Washington View Community brings health equity out of the doctor’s office and into the community

By Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor
dbailey@afro.com 

The Washington View community in Southeast Washington D.C., with its majestic views of the city’s landscape below, has a new distinction. It serves as D.C.’s Ground Zero for a national health initiative launched in 11 cities designed to change the channel on negative health outcomes in communities of color throughout the United States. 

Bank of America donated $25 million to establish a partnership between The American Diabetes Association (ADA), The American Heart Association (AHA), The American Cancer Society (ACC) and The University of Michigan School of Public Health (U of M).  The three major health organizations and U of M are challenging 11 cities to engage new approaches to combat health inequities based on connecting with Black, Brown, Asian and Indian Americans who are at risk and dying at disproportionate rates from heart disease, cancer, diabetes and stroke.  

The national partnership is called the Collaboration for Equitable Health. The D.C. chapter has targeted parts of Wards 5, 7, and 8 for interventions designed to bring health prevention and intervention strategies out of the doctor’s office and right into the community over the next two years, according to Malaika Hill, director of Healthy Equity and Community Impact. 

“The risk of diabetes, heart disease and cancer in this community are disproportionately high in relation to the rest of the city,” said Hill. 

Data from the Centers for Disease Control confirm that the prevalence of diabetes in Ward 8 is almost twice as high as the city average of 7.7 percent. 

“The reason why we chose Washington View is because we knew we would have an expansive reach. We could connect with everyone from youth to our elderly citizens,” Hill said, adding that 10 percent of Washington View’s population consisted of persons 65 or older.   

D.C.’s Chapter of Black Nurses Rock are key partners in the multi-agency health initiative and will literally set up an office in the Washington View neighborhood to bring health screenings right to the doorstep of many in the community, according to  Perina Gaines, BSN, RN, president of the Black Nurses Rock’s D.C., Maryland and Virginia chapter.

“The goal is to help the community enhance their knowledge about health care,” Gaines said. Our nurses have started meeting with residents in Washington View, knocking on doors, and connecting person-to-person to get to know residents,” Gaines said. 

“Ward 8 has the highest instances of diabetes and diabetes is closely linked with heart health issues. Blood pressure issues link with kidney disease and many other health issues,” she added.  

The nurses have started twice weekly health screenings and information sessions in a residential unit at 2683 Douglas Street S.E. Neighbors can come right to the Black Nurses Rock apartment to speak to a nurse for office hours – instead of an office or building from home. 

The D.C. Collaborative for Health Equity will be hosting regular screenings in the Washington View Community. The kick off event, held April 27 in the parking lot on Douglas Ave., introduced the community to the ongoing presence the nurses will have in the neighborhood. 

While the on again, off again rain kept a huge crowd away, scores of residents, like teen twins Andrain and Andrea Bland were excited about the partnership coming to their apartment complex and were on board to serve as the new generation of health ambassadors.  

“This is something new. Something I can learn about,” said Bland. “ I think this is helpful and I’m going to start coming to the meetings.”

“My grandmother has diabetes, but it can stop with me,” she continued. “I’m going to help get more kids out to have fun at events like this and tag my sister along with me,” Bland concluded as her sister nodded in agreement. Then the twins turned to join other youth in line for hot, fresh popcorn. 

In addition to Washington D.C. The Collaboration for Equitable Health is active in Albuquerque, N.M; Atlanta; Charlotte; Denver; Detroit; Memphis, Tenn.; Philadelphia; San Antonio and St. Louis. 

This article is the second in a series  written with the support of a journalism fellowship from the Gerontology Society of America, the Journalists Network on Generations and the Commonwealth Fund.