As we finish 2009, there are many things to be thankful for. And I sense that our society is filled with hope despite the economic circumstances. From my standpoint however, I see that the healthcare system is failing miserably as it relates to providing equal outcomes to all Americans.
Specifically, African Americans fall well behind whites with regard to specific parameters like infant mortality, life expectancy, obesity incidence and survival for many types of cancers. For example, as an African American male, my life expectancy is 67 years compared to white men and African American women at 77 and white women at 82 yrs. Infant mortality is two times higher for blacks.
What I find is that while we have increased our finacial IQ and as we attempt to move towards economic prosperity and indepedence, we have neglected to move towards health equality. And what good is prosperity if one dies, never to benefit
It will take some serious introspection to rid ourselves of popularly held beliefs which are self defeating and unhealthy. Many of these ideas related to our diets and life styles
Yes, we have some house cleaning to do but I am confident that if we continue aggressively through forums like this, to promote a better way, we will be able to right the ship
Posted By: lee kirksey
Saturday, December 27th 2008 at 9:15PM
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