News Flash
Aug 28th, 2008 at 10:58 am by Maya
Social inequity shortens lifespans. I appreciate the value of studies and all, but is anyone actually surprised by this?
The key is to look beyond the temporary solutions provided by health-care and medicine. It is social injustice that leads to deeper health inequalities, the commission finds.
[World Health Organization] Commission chair Michael Marmot has three key recommendations:
1. Provide care and support to all members of society, from newborn babies to the elderly, from education to employment to retirement. Invest in schooling, safe working environments, affordable housing, health-care and public transport.
2. Manage access to fatty foods, alcohol and tobacco, develop a well-financed public sector to fund projects, and promote gender equality and political empowerment.
3. Measure, research and understand problems, and train individuals to monitor and assess the impact of actions taken to improve health equity.
Interesting how “progressive” most of these ideas are (oh, the horror!). I’m sure once the news outlets see this WHO study, they’ll stop treating progressive values like the great fanged and drooling monster under the bed of the nation and start asking tough questions to the candidates about how they plan to implement these recommendations. I’m holding MY breath, aren’t you?
