HEALTH EQUITY
An Invitation to Imagine : Transforming Power for Health Equity
I
want you to imagine two fruits , a tomato and a mango .
Tomatoes and mangoes grow in very different ways . Tomatoes grow from seeds planted in soil every spring and are harvested throughout the summer months . If you want tomatoes , you must plant new seeds every spring . On the other hand , mangoes , which grow on trees , take about five years before they bear fruit . However , from then on , you will get mangoes every year without having to plant seeds annually . Although mangoes take patience , once the tree starts producing mangoes , it does so for eternity .
Health equity work cannot be like planting tomato plants . It must be for long term changes and benefits , like planting mango trees . This analogy is a reminder that sustainable health equity work requires
by INDER SINGAL , MD , MBA
careful planning and patience to achieve long-term transformation . We must change our reactionary approach to problem solving and work intentionally towards bringing systemic changes .
Health equity means creating an environment , a fair and just opportunity , where everyone can achieve their fullest health potential , especially the groups who have been historically marginalized by race , religion , ethnicity , disability , sexual orientation , gender identity , socioeconomic status , national origin and other factors .
Good health is not just about having good genes and making good choices , nor merely the absence of diseases like cardiovascular disease and diabetes . As defined by the World Health Organization , health is the “ state of complete physical , mental and social well-being .” Good health is shaped by daily life experiences and environments where we live , work , learn and play .
What we must realize is that the choices people make are lim-
16 LOUISVILLE MEDICINE