A Message from Editor-in-Chief Ana E. Núñez, MD
Dear Colleague,
Health disparities must not be a self-fulfilling prophesy – we must act now. The important and disturbing reality of self-fulfilling prophesies and predetermined outcomes is that we always get to be right. Now is the time for urgent action.
The April 7 coronavirus briefing mentioned alarming rates of infection in African American patients. Reasons for alarming rates of COVID-19 in Black Americans are not a mystery. COVID-19 attacks individuals with multiple comorbidities. The disproportionate burden of illness from sociocultural determinants of health in the U.S. squarely puts vulnerable populations at highest risk.
Race is not a factor. Living in the U.S. as a Black or Brown person is. The lack of culturally appropriate communication to communities of color contributes to suboptimal adherence to social distancing policies.
We cannot quickly solve all health inequities, but we must move forward with alacrity to include equitable policies, designs, data interpretation, and implementation that matches augmented risk of communities of color with elevated surveillance and intervention. From effectively screening at-risk people, ensuring representatives of color are on hospital ethics boards, including chaplains and clergy at end of life for all people — there are all actions for now. Ones that can promote equity.
Please support this call to action by sending us your manuscripts for wide dissemination.
Sincerely,
Ana E. Núñez, MD
Editor-in-Chief
Health Equity