Welcome to our blog

We are excited to launch our blog on March 15, 2020. Stay tuned!
by Radhika Ramesh

In the meanwhile, here is a bit of history from our archives. 

Back in 2012, Dr. Renata Schiavo, Health Equity Initiative's Founder and Board President, wrote an inaugural website post on why we need a social movement for health equity. ​​Eight years later, many of the actions suggested in the post are still timely. Read to learn about 5 simple steps to help advance health equity!

​January 6, 2012 at 2:02 am  
We Need A Social Movement for Health Equity! Here Are 5 Easy Ways You Can Help in 2012!
​by Renata Schiavo

Happy New Year from all of us at Health Equity Initiative! May 2012 bring better chances for better health among vulnerable and underserved populations! Yet, this may not be possible without first building a social movement around health equity issues.

Ask yourself: how often do people in your community, family, organization, and/or professional networks speak about health equity or are even aware that the health experience of vulnerable or underserved populations may differ from the experience of other more privileged groups? How many people know that the place where they live or work, or their ability to access not only healthcare services, but also transportation, adequate housing, education, health information, jobs, social support, or others may affect their opportunity to stay healthy or effectively cope with disease? Not only is good health a fundamental human right, but it is also a necessary pre-condition to secure and maintain jobs or succeed on one’s studies and/or many other small and big endeavors of everyday life. Advancing health equity is key to making sure that people can be happy, self-sustaining and productive in their everyday lives.

We need more people to pay attention to health equity issues, and work on achieving relevant behavioral and social results to create better chances for better health among vulnerable and underserved populations! We also need to build the capacity of different sectors to address such issues! Start 2012 by joining Health Equity Initiative in encouraging community members and professionals to join across sectors, pooling resources and mobilizing for a common cause. Here are 5 examples of the many ways you can help.

1. Share within your network and on social media what health equity means to you, your organization, your family, your peers, and your community, and what top 3 priorities should be addressed in your community (or the community you serve) to support progress toward improved health and social outcomes 
2. Initiate and maintain an ongoing dialogue on health equity issues with members of your communities, family as well as professionals from different sectors
3. Volunteer for organizations that work to advance health equity
4. If you are a public health or healthcare professional, use a participatory and integrated approach to plan for your programs and services. Bring the voice of the communities you serve in everything you do!
5. Share health equity-related news and milestones via your social media accounts, professional networks, and others

​If you act upon at least 2 of these suggestions – and implement them on a regular basis – you will be contributing to shaping a social movement in support of health equity! Thank you from all of us at HEI for making sure that this is one of your New Year’s resolutions!