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CALIFORNIA MUST TAKE ACTION ON CHRONIC DISEASES AMONG CHILDREN OF COLOR
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peak about racism, talk about the chronic diseases that significantly affect children of color. Statistics show that one in four children of color suffers from chronic conditions. These chronic conditions could be obesity, asthma, and depression, all of which can be prevented if these children had access to proper medical care. In addition to that, children of color can die from these chronic illnesses. For instance, these children are three times more likely to die from asthma than their white counterparts. For many years, this has continued to maintain an upward trend in California, denying these children their ability to thrive and survive. For this reason, California must take action on chronic disease among children of color. 122
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WHAT CALIFORNIA MUST DO TO PREVENT CHRONIC ILLNESSES AMONG CHILDREN OF COLOR This trend of chronic diseases among children of color in California is threatening the existence of the next generation. Looking at the racial disparity in those diseases, it’s evident that racism plays a significant role in the reason there are fewer preventative measures to curb childhood chronic diseases amongst children of color. This further impacts the general health system. In California, not enough laws on preventative measures are in place. If we must minimize chronic diseases among children of color and curb the racial disparity fuelling these long-term diseases, more preventative measures must be enacted. This means investing in chronic disease prevention and developing a strategy to address these inequalities and racial barriers. Thankfully, Senator Susan Rubio has begun the process by sponsoring a groundbreaking Senate Bill 682 named “End Racial Inequalities in Children’s Health in California Initiative,” also known as EnRICH CA. This bill mainly prioritizes THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | JULY 2021
