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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 25, 2002)
^Jort lattò ®bseruer_____________________ September 25, 2002 Page A4 O pinion 1110 Portland O bserver Opinion articles do not necessarily reflect or represent the views o f The Portland Observer E D i r O H -I N -C H I t F , P V « L I S C o rn H E K E d it o » Joy Ramos Charles H. Washington USPS 959-680 C /e u r i i l E D I T O K E stablished 1 9 7 0 4 7 4 7 NE M artin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., M a n a a r. x Mark Washington W D is t k ik v t io n Portland, OR 97 21 1 D i » e c T o » Paul Neufeldt Michael Leighton k it e k , P h o t o c h p h i David Plechl P ostmasw : Send address changes to Portland Observer PO Box 3 1 3 7 , Portland, OB 9 7 2 0 8 __________P e rio d ic a l Postage paid In P o rtla n d , OR > S u b scriptio n s a n $ 6 0 .0 0 p « ry « « r 5 0 3 -2 8 8 6 0 3 3 • FAX5 0 3 -2 8 8 6 0 1 5 • EMAIL: nens@Dortlandobserver.com subscriDtion@KrtlandOt}SefYer,ia!U adS&DQrtlandi The Portland Observer welcom es freelance submissions. Manuscripts and photographs should be clearly labeled and will be returned if accompanied by a self addressed envelope. All created design display ads become the sole property o f the newspaper and cannot be used in other publications or personal usage without the written consent o f the general manager, unless the client has purchased the composition o f such ad. © 1996 THE PORTLAND OBSERVER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, REPRODUCTION IN W HOLE O R IN PART W ITH O UT PERM ISSIO N IS PRO HIBITED. The Portland O bserver-Oregon’s Oldest Multicultural Publication-is a member o f the National Newspaper Association-Founded in 1885, and The National Advertising Repre sentative Amalgamated Publishers, Inc, New York, NY, and The West Coast Black Publishers Association • Serving Portland and Vancouver. ‘Take A Loved One To The Doctor’ — Is It Really That Simple? 40 percent more likely to die o f a stroke B arbara L. B aylor than whites. HIV/AIDS is ravaging our The Bush Administration declared communities. Prostate and breast cancer Monday as national Take A Loved One are kill ing our black men and women, and to the Doctor Day. The campaign was we are dying from complications of dia focused on the African American com betes, hypertension and other chronic munity and, given African-Americans' diseases. relatively poor health status, this special W hile more visits to the doctor can attention may be warranted. help, it will take a lot more to close these But this simplistic approach — more '. __ * '_£.---- A health gaps. visits to the doctor — ignores more fun Barbara L. Baylor A recent report by the Institute of damental causes o f the health dispari Medicine found that bias, prejudice and stereotyping ties: prejudice, stereotyping, lower quality health care, and lack of health insurance. It will take a lot more by providers contribute to disparities in health care. than getting people to the doctor to reverse these The congressionally mandated study, Unequal Treat ment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in injustices. Everyday we see grim statistics that remind us that Health Care reports that racial and ethnic minorities great health disparities still exist for African Ameri tend to receive lower quality health care than whites cans. Our babies are dying at twice the rate of non- do, even when insurance status, income, age and African American babies. African-Americans are 30 severity of conditions are comparable. Further, the report notes that these differences in percent more likely to die of cancer than whites. 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Government Agency WILLAMETTE Federal Credit Union 2151 N.W. Front Avenue Portland, Oregon 97209 (503) 299-4539 (888) 900 8559 contemporary social and economic inequality, and persistent racial and ethnic discrimination in many sectors of American life. The report finds that racial and ethnic minorities are less likely than others to be given appropriate cardiac medications or to undergo bypass surgery, and are less likely to receive kidney dialysis or transplants. It painfully points out that there are significant racial differences in who receives appropriate diagnostic tests and treatments for cancer and in who is likely to The Administrations focus solely on seeing a doctor trivializes a much more monumental issue - the lack o f accessible, comprehensive, affor dable, quality health care fo r all. — Barbara L. Baylor. k receive the most sophisticated treatments for HIV infection. The research also found that minorities are more likely to receive certain less desirable proce dures such as lower limb amputations for diabetes and other conditions. The Institute's report begins to seriously address the age-old question o f why health disparities continue to exist among racial and ethnic minorities. The Administration's focus on seeing a doctor trivializes a much more monumental issue - the lack of accessible, comprehensive, affordable, quality health care for all in this country. There are now over 40 million Americans without health care insurance, many of whom are racial and ethnic minorities. Racial and ethnic minorities are twice as likely to be uninsured as whites. In addition, many people of color have health insurance, but are under-insured and lack coverage for needed items like prescription medicine. This is especially true of racial and ethnic minorities who tend to be enrolled in more affordable, but lower-end health plans — so called because they are characterized by poorer coverage and stricter limits on covered services. As a result, racial and ethnic minorities are more likely to be without a regular doctor. In fact, 28 percent of African- A m ericans,41 percentofH ispanicsand31 percent of Asians do not have a regular doctor compared to 19 percent o f Euro-Americans. The Bush Administration wants us to believe that the way to eliminate health disparities is as simple as going to a doctor for a regular health check up. The Administration is also fond o f touting hard work, a proper diet, exercise and changing attitudes about health as the keys to good health. Again, all of these things are important but we also need to have strong health infrastructures in our communities, doctors who are not biased, health care providers who will listen, and affordable, accessible, quality health care! Barbara T. Baylor has a Master o f Public Health and presently serves as the Minister fo r Health and Wellness with the United Church o f Christ' Justice and Witness Ministries, based in Cleveland, Ohio. Action Needed to Stop Cuts to Seniors Elders in Action, a leading advocate for area se niors, has declared a state o f cm c.gency for Oregon’s elders. Even though the Legislature agreed last week to send a package containing a combination o f tem porary income taxes, borrowing and cuts, advocates are concerned that if voters don’t pass the measure, Oregon’s senior and disability services will face a 20 percent cut. If the m easure is voted dow n, cuts will im pact thousands o f seniors throughout O regon im m edi ately follow ing the January 28 election. Elderly people in nursing hom es and assisted living pro gram s face the possibility o f being turned out of their hom es due to lack o f support and the closing o f facilities, m aking O reg o n ’s shortage o f affo rd able senior housing m ore serious than ever. V ol unteer program s, disability and m edical support are also being drastically reduced. Programs such as Oregon Project Independence, which helps seniors remain in their homes and live independently, will be eliminated, affecting nearly 900 seniors. Cuts will squeeze an already severe caregiver workforce shortage. Elders in Action is a nonprofit organization work ing to improve the quality o f life fo r older adults in the Portland area through a variety o f services and volunteer-run programs. For more information, call 503-823-5269.
