Illinois Legislative Black Caucus discusses health care and health care disparities

Posted on October 9, 2020
State Sen. Christopher Belt (D-Cahokia) said there’s far more to consider than physical health. (Dave Dahl/WJBC)

 

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – For health, you are better off being white. The numbers make that clear.

“Black Americans are more than twice as likely to die of heart disease as white Americans,” said Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood), chairwoman of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus. “Black Illinoisans die from COVID-19 at 3.4 times the rate of white Illinoisans.

“We can’t blame the virus for that.”

Lightford says Blacks have less access to healthcare and less access to healthy foods than do whites.

State Sen. Christopher Belt (D-Cahokia) said there’s far more to consider than physical health. “What about your mental and your emotional state? From being in abject poverty, from hearing gunshots, from seeing people die? From seeing your mom getting beat up by her paramour?”

Members of the caucus held a news conference in Centreville prior to a virtual hearing on the issue Friday. Health and healthcare disparities make up the fourth pillar of the caucus’ legislative agenda, the others being education / workforce development; criminal justice / violence reduction / police accountability; and economic access / equity / opportunity.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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