Results from similar studies show that African American women with breast cancer face higher mortality rates than those faced by others. Events such as the summit have alerted many people to the various health problems facing this group of citizens.
The results prompted the creation of programs designed to educate the black community about specific health concerns and increased efforts to identify health disparities and find possible solutions. The programs, along with the people involved in their creation, should be commended and encouraged to continue their efforts toward the improvement of African American health.
Building on the momentum of the summit, the Task Force on African American Health was recently established in Washtenaw County focusing on addressing these health concerns in the area. A rough draft of a long-awaited strategic plan was released this past Monday describing the goals of the task force. It wants to create a nonprofit group to accept grants and develop programs, publish a quarterly newsletter about vital health issues, sponsor health screenings for young children, and use an effective media campaign to inform senior citizens about various health resources.
The task force has excellent ideas about what to do for the community but this should not be a one-way effort. Some proposals require financial assistance, but the majority just require willing community members ready to make an impact on people's lives. The task force and its goals can only prove productive to the degree that the black community contributes to its effectiveness.
The final plan will not be presented to the public until Feb. 24; it is important for all community members to support the task force and voice their opinions - all input should be welcome.
The University also needs to take a stand on health issues affecting the black community. The University is a large part of the Washtenaw County community and it has a wealth of resources at its disposal. Professors and students can combine the education process with tackling one of society's unnoticed problem, and help many people along the way.
In addition, one of the major causes of disproportionate health rates is the lack of early detection. Access to health care is a severe problem affecting the African American community. The University has one of the largest and well-respected medical facilities in the region - it needs to play a greater role in the health of African Americans and others that have notoriously lacked access to proper health care. Through the cooperation of the University and the task force, much can be accomplished. The entire Ann Arbor community and the University need to take on this challenge.