April is National Minority Health Month, a powerful reminder of the urgent need to confront health inequities impacting millions nationwide. At its core, health equity means everyone has a fair and just opportunity to live their healthiest life.
Unfortunately, systemic factors — ranging from access to quality health care, safe housing, and education to underlying social and economic disparities — often place significant barriers before racial and ethnic minority groups.
The facts are clear, and they are startling. In Arizona, Black people are about 25% more likely to suffer diseases of the heart than white non-Hispanics. Health disparities extend across a variety of conditions, significantly impacting the quality and longevity of life for minority communities. Compared to other racial groups, Black and African American people are more likely to get cancer and have the highest rate of death for cancer overall.
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Similarly, the Hispanic community faces distinct challenges. Hispanic adults were about 70% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes compared to non-Hispanic white adults, according to the CDC’s National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2021, age-adjusted data for 2019-21. Hispanic people have the second highest rate of dying from liver cancer, while Hispanic women have the second highest rate of dying from cervical cancer, after non-Hispanic black women.
Understanding these disparities demands that we understand the social determinants of health. Factors such as education access and quality, neighborhood environment, economic stability, social and community context, and access to health care deeply influence health outcomes. These factors play a vital role in ensuring every person has an opportunity to achieve their highest level of health.
Promoting health equity involves strategic efforts to dismantle barriers. It means tailoring health care services to meet diverse community needs.
National Minority Health Month challenges us to recommit to achieving genuine health equity.
The data clearly shows where we’ve fallen short. We can — and must — do better. Let’s embrace the opportunity to drive lasting change, ensuring health equity isn’t just an aspiration but a lived reality for everyone, regardless of their racial or ethnic background.
Dr. Sarita Warrick is the Chief Medical Officer for Optum — Arizona.
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