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State Rep. Vernon G. Smith (D-Gary) has commented on the community’s health desert and is concerned about addressing harmful gender disparities.
Recently, I attended a RoundTable hosted by Senate Assistant Democratic Leader Eddie Melton, D-Gary, with health care providers and Lake County stakeholders to discuss the health care situation in Gary. This is the first time in recent memory that cart providers have come together to discuss the health of our community. The responses from health care providers who participated, as well as state legislators like Rep. Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary, were compelling, and I want to thank them for their support of Gary. This initiative is much needed to bring local leaders, legislators and providers together to develop a plan to improve Gary’s health.
By shining a light on health care disparities in society, Melton is shaping a future where equitable health is accessible to all. Our collective actions remind me of a specific passage in the book of Habakkuk: “We as legislators and leaders must “create a future where everyone has a real quality of life.Write the vision and reveal it on tablets so that whoever reads it will run” (Habakkuk 2:2) We have started the conversation, but we have a lot of work to do.
Being black in America is bad for your health.
Living in a Cart Being a Hoosier is bad for your health.
These statements have become even more true as the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbates long-standing health care inequities that disproportionately underserved communities face. Many factors can determine whether a person lives or dies, or whether a person survives or thrives, including access to pharmacies, food deserts, mental health care, and public transportation. Gary has all these problems including severe health desert. All these issues should and can be addressed through cultural competency training, greater empathy and respect for people of different colors and beliefs.
However, none of this can be done or have a meaningful impact unless state leaders put resources and policy ideas behind addressing these inequities.
There are only five practicing pediatricians in Gary.
Let me make this clear – there are only five pediatricians in a town of over 75,000 people.
This is a very disturbing reality for all families and children to live with. On the other hand, the city of Noblesville (comparable in population to Gary) has about 125 pediatricians. This large and deadly disparity must be addressed as soon as possible, especially considering Indiana’s high infant mortality rate. 20 percent higher than the national average.
It is well known that the better health care a child receives early in life, the healthier their outcome will be as an adult. Additionally, Indiana’s African American population already experiences disproportionate rates of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. life expectancy. The sooner we can get our children on the path to a healthy life, the better.
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The problem of our society is not only the lack of pediatricians. There are elderly and low-income residents who need care with increased Medicare and Medicaid funding. More investment in crisis mental health mobile units is urgently needed. There are high levels of pollution that exacerbate health problems such as asthma, gaps in safe and reliable transportation to allow patients to travel for care, and inadequate pharmacies. In fact, I have heard rumors that a local pharmacy has more alcohol than medicine. That is sad and insulting to all. Each of these concerns is systematically linked to the next, the color that acts as a barrier, prevents the elderly and low-income people in the car from living a dignified and healthy life.
Strategic differences require strategic changes including government funding, adequate health support, local partnerships, effective policies and research.
While these issues may seem like exaggerated statements, empirical research has proven them to be true time and time again. The health care situation in Gary is complex and worrying, but hope is not all lost. Senator Melton said the roundtable was a great start to understanding and addressing the health challenges facing our community.
During my 32 years in the Legislature, I have introduced a platform to address health care, employment, education and other inequities facing Hoosiers. I will continue to work tirelessly to promote our health needs and concerns to the Indiana General Assembly. Our state has a surplus of more than 6.1 billion dollars; There’s no reason we can’t use even a portion of that money to invest in the health care needs facing our Gary community.
In closing, I would like to state that regardless of how much money you have or your social status, if you do not have health, you have no quality of life. Physicians – I urge you to stop fearing our community. Legislators – I urge you to stop ignoring the needs of our people. Pay attention to Senator Melton’s actions and the amazing response of providers, and join us in eliminating these disparities in medical care.
Equality in health care is equality in life.
Vernon G. Smith is the Indiana State Representative for the Gary and Merrillville divisions.
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