PUBLIC HEALTH EQUITY
The Challenge
In the South Bronx, health disparities are woven tightly into the fabric of everyday life. Poverty and health intersect with a tight and unforgiving grip.
Decades of systemic neglect and disinvestment have shaped an environment where access to quality healthcare, education, and proper nutrition remains a daily struggle, casting a long shadow over our well-being.
Asthma rates, a glaring reflection of environmental pollution, are nearly three times higher here than the City average. Diabetes, a companion of poverty, afflicts almost 17% of our population, starkly higher than the citywide rate. This tumultuous environment impacts and deteriorates our quality of life.
South Bronx residents facing a life expectancy that is, on average, about four years less than those in other parts of the city.
These numbers paint a stark portrait of our community's struggles, where limited resources and systemic neglect breed a cycle of health inequities.
Yet, we stand undeterred and our vision is clear: a future where every individual, regardless of their zip code, has the opportunity to lead a healthy, fulfilling life.
Our Response
South Bronx Unite is now working with research partners to develop and advocate for development proposals geared towards improving public health equity by reducing the impact of air pollution, improving the resources available to local residents, and championing the support residents receive for their health needs. From accessible green space to healthy food co-ops, to most importantly a greater presence of health care services, we believe that public health equity can be achieved with the systemic rebuilding of how resources are distributed in New York City. By proposing proactive solutions that start at the source of health ailments, public health can be improved for all residents while building on their overall well-being and quality of life.