 |
 |
10th District New Jersey Essex County | Hudson County | Union County |
 |
|
|
|
|
For Immediate Release
June 12, 2004 |
|
Contact: Kerry McKenney
(202) 225-3436 |
| |
|
Representative Donald M. Payne and Representative Donna Christensen Host Congressional Black Caucus Health Disparities Forum |
| |
|
At a forum held at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey hosted by Representative Donald M. Payne and co-hosted by Representative Donna Christensen of the Virgin Islands - the first female physician in Congress - members of the Congressional Black Caucus joined with health care professionals and local officials in seeking solutions to health disparities which adversely affect minority communities. Other members of the Congressional Black Caucus participating in the forum included Representatives Julia Carson of Indiana, James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, Major Owens of New York and Ed Towns of New York. Representative Steve Rothman of New Jersey also joined in the discussion.
Entitled Elimination of Health Disparities: Bridging the Health Care Divide, the event featured discussions on the future of minority health care and factors contributing to health disparities in communities of color.
“It is important that we come together to exchange information and ideas about how we can better educate our communities about good health practices,” Payne said. “In addition, we need to improve access to quality health care, so that all patients enjoy the same level of professional care.”
Dr. John J. Petillo, interim president of UMDNJ, said, "The University is deeply committed to helping increase public understanding and awareness of health disparities on society, as evidenced by our establishment of the Institute for the Elimination of Health Disparities in 2001. The ramifications of health disparities have such significant impact on the health and well-being of all citizens of this state and the nation that not finding more workable approaches to this problem is untenable.”
Dr. Diane Brown, executive director of the UMDNJ Institute for the Elimination of Health Disparities, said, "I applaud the Congressional Black Caucus in leading this fight for fair and equitable health care for all. Today's hearing represents an urgent call to end health disparities that penalize too many Americans with unnecessary sickness and early death. Gaps in health care outcomes are simply unacceptable."
Representative Donna Christensen highlighted the statistics confirming a growing gap in the quality of health between white Americans and racial and ethnic minorities. “Preliminary estimates of life expectancy at birth for the entire U.S. population reached a record high in the year 2000. Yet the life expectancy at birth for black males was 68.3 years compared to 74.8 years for white males. The life expectancy at birth for black females was 75 years compared to 80 years for white females. Disparities in the burden of death and illness experienced by African Americans, compared with the entire U.S. population, have existed since the government began tracking such statistics, and in some areas like New Jersey, it continues to grow.”
Representative Julia Carson said, “I believe this forum is vital to advancing our understanding and to eliminate the disparities that exist and persist in our community.”
"We cannot hope to overcome health disparities without addressing the root causes of the problem: access, insurance and education,” Representative James E. Clyburn added. “This forum is an affirmative step in the effort to develop policies that will alleviate these obstacles to healthier African American communities.”
Representative Major Owens observed, “It is important that we have a concerted effort among health care professionals, community leaders and elected officials to raise awareness about both prevention and early detection of serious diseases which are taking a disproportionate toll on minority communities.”
"Racial and ethnic minorities too often are denied the high-quality health care that others take for granted," said Congressman Ed Towns (D-Brooklyn). "Minority groups are less likely to have health insurance and are less likely to receive appropriate health care services. The consequences of this are devastating. This forum is a great opportunity to raise these issues and discuss solutions to this important problem.”
The event was sponsored by Pfizer, Inc.; Prudential Financial; Foundation of UMDNJ; Schering-Plough Corporation; Medco Health Solutions, Inc.; Merck & Co., Inc.; Aventis Pharmaceuticals; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; Wyeth; Sankyo Pharma, Inc. |
|
| | |
|
|
