s challenges to achieving health equity are huge. To paraphrase the old prayer, we at The Trust recognize that the sea is so big and our boat is so small. While there is much we can bring to bear in addressing health equity in Colorado, we have neither the resources to do this alone nor all the knowledge and expertise that will be necessary to succeed. As we engage partners and work with communities to move our new vision forward, we hope to inspire others to take on this work as well.
Good health depends on more than medical care. It is affected by where we live, the education we receive, the work we do, the wages we earn and by our opportunities to make decisions that improve our own and our family’s health.
By working together, we hope to end inequalities facing racial/ethnic, low-income and other populations.
