Black Women’s Health Imperative is celebrating its 40th anniversary. This is the first and only nonprofit dedicated to achieving health equity for Black women in America. This organization was founded by Byllye Avery in 1983 and has become nationally recognized as a leading health policy, education, research, knowledge, and leadership development agency.
On Friday, September 22nd, BWHI is hosting a Symposium on The State of Black Women Symposium at Spelman College, where they were founded forty years ago. There will also be a fundraising Gala that evening at the Georgia Aquarium.
Today, we are speaking with their president and CEO, Linda Goler Blount, about the organization and the persistent health disparities plaguing our communities.
Blount has spent most of her career concerned with health disparities. When asked about the challenge, she explains it is a sticky issue mostly communicated in statistics. She emphasizes that the disparities have nothing to do with biology or genetics. The disparities exist due to lack of access; when you do have access, we are not afforded the same standard of care.
She shares that in 1982, the mortality rate for women with breast cancer was the same for Black and White women. In 1983, when treatments were administered, the disparities began. Clearly meaning, Black women are simply not being treated in the same manner as White women. We do not receive the standard care that should be available to everyone.
I ask Blount what she wants the public to know about the work of the Black Women’s Health Imperative. She speaks about the policy work and advocacy for our healthcare system to provide a standard of care to every patient. She talks about policy work to get quality measures tied to reimbursement.
The organization celebrates its 40th anniversary and is still the only national organization advocating for the health and well-being of African-American women and girls. It is an organization that understands both the science and the policy.
On Friday, September 22nd, BWHI is hosting a Symposium on The State of Black Women Symposium at Spelman College, where they were founded forty years ago. There will also be a fundraising Gala that evening at the Georgia Aquarium.
Events also occur in Washington, DC, on October 13th and Los Angeles on October 20th.
For more information about the Black Women’s Health Imperative