In rural America, communities of color are finding innovative solutions to address health care disparities and access issues. The closure of rural hospitals has left many of the 46 million rural residents with limited options for medical care, disproportionately affecting minority populations.
In Brownsville, Tennessee, a majority-Black city, the reopening of Haywood Park Community Hospital has provided crucial access to health services. Local officials worked to ensure the hospital offers full-service care with a 24-hour emergency room.
North Carolina is addressing the needs of farm laborers, many of whom lack permanent legal status, through mobile health clinics. These clinics provide after-hours care and have diagnosed numerous cases of diabetes among workers who previously had no access to medical services.
In California’s Fresno area, community health workers are reaching out to Punjabi Sikh immigrants, often employed in agriculture or meatpacking, to provide essential health support.
The article highlights that Black mothers face the highest rates of maternal mortality in the U.S., a problem exacerbated by the closure of maternity wards in rural areas. To combat this, some states like Virginia are offering doula services covered by Medicaid, particularly benefiting women of color.
Experts emphasize the importance of local, community-led efforts to address health disparities, especially in communities of color that may lack trust in the medical field. These initiatives aim to improve health outcomes and access to services in underserved rural areas across the country.
See “Rural communities of color across the US find new ways to get the health care they need” (August 19, 2024)
