Health Care Access

Adult daughter and father sitting at a restaurant reading paper.

Caring for Our Caregivers: The Unrecognized and Undervalued Family Caregiver

Minakshi Raj, PhD ’20

For years we have known that the US does not have a sufficient health care workforce to provide adequate health care for older adults. The current pandemic makes the situation all the more pressing. Now is the time to revisit and revise our policies and practices to reduce the burden of suffering for older Americans and their caregivers.

People holding a sign that says

Coronavirus and Immigration: ICE Reductions Are Too Little, Too Late

William D. Lopez and Nicole L. Novak

In the face of decades of mistrust and fear, the operational changes proposed by ICE are paltry. Now more than ever, say Lopez and Novak, is the time to prioritize human dignity and public health and to allow immigrant communities to shelter safely in place.

Black Mother holding a newborn baby

State of Maternal Mortality: The Inequitable Burden on Black Mothers

Kyle Simone Nisbeth

In the US, Black women die from pregnancy-related complications at a much higher rate than the rest of the population. The majority of these deaths are preventable, introducing tough questions for health care. Through awareness and advocacy, says Kyle Nisbeth, we can ensure that these burdens are mitigated and that Black mothers and babies receive the care they need to thrive.

Volunteers and professionals distribute food to those affected by a crisis

Malnutrition in Humanitarian Crises: The Will to End a Preventable Disease

Muriel Bassil

Across the globe, armed conflicts and natural disasters create severe hunger and malnutrition for millions. In addition to the crisis itself, underlying causes of malnutrition should be front and center—food insecurity, inadequate care for women and children, insufficient health services, and unhealthy environments.

A woman in orange sits on the floor of a prison cell

Not Equipped: The Incarceration of Mothers and Limitations on Reproductive Rights

Sitara Murali

More than a third of incarcerated women worldwide are in US prisons, and 80 percent of those women are mothers. The US prison system is not equipped to provide basic health care to these women and must adapt quickly to ensure basic human dignity and access to adequate health care for a growing population of women.