Three recent European studies are making bold claims and generating sensational media headlines—like "Smokers seem less likely than non-smokers to fall ill with covid-19." But does the science support these studies? No, according to many health experts. “The results of a small study with significant flaws are being blown out of proportion and people’s lives are potentially being put at risk as a result,” said Dr. Anna B. Gilmore, professor of public health at the University of Bath. WHO even issued a statement on May 11, 2020. They urge researchers, scientists and the media to be cautious about "amplifying unproven claims that tobacco or nicotine could reduce the risk of COVID-19." "There is currently insufficient information to confirm any link between tobacco or ...
Dr. Amelie Ramirez, Director of Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio, and Rosalie Aguilar, National Project Coordinator, discussed some of the challenges U.S. Latinos face amid the COVID-19 pandemic, on a recent episode of The Nation's Health, The American Public Health Association (APHA) podcast. On the podcast, Ramirez and Aguilar talked about: How COVID-19 impacts U.S. Latinos differently
The important role language plays during a pandemic like COVID-19
Promoting health equity during the pandemic
What public health practitioners can do to close the gap and lessen the harmful impact on Latino communities Latinos already face a number of health disparities due to underlying inequities in poverty, access to quality and affordable housing, jobs, and ...
Use La Loteria to talk about health with your family amid COVID-19! La Loteria, a traditional game in Latino families, is a version of Bingo using pictures on cards instead of numbers. The National Alliance for Hispanic Health has created COVID-19 Bingo (La Loteria). The family game has pictures of social distancing, hand-washing, video calls, physical activity, healthy food, faith, hope, and more. "My daughter and I were playing La Loteria and we thought it might be a great way to help other kids understand COVID-19," said Edgar Gil Rico of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health. "So it became a family project resulting in a new version of Bingo (La Loteria) with tips for parents to use the game to discuss COVID-19 and what families can do to stay well and healthy." La ...
By Julie Moser
Military Spouse, Breast Cancer Advocate
Founder, Executive Director, PWATX October 28, 2013, is a date that will always be one that will be remembered without thinking about it. You know, like a birth date or wedding anniversary. October 28, 2013, is the day I became a survivor. When the doctor said the words: “You have cancer." On the early morning of my husband’s third deployment send-off, I noticed a brown line under my left breast after a shower. It looked like I had burned my skin with a curling iron. My husband said that it probably wasn’t a big deal as long as I didn’t feel any lumps. I didn’t tell him I felt something but told him that I would get it checked out later in the day with my primary care physician. My doctor found three ...
You might call Maria Pia Sanchez la reina de las mascarillas (the queen of face masks). Sanchez, a native of Chile who lives in Florida, worked with a few friends to sew masks to donate to front-line medical workers when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. But they didn’t just sew. Sanchez also created the Para Todos Mask Initiative Facebook page, which has generated a worldwide network of Chilean, Mexican, Guatemalan, Colombian, Venezuelan, and other Latino volunteers to create over 7,000 masks for those who need them most. Update 8/24/20: They've made over 14,000 masks! How did this small sewing group impact the world?!
Coronavirus Pandemic Spurs Sanchez into Action
COVID-19 swept across the United States quickly in March 2020. By April 2020, experts said Latinos and other ...
Medical research studies help determine the direction of how doctors treat patients, administer medicine, diagnose sickness, and countless other aspects of treatment. Statistically, Latinos and people of color are vastly underrepresented in these kinds of exploratory efforts. This matters as the knowledge gained and disseminated in these studies could influence whether or not a patient receives adequate care. Dr. Bárbara Segarra-Vázquez, the Dean of the School of Health Professions at the University of Puerto Rico and one of the Principal Investigators of the Hispanic Clinical and Translational Research Education and Career Development program funded by National Institute of Health, joins Salud Talks to discuss this issue, and, her personal experience with it. Check out this ...
Health equity is where everyone has a fair and just opportunity to live their healthiest life possible. But health inequity remains. Now the COVID-19 pandemic is worsening historical inequities, and disproportionately affecting and killing Latinos and other people of color. So what can we do? We need both immediate focus to ease the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on Latinos and people of color, as well as long-term strides to address underlying inequities that are aggravated during this time. It won't be easy, or fast. But here's few ways to push for health equity.
1. Understand the Need for Heath Equity During COVID-19 and After
Where you live matters for your health. Even before COVID-19, inequitable city planning, historic discriminatory practices like ...
As the coronavirus pandemic sweeps throughout the U.S., one personal and political issue is taking center stage for most: the cost of and access to quality healthcare. Statistically, Latinos and other disadvantaged groups experience some of the worst outcomes of those concerns. Moreover, experts say it will only get worse as this outbreak endures. Earlier this year and prior to the spread of COVID-19, Dr. Mateo Benegas, a health services researcher at the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, joined Salud Talks to address these issues and how the healthcare system is serving and not serving all patients equally. Check out this discussion on the Salud Talks Podcast, Episode 26, "Healthcare Access, or Lack Thereof"! WHAT: A #SaludTalks discussion about "Healthcare ...
Fewer than 5% of Latinos participate in federal clinical trials. That gives researchers less chance to find treatments that work for this population. Latinos suffer a heavier burden of coronavirus, obesity, and certain cancers. How are we going to make sure new treatments─such as a COVID-19 vaccine─work as well for Latinos and other people of color? Let’s use #SaludTues on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, to discuss how to ensure diversity and inclusion of people of color in research amid the COVID-19 pandemic! WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: How to Ensure Diversity in Research during Coronavirus
TIME/DATE: 1-2 p.m. ET (Noon-1 p.m. CT), Tuesday, April 28, 2020
WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues
HOST: @SaludAmerica
CO-HOSTS: UnidosUS (@WeAreUnidosUS); League of ...
