Health equity : position statement Oklahoma Health Equity Campaign.

              Health Equity
POSITION STATEMENT Oklahoma Health Equity Campaign
We are social by nature, and when the ties that bind begin to unravel, so does our health. 1
HEALTH begins at home in our families, with a loving relationship between parents and their children, where kids can expect to be safe, nurtured and protected.
HEALTH begins with healthy communities, with safe streets and sidewalks, freedom from violence, and parks where kids can play.
HEALTH begins with a good education, where children learn not only how to read, write, and prepare for fulfilling, prosperous life, but how to treat each other with dignity and respect.
HEALTH begins with safe jobs and fair wages, where people derive a sense of personal satisfaction from their work and connection to their co-workers.
HEALTH begins with healthy relationships, healthy communities, and healthy jobs, which protect us from the stress of everyday life.
HEALTH EQUITY is when everyone has the opportunity to “attain his/her full health potential” and no one is disadvantaged from achieving this potential because of social position or other socially determined circumstance. 2
FACTS
OKLAHOMANS with lower socioeconomic status die earlier and have more disability. 3, 4
OKLAHOMA ranks 19th highest adults without a high school diploma (14.4%), ranks 6th lowest in median household income ($41,664), ranks 7th highest in the percentage of individuals uninsured (18.7%) among all states (including District of Columbia). 5 Oklahoma ranks 3rd in incarcerations (655 per 100,000 - 32% higher than the national average) among 50 states. 6
OKLAHOMA ranks at the bottom of the national health rankings, according to the United Health
Foundation (43rd) and the Commonwealth Fund State Scorecard (50th).
OKLAHOMANS suffer more unhealthy days (mentally and physically) than adults nationally with suicide being the most common type of violent death according to the 2008 State of the State’s Health Report.
OKLAHOMA consistently ranks among the lowest states in the consumption of fruits and vegetables7 and is ranked as the 5th most obese state. 8
OKLAHOMA is 49th in the nation in the limited availability of primary care physicians per 100,000 population . 9
ACHIEVING HEALTH EQUITY
Organizations and families create communities by building and nurturing a healthier Oklahoma. This
will require leadership, and a partnership of business, government, civic, religious and educational institutions.
We can’t eradicate illness, but we can foster health by positively impacting the factors affecting health.
THE OKLAHOMA HEALTH EQUITY CAMPAIGN PARTNERS will collaborate with public and private organizations, governmental and community partnerships to build public commitment to achieve health equity and decrease the health inequities in Oklahoma. Our partners will include businesses, advocacy groups, community non-profits, environmental justice organizations, chambers of commerce, religious organizations, labor organizations, professional associations and people like you and me that want our families to be healthy and happy.
JOIN US!
E-Mail: okhealthequity@gmail.com to request more information or call 405/271-9444. Ext. 56410.
Visit: www.okhealthequity.org