What is Health Equity? Health equity means that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. Health inequities are reflected in differences in quality of life; rates of disease, disability, seriousness of disease; and access to treatment.
As of 2016, an estimated one in four adults in the United States reported a disability. This means that people with disabilities represent the nation’s largest minority group. People with disabilities face many challenges to achieving optimal health and accessing high-quality health care. Research from 2019 shows compared to people without disabilities, people with disabilities have less access to health care, suffer from mental illness, and are less physically active.
Aetna shares our belief that people with intellectual disabilities deserve to lead healthy, vibrant lives. The healthcare company plans to support health equity through: 1. Implementing change in local communities by educating others on diversity and inclusion 2. Promoting healthy living and 3. Supporting inclusive health programs, such as Special Olympics Virginia’s Healthy Athletes initiative, sports competitions, and fitness challenges
“Aetna understands how important it is to cultivate relationships with organizations who support the same communities we serve. We are excited about this upcoming partnership with Special Olympics Virginia and look forward to approaching health inequities for people living with disabilities.” Tiffany Wilson, Outreach Coordinator
This summer, Special Olympics Virginia Global Messengers will team up with Aetna to promote Health Equity & Inclusive Health across multiple channels, including Facebook Live and LinkedIn. Stay tuned to learn more about how you can get involved in this important work.