R 178

2016 -- S 2919 Enacted 04/27/2016

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING APRIL, 2016, TO BE "HEALTH DISPARITY MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Senators Pichardo, Metts, Felag, Miller, and Paiva Weed

Date Introduced: April 27, 2016

WHEREAS, Despite notable progress in the overall health of our state, there are

continuing health disparities in the burden of illness and death experienced by certain racial and

ethnic groups, as compared to the population of the state as a whole; and

WHEREAS, Health is greatly influenced by the social and physical environments in

which people live. These environments can create a disparity in the health statuses of groups of

people; and

WHEREAS, In Rhode Island, the prevalence of being uninsured, having no doctor,

experiencing cost barriers to seeing a doctor, and having had no checkup in the past 12 months

are highest among Hispanic adults compared with all other racial/ethnic groups; and

WHEREAS, In addition, the infant mortality rate for African-American Rhode Islanders

is almost double the state average (11.2 vs. 6.6 per 1,000 live births), and the diabetes rate for

Hispanic adults is 11.3 percent, compared to 7.2 percent for white adults; and

WHEREAS, Nationwide, minorities are more likely to die from cancer, cardiovascular

disease, stroke, chemical dependency, diabetes, infant mortality, violence, and, in recent years,

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome than non-minorities suffering from those same illnesses;

and

WHEREAS, Health equity means everyone has an equal opportunity to take advantage of

resources that will help them live a long, healthy life; and

WHEREAS, Working toward health equity means reducing differences in health

outcomes between different groups in a population. Determinants to health equity include health

care utilization and access, patient attitudes toward health services, levels of unemployment,

language barriers, the availability of public transportation in a community, and the availability of

healthy food; and

WHEREAS, Achieving health equity requires creating equal opportunities for health by

eliminating health disparities, encouraging more minorities in the health care workforce, assuring

healthy childhood development, preventing and controlling disease and disability, and working to

make the environment healthy; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby proclaims April, 2016, to be "Health Disparity Month" in the state; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby recognizes the need to reduce health disparities in

our state and encourages all health organizations and Rhode Islanders to conduct appropriate

programs and activities to promote healthfulness in minority and other communities experiencing

health disparities; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, Director

Designee of the Department of Health.

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LC005811

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