New study reveals health inequities in Erie County

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — A new report was released Thursday by the Erie County Office of Health Equity that documents important data regarding health disparities and outcomes in Erie County.

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“And we also know that marginalized communities and people of color from minority communities have historically been denied access to fair and equitable health care,” said April Basin, Speaker of the County Legislature. ‘Erie.

A more than 300-page report revealing health disparities across the county, from urban to suburban to rural areas.

“This report is going to be very important. It’s a very important tool to provide something that is a human right for every individual,” noted Pastor George Nicholas of the Buffalo Center for Health Equity.

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Disparities within the Buffalo community have been amplified and surfaced during the COIVD pandemic, the racially motivated Buffalo mass shooting in Tops two years ago, and then the December 2022 blizzard.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz promised the report would not sit on a shelf gathering dust while future action was planned.

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“If we release the report and then it sits on the shelf and collects dust — it was a waste of time — it won’t be a waste of time,” said Mark Poloncarz, County Executive Erie.

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“You know, trust that the health care system will do the right thing for us. Trust that people who don’t look like us will meet our needs,” responded Pastor George Nicholas of Buffalo Center for Health Equity. .

More than 3,200 Erie County residents responded to a health survey.

“We covered zip codes. We went to every community we were in in rural Erie. We were in urban Erie, we were in suburban Erie, listening to the people most affected by health disparities,” said Pastor George Nicholas of the Buffalo Center for Health. Equity.

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The report reveals several barriers, including access to language, education, health care, the neighborhoods where people live, social interactions and a person’s economic stability.

“I can take time off work for a cancer screening, but can I leave work, go to the doctor and come back in time to finish my work, can I also have my children, can I also take care of you, my elders, as if in diapers,” Wofford noted.

Wofford said everyone in the community needs to help improve disparities.

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“This is an issue that affects all stakeholders,” Wofford said.

Pastor Nicholas is also calling on the community to get involved.

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“I urge leaders, leaders of the Buffalo Club and corporate America, Buffalo business leadership and education, housing leadership and leadership in every element of our community, to get this report and then see what role they can play in establishing health equity. in this area,” said Pastor Nicholas.

The Office of Health Equity will host a webinar for the community to view all survey results on July 17.