By Agbai Sharonjoyce
Health equity means that every individual has an opportunity to reach their full health potential, and no one should be denied from reaching this potential because of their environment, resources or community.
Yet when people become ill, the blame often falls on their lifestyle choices. While lifestyle plays a role in health, studies show that these factors are not as important as the social, economic and environmental factors.
In other words, good health depends as much on where a person lives and works as it does on what they eat and how well they exercise.
The role of resources
The socio-economic determinants of health refer to the conditions in which people live, work and socialise—factors often outside their control. Inequities that are related to an individual’s environment can be reduced through an effective implementation of policies that will benefit the individuals in the environment.
People’s living conditions are often shaped by factors like poverty, poor housing, employment status and insecurity.
People with greater financial stability can afford healthy food, access quality healthcare, live in safer environments and also benefit from social connections, all of which contribute to better health.
Conversely, limited resources can trap people in cycles of illness and vulnerability.
Access to healthcare
Access to quality health services is critical, but it isn’t the whole solution. Having health insurance does not guarantee that there will be no issue of health disparities (unequal health experiences that exist among a particular population, such as race or ethnic groups).
This inequality is a result of some social and structural factors that place some individuals at an advantage.
In some health organisations patients of colour may receive poorer or better treatment than the others, and also discrimination among patients with certain illnesses like sexually transmitted infections or other severe illnesses.
The power of community
Communities play a central role as they contribute to their health and wellbeing. Health equity recognises the fact that community efforts are needed to change the environmental conditions that determine health.
Community-health programmes (like reducing healthcare costs and delivering primary healthcare services to every individual, including the underprivileged) help deliver services, promote well-being and improve access to healthcare.
Effective community efforts include the involvement of everyone and not just the hospitals.
Making health equity a shared vision
It is evidently clear that the state of disease and poor health is distributed among different groups of people, making health equity a matter of national priority.
By making health equity a shared vision and fostering multi-sector collaboration, communities can take action to promote equal opportunity for health, which is the necessary foundation for a vibrant and truly healthy society.
The state of health disparities and health inequity imposes significant costs, which reduces not just the nation’s overall health but also the economic and security level.
In the end, health equity is the bedrock of a truly healthy and prosperous society—one where every person, regardless of background, has the chance to live a long, fulfilling life.
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