What are some current resources that support advocacy for health equity?

What is health equity and why is it important? Equity, as the World Health Organization defines, is the absence of unfair, avoidable or remediable differences among groups of people, whether those groups are defined socially, economically, demographically, or geographically or by other dimensions of inequality (e.g. sex, gender, ethnicity, disability, or sexual orientation). More specifically, health equity is achieved when everyone can attain their full potential for health and well-being.

Currently, there are embedded stereotypes in the health that can lead to the disrespect or

underrepresentation of minority groups. In order to achieve health equity, inequalities such as

race, financial classes, and genders must be identified and eliminated, both in the realms of

health, and in the world as well.

The National Library of Medicine states that in order to work towards health equity, we need to “(1) making the case for health equity; (2) meeting information needs; (3) adopting or developing logic models or theories of change; (4) using civil rights law to promote health

equity; (5) medical–legal partnerships; (6) using health impact assessments to understand policy implications; and (7) securing funding to support community action.”

Although this may seem like a lot of things to take into account, luckily, there are organizations that advocate for health equity.

To name a few, the American Public Health Association (APHA) offers resources, such as a

Public Health and Equity Resource Navigator (PHERN) and a Health Equity Guide for those in

need.

APHA has over 25,000 members worldwide, and has been involved in every major public health program for the last 150 years.

In addition, the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health (NCCDH) gives free

tools and resources to health practitioners, including a curated list that allow health practitioners to work towards health equity themselves.

Finally, American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) provides information on public policies and their impact on health equity. These resources include guides, one-page documents, and more that spread necessary information regarding health equality.

SDG 3 was established for the purpose of establishing universal health, meaning that the gap of socioeconomic classes would be lessened, and everyone would have access to the necessary health resources.

So far, these large NGOs have made a significant impact in the world of health, and individual

student-led nonprofits have also worked on spreading information around the world.

We can all do our individual parts and work towards the idea of health equity together, either by joining organizations that spread information to those that need it, donating to a cause, or any other methods. There are many ways to work towards health equity, and as long as we make a combine effort, we will be able to reach the goal.

References:

American Public Health Association. “Home.” Apha.org, 2019, www.apha.org/.

Group, AAFP. “Advocacy for Health Equity.” Www.aafp.org, 2024, www.aafp.org/family-physician/patient-care/the-everyone-project/advocacy-for-health-equity.html.

Health, National Collaborating Centre for Determinants . “Key Public Health Resources for Advocacy and Health Equity: A Curated List | National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health.” Nccdh.ca, 2015, nccdh.ca/resources/entry/advocacy-health-equity-curated-list. Accessed 10 July 2024.

National, Youth MOVE. “Why Youth Advocacy Is Health Equity Work.” Youth MOVE National,

20 June 2019, youthmovenational.org/why-youth-advocacy-is-health-equity-work/. Accessed 10 July 2024.