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People have been asking me if I believe the COVID19 threat is real or if itâs just blown out of proportion. Listen Iâm not an expert; I can only speak to what Iâve seen after 2+ months responding to medical missions in my state. ...
However, I can say that Iâve seen how this disease disproportionately impacts certain populations because of access to healthcare as well as systemic discrimination that can prevent individuals from seeking healthcare or puts them at facilities which can disregard their concerns.
No I am not collecting data. Or willing to share specific details. But look at where you are seeing outbreaks, what communities are impacted hardest, as well as the distribution of deaths across race, age and socioeconomic status.
Donât get me started at the socioeconomic distribution of jobs and sick days as well as employer benefits. It disgusts me that our economic culture would encourage employees to go to work while sick and risk infecting not only their coworkers but the customers as well.
Iâve done community based missions multiple times throughout my Guard career. So this isnât strictly drawing from my COVID experience either. We have a huge discrimination issue in this country. And itâs not just racism when it comes to the activities of minorities.
Racism impacts everything. Not only are racist people suspicious of POC in the communities, but it happens in healthcare. This creates a culture where they are hesitant to seek medical treatment because of the experiences theyâve had or have heard about.
Additionally look at the distribution of healthcare facilities and what neighborhoods they are missing from or disproportionally absent from. I have choices, some of my Soldiers do not AND they are HCP themselves.
Listen I know I have privilege as a white female raised by two cops. The above rambling is not an all-inclusive list of what Iâve seen and what I know to be true about the healthcare disparities. But this has been an issue that has been close to my heart for a while.
No. The tragic death of George Floyd was not healthcare related. But it brought to mind how racism doesnât disappear with this pandemic. It affects the treatment and care of POC, and it makes me ask how can I continue make a difference in my community today?
So as I drive to work, as I work on planning my next mission, as I send my service members out to their missions, I will be thinking of George Floyd and asking myself how I can serve today to make a difference and influence change.
