We know that access to health care is not equal. Some community members, whether because of geography, income, education or ethnicity, are just not as healthy as other populations. Statistics continue to demonstrate that certain populations are more at risk for chronic illness that leads to early death or disability.
The community is invited to a free forum on health equity, sponsored by the Healthy Pima Initiative, a community-wide action task force focusing on improving the overall health of our family, friends, and neighbors. A key piece of the solution involves reducing disparities in health and health care to help us live longer, healthier lives.
The doors will open at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 10, at the YWCA, 525 N. Bonita Avenue, for the discussion, which will run from 10 a.m. until noon. Panelists include:
- Pima County Supervisor Richard Elías, District 5
- Kent Burbank, Director, County Attorney Victim Services Division
- James Ojeda, Casa Maria Soup Kitchen
- Angela Marchant, Medical Student, A.T. Still University
- Laura Penny, Executive Director, Southern Arizona Women’s Foundation
Audience members will be invited to share their own experiences, from challenges to positive outcomes. Stephanie Parker, co-chair of the task force and CEO of The Aurora Foundation of Southern Arizona, said the discussion will help inform the group’s work in addressing the cultural and societal barriers to care. “We are really trying to take a 360-degree view to flesh out the action steps, strategies and tactics that will help us identify the disparities that exist and the steps we need to take to reduce them and ensure health equity for all Pima County residents,” Parker said.