On April 3 UConn School of Medicine’s Dr. Linda Barry helped the State of Connecticut kick off its first Health Equity Week, which runs the first week of April. This marks the first year of official recognition of Health Equity Week by the state which was recently codified in state statute.

Barry joined State Comptroller Sean Scanlon, Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, and other health advocates and policymakers at Charter Oak Family Health Center where Comptroller Scanlon announced that he is forming the Comptroller’s Healthcare Cabinet, a collaborative working group comprised of healthcare professionals and advocates who will inform the future legislative and policy recommendations related to key healthcare issues such as access and affordability.

“Healthcare is a human right, but the kind and quality of care far too many people in our state receive is still based on who they are and what zip code they live in,” said Comptroller Sean Scanlon. “That’s wrong and must change. As Comptroller and administrator of the state’s largest health plan, I won’t stop pushing for change until every Connecticut resident has access to the healthcare they deserve.”

“Health Equity Week signifies a commitment to rectify the components of the healthcare system that contribute to the inequities in health outcomes. Year after year, the same chronic diseases affect the same communities which are often defined by race, ethnicity and/or socioeconomic status,” said Dr. Linda Barry, Interim Director of the UConn Health Disparities Institute. “The UConn Health Disparities Institute looks forward to working with partners in the community, as well as state and local leaders, to make health equity the reality for all of Connecticut.”

“Health Equity Week is an opportunity to focus attention on how much work we have to do to expand access to healthcare and to address the underlying causes of health disparities in our communities, and it’s also a time to spread the word about the resources that are available to families right now,” said Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin. “This week, health equity organizations are hosting info-sessions about how to sign up for HUSKY health and how to take advantage of primary care, including at community-based health centers like Charter Oak Health Center. I want to thank Comptroller Scanlon, our General Assembly, and most of all, the nonprofits, advocates, and healthcare workers who work every day to build healthier communities.”

Learn more and view a full recording of the Health Equity Week event here.