This is National Public Health Week (April 5-11), so we are focusing this For Your Learning Friday feature on public health lessons from the pandemic.
When new waves of the current pandemic (or a new pandemic) emerge, how can the United States be better prepared and respond in a way that reduces social and health inequities? In a recent journal article, @Philip Alberti, Paula Lantz, and Consuelo Wilkins suggest the adoption of an equity framework to pandemic preparedness that focuses on upstream and midstream preparedness and downstream rapid response.
Essentially, to support upstream and midstream pandemic health equity preparedness, the US should:
- Build strong public health infrastructure (stockpiles of essential materials; plan for equitable distribution of materials; access to rapid testing; rapid contract tracing; sufficient funding)
- Ensure material conditions of health for all (food access; secure, safe, affordable housing; air and water quality; prohibitions on evictions and utility shut-offs; access to health care and safety net systems; sufficient healthcare workforce)
- Ensure basic economic security (living wage and basic income policies; paid sick leave; unemployment benefits and public assistance)
- Provide and subsidize access to important technology (internet access and tech support for functions like homeschooling and home-based work; banking and bill paying; applications for public assistance; smartphone technology for public health surveillance; clear voting policies and alternatives)
- Implement and enforce infectious disease prevention in group settings (enforce regulations in nursing homes, shelters, prisons; develop plans to control spread; reduce the number of people incarcerated)
- Safety standards and plans for public transportation (protect drivers and essential workers; plan for distancing during onboarding/offboarding and traveling)
To develop pandemic health equity rapid response at the downstream level, the US should:
- Effectively communicate health risk (engage community leaders; develop effective messaging and materials)
- Implement socioculturally-appropriate surveillance and risk reduction strategies (create community-based programs)
- Have emergency policies and executive orders ready to be rapidly implemented (delineate essential vs. nonessential services; create requirements for front-line employers)
- Ensure timely and accessible testing (trusted locations; transportation; no-cost)
- Provide equitable and rapid access to quality health care (provide maps; mobile testing and treatment; engage trusted messaging partners; prioritize support for vulnerable communities)
- Provide equitable and rapid access to social and economic relief programs (prioritize distribution of economic relief; support community and faith-based organizations)
Have thoughts on improving health equity in future public health responses? Lessons learned from this pandemic? Share them with us here. Or ask a question of @Philip Alberti and his colleagues directly.
------------------------------
Stephanie Weiner
Director, Digital Strategy & Engagement
Association of American Medical Colleges
------------------------------