A group of civil rights advocates have launched a new nationwide coalition focused on eliminating barriers to care and improving health equity for chronic diseases.
The Health Equity Coalition for Chronic Diseases is composed of several civil rights health groups, including the National Hispanic Medical Association, National Minority Quality Forum and the National Action Network. It will bring together policymakers, providers and community experts to work together to advance health equity in chronic diseases such as obesity, which disproportionately affect people of color.
"The Health Equity Coalition for Chronic Disease will give voice to over a hundred million Black and brown Americans who face countless systemic barriers to healthcare, and who are without access to the care and treatment they deserve," said coalition Co-Chair Tammy Boyd of the Black Women’s Health Imperative.
Obesity Care Now, the coalition's first year initiative, will aim to raise awareness of obesity as an epidemic and work to reach lawmakers on Capitol Hill.