Black Women’s Health Imperative Releases National Health Policy Agenda

Black Women’s Health Imperative Releases National Health Policy Agenda

     The Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI) has released the second edition of its Black Women Vote: National Health Policy Agenda for 2020-2021. This agenda addresses the critical health policy issues that impact the health and well-being of Black women. It also supports partnerships with policymakers and other stakeholders to achieve health equity.
    The agenda has five pillars, themes that focus on issues within Access to Quality and Affordable Health Care; Equitable Responses to Public Health Emergencies; Sufficient Diversity in Clinical Trials and Health Care Delivery Systems; Increased Funding to Support Historically Black Colleges and Universities; and Social Justice. Under each pillar, is a thorough list of the most pressing health issues facing Black women today with concrete policy recommendations to help move toward permanent solutions.
     “This policy agenda serves to mobilize Black women, who have historically stood at the forefront of social movements, to advocate for ourselves and our communities. With it, BWHI aims to empower Black women with a blueprint for change and deliver a call to action for policymakers, practitioners, academics, and community leaders.” said Linda Goler Blount, BWHI president and CEO.
     COVID-19 has highlighted the racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic inequities experienced by communities of color. The pandemic has further entrenched the health inequalities faced by Black women. In response, the agenda’s COVID-19 section discusses how the pandemic has impacted the lives of Black women and explores policy solutions across a spectrum of issues – including reproductive health and justice, access to preventive services, meaningful participation in clinical research and the affordability of effective therapeutics.
     According to a news release, the agenda provides a roadmap not only by which to evaluate candidates’ positions on issues that disproportionately impact Black women, but to hold elected officials accountable for delivering on their commitment to health equity. It serves as a pathway for key decision-makers to take action on behalf of their constituents and it provides voters information to engage in substantive policy discussions and to seek meaningful solutions.
   For more information, visit www.bwhi.org.

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