#SaludTues Tweetchat 8/11: Why Data Matter? The Role of Data for an Equitable COVID-19 Response


latina woman with face mask to prevent coronavirus covid-19

Coronavirus can affect anyone. But reports continue to show the COVID-19 pandemic is disproportionately impacting Latinos and other people of color, and worsening historical inequities. What are the data really showing? Do we have the right data? How can we use that data to improve health amid the pandemic? Let’s use #SaludTues on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020, to tweet about why data matter and the important role of data in ensuring an equitable response to COVID-19! WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat “Why Data Matter? The Role of Data for an Equitable COVID-19 Response” TIME/DATE: 1-2 p.m. ET (12-1 p.m. CT), Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020 WHERE: Twitter HOST: Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio (@SaludAmerica) CO-HOSTS: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (@CHRankings), ...

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Apply Now: $25,000 RWJF Culture of Health Prize



A culture of health is where everyone has a fair, just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. This also achieves health equity. Is your community creating a culture of health? If so, apply for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Culture of Health Prize! The contest provides $25,000 to communities that unite neighborhood, school, and business partners to improve health for all residents. Apply by Oct.15, 2020. Read about 2019 Winners Three largely Latino cities won three of five 2019 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Culture of Health Prizes! Gonzales, Calif. (94% Latino), was chosen from nearly 200 applicants. Two other cities with large Latino populations—Lake County, Colo. (36% Latino) and Broward County, Fla. (30% Latino)—also won the health prize. ...

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As COVID-19 Vaccine Nears, People of Color Face Uncertain Path


COVID-19 Vaccine People Color Uncertain

Many people are longing for an end to the turbulent COVID-19 pandemic. Thankfully, healthcare and government leaders are focusing their efforts and funding to develop a vaccine to halt transmission of the virus that has killed over 140,000 people in the U.S. A COVID-19 vaccine is a worthy goal, but leaders also must address one sad fact before any treatment is made available — the widespread disparity found among the racial makeup of those who are immunized and those who are not. "It's racial inequality — inequality in housing, inequality in employment, inequality in access to health care — that produced the underlying diseases," Dr. Dayna Bowen Matthew, dean of the George Washington University Law School—who has spent her career focusing on racial disparities in medical ...

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Opioids Use and the Coronavirus Pandemic


Opioids Use Coronavirus Pandemic

U.S. Latinos are bearing an extraordinary burden when it comes to cases, deaths, other impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Worse, this continues a trend of this group's continual hardship of experiencing health and social inequities. Many reports suggest that this trend of Latinos and other people of color being disproportionately affected is worsening already harsh historical inequities. One of those inequities is drug use. Moreover, COVID-19 and opioid addiction can impact and worsen each other, mainly for people of color. "As people across the U.S. and the rest of the world contend with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the research community should be alert to the possibility that it could hit some populations with substance use disorders (SUDs) particularly hard," Dr. Nora ...

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Obesity May Lead to Severe Coronavirus Disease, Among Younger Patients


obesity rates as latino man walks away

While the elderly are highly susceptible to the coronavirus COVID-19, young adults aren't off the hook, either. Almost 40% of U.S. coronavirus patients who were sick enough to need hospitalization were between the ages of 20 to 54, according to recent CDC data. "There seems to be this ethos that the virus is no big deal for young people," said Dr. Mark Pasternack, chief of the pediatric infectious disease unit at Massachusetts General Hospital, told the Newbury Press. "But it is a big deal because some young people are getting very sick and because they are also very serious vectors of disease spread." Why Obesity and Coronavirus Outbreak is a Concern for Young People in the U.S.? Obesity may be one of the most important predictors of severe coronavirus illness among ...

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Reports: People of Color are More Likely to Die from Coronavirus


People of Color More Likely Die Coronavirus

Systemic, health inequities impacting disadvantaged groups are rampant in America and they're causing those individuals to suffer worse, even fatal, COVID-19 outcomes. Early reports suggested that those disparities would play a role in the current coronavirus spread, making minority groups, including Latinos, more likely to suffer severe harm. Now, weeks into the American pandemic, early reports from hotbed areas—such as Oregon and New York City—are proving that prediction true. "There are clear inequalities, clear disparities in how this disease is affecting the people of our city," New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio told the New York Times. "So many people struggle to get the healthcare they need, who didn't have the money to afford the healthcare they deserved. So many ...

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Salud Talks to Return in 2020


Salud Talks Return 2020

Salud America!'s latest project—the Salud Talks podcast—will be back in 2020 with more episodes all about holistic health equity. The first episode of the new year and decade will go live on Jan. 8 and will kick-off a slate of discussions. These productions will feature grassroots advocates, government officials, healthcare professionals, and others who discuss the issues impacting Latinos and all Americans today — from the aspirational communications to sugary drinks to childhood wellness. Episodes will be available every Wednesday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, and others. "We're excited to see this project continue its work in informing listeners on the harmful disparities impacting Latinos and all Americans today," said Dr. Amelie Ramirez, director of Salud ...

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Salud Talks Podcast Episode 14: “Modern Myths”


Modern Myths Salud Heroes

Who is your hero? They are as unique as the work they do, but one thing is consistent throughout each of their stories: Taking action to help others. Alejandro Maya, CEO of Sprocket Media Hub, discusses telling those stories through Salud America!'s web-based docuseries, Salud Heroes. Check out this discussion on the #SaludTalks Podcast, Episode 14, "Modern Myths"! WHAT: A #SaludTalks discussion on telling stories, everyday individuals stepping up, and Salud America!'s Salud Hero series GUEST: Alejandro Maya, CEO of Sprocket Media Hub WHERE: Available wherever fine podcasts are downloaded, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, Tune In, and others WHEN: The episode went live at 1:30 p.m., Dec. 18, 2019 In this episode, we explored questions ...

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U.S. Latinos’ GDP Equates to World’s Eighth-Largest Economy


Latinos GDP Economy

U.S. Latinos would have a larger economy than Brazil if they were its own country. In fact, they would have the eighth-largest economy in the world, according to the Latino Donor Collective (LDC) U.S. Latino GDP 2019 report. LDC partnered with American economic and demographic experts to collect this data. The report aims to factually illustrate Latinos' role as a powerhouse in contributing to the American economy, according to Matthew Fienup, executive director of the Center for Economic Research and Forecasting at California Lutheran University and one of the authors of the report. “Given robust population growth, high labor force participation, rising incomes, and strong increases in educational attainment, we expect the significant growth premium enjoyed by U.S. Latinos to ...

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