Health

OP-ED: “Health Care is A Human Right”

Published

9 years ago

November 4, 2015

Oakland Post

By Beatrice Sanchez

It’s been three years since I lost the most important person in my life.

My mother passed away from congestive heart failure in a nursing home in Oakland. She was only 55.

<p>

I was seven years old when my mother wound up in the emergency room in a coma for two months before miraculously waking up. The doctors diagnosed her with type 2 diabetes, a disease that could have been prevented if caught earlier.

Running to and from the emergency room is no way to manage diabetes, but she was undocumented. If she’d had access to preventive services through affordable health care, regardless of her immigration status, my mother would still be with me today.

Unfortunately, my family’s story is not unique.

Since living in the U.S., we always used over-the-counter medicines for illnesses and would only go to the hospital in an extreme emergency. Benadryl became our go-to medicine – not enough for illnesses like diabetes.

In 2004, my mother slipped on an uneven bathroom floor and broke her ankle. Unable to work, the medical bills piled up.

Just when I thought things were getting better, in 2012, my mother and I were hit by a car as we crossed the street. I stood up and turned to see my mother lying hurt on the ground, tears running down my face, knowing no amount of Benadryl would rid her of the pain.

This year, my mother’s life was celebrated at a unique altar in Los Angeles for the annual Dia De Los Muertos festival at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

In the final years of my mother’s life, I felt helpless and hopeless. There was little I could do to help the woman who spent her life supporting me and my brother, working back-breaking hours as a domestic worker.

But, I have hope for solutions that can’t come soon enough – locally in Contra Costa County where supervisors are considering funding expanded health care for families like mine, and similar conversations happening around California.

Last year, I became one of the tens of thousands of Californians granted deferred action status through President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. I can now access Medi-Cal and get the care I need before it becomes an emergency.

California also just adopted a state budget that opens up Medi-Cal to all children, regardless of their immigration status.

These are enormous steps in the fight for health for all, and it’s a fight most Californians already support. A recent Field Poll found a growing majority of California voters back the idea of expanding Medi-Cal access to undocumented immigrants.

Even with the recent steps taken to expand access to affordable, quality health care in California, more than a million people could still wind up like my mom because they continue to be locked out.

My mother’s death should not be in vain, and I won’t stop fighting until everyone gets access to health care.

No matter where you were born, we’re all human. And health care is a human right.

Beatrice Sanchez is undocumented and unafraid. She is an activist leader at ASPIRE, Asian Students Promoting Immigrant Rights through Education.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

Fewer Black Men Apply to Medical School Than in 1978

Don't Miss

OP-ED: Oakland Homeowners May Qualify for Property Tax Exemptions

Oakland Post

Click to comment

Activism

LIVE! — TOWN HALL ON RACISM AND ITS IMPACT — THURS. 11.14.24 5PM PST

Join us for a LIVE Virtual Town Hall on the Impact of Racism hosted by Post News Group Journalist Carla Thomas and featuring Oakland, CA NAACP President Cynthia Adams & other Special Guests.
Thursday, November 14, 2024, 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. PST

Published

5 days ago

November 12, 2024

Oakland Post

Discussion Topics:
• Since the pandemic, what battles have the NAACP fought nationally, and how have they impacted us locally?
• What trends are you seeing concerning Racism? Is it more covert or overt?
• What are the top 5 issues resulting from racism in our communities?
• How do racial and other types of discrimination impact local communities?
• What are the most effective ways our community can combat racism and hate?

Your questions and comments will be shared LIVE with the moderators and viewers during the broadcast.

STREAMED LIVE!
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/PostNewsGroup
YOUTUBE: youtube.com/blackpressusatv
X: twitter.com/blackpressusa

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

NAACP California-Hawaii State Convention Highlights Black Voter Engagement, and More

A Friday panel featuring NAACP Chairman Leon W. Russell and Regina Wilson, Executive Director of California Black Media, examined Project 2025, an initiative perceived as a potential threat to civil rights, healthcare access, and environmental protection. This session emphasized Project 2025’s projected impact on Black communities, noting that policies within the initiative could diminish gains in civil and environmental rights over decades. Russell and Wilson highlighted the need for vigilant monitoring and community mobilization to address these challenges.

Published

2 weeks ago

November 4, 2024

Oakland Post

NAACP State Conference President Rick Callender (right) engages in a discussion on voter engagement and community advocacy with NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson during the 37th NAACP California-Hawaii State Convention in Los Angeles. Photo by Rich Woods.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

The 37th NAACP California-Hawaii State Convention concluded on Sunday, Oct 27, following four days of discussions and workshops at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott. Bringing together civil rights leaders, policymakers, and advocates from California and Hawaii, the convention operated under the theme “All In.” The participants discussed critical issues impacting Black communities, including criminal justice reform, health equity, economic empowerment, education, environmental justice, and voting rights.

On Saturday, the President’s Fireside Chat brought together NAACP President Derrick Johnson and CA/HI State Conference President Rick Callender, who discussed the urgency of voter engagement and community advocacy.

Guest speakers included Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA-43), who spoke at the Women in NAACP (WIN) Labor Luncheon about the intersection of labor rights and civil rights. California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond delivered remarks at the Leadership Dinner on education equity, focusing on policies to ensure all students have access to high-quality education.

Honors were given to longtime social justice advocate and former Assemblymember Mike Davis for his work in community activism. At the same time, actor and activist Danny Glover and the Rev. Dr. Amos C. Brown received the 2024 Legacy Hall of Fame Awards, recognizing their lifelong commitments to advancing civil rights.

The convention also offered practical workshops, including “What’s On Your Ballot?,” where coalition leaders provided analyses of California propositions, explaining their potential impacts on community rights and resources. The Voter Turnout Workshop provided background and encouraged participants to promote voter turnout through community-centered outreach strategies.

Sunday’s events closed with a Prayer and Memorial Breakfast honoring the contributions of past and current civil rights leaders.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Atty Gen Bonta: U.S. Law Mandating Emergency Care to All Patients Faces Threats

The attorney general highlighted that EMTALA is vital for ensuring that no individual is turned away from emergency services based on financial status or insurance coverage. Bonta stated that the law has been a cornerstone of emergency healthcare for decades, providing peace of mind to millions of Americans who might otherwise hesitate to seek urgent medical attention due to cost concerns.

Published

2 weeks ago

November 3, 2024

Oakland Post

iStock

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

California Attorney General Rob Bonta emphasized the critical need to protect the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), mandating that hospitals provide emergency care to all patients regardless of their ability to pay.

In a recent statement, Bonta highlighted the potential threats to this essential legislation amid ongoing discussions about healthcare accessibility in the U.S.

“EMTALA ensures that no one is denied access to emergency medical care, including abortion care, and this federal law is more imperative than ever following the overturn of Roe v. Wade,” said Bonta.

This decision to support the federal government’s case comes at a time when many healthcare providers are facing pressure from rising costs and legislative changes that could undermine existing protections. Bonta called on lawmakers to reinforce EMTALA’s provisions and to combat any efforts aimed at weakening the act, asserting that equitable access to emergency care is a fundamental right.

He urged state and federal governments to ensure that all Americans, particularly marginalized communities, have the necessary access to emergency services without fear of financial repercussions. The brief indicates the coalition’s commitment to healthcare equity, emphasizing that maintaining strong protections under EMTALA is crucial for safeguarding public health.

As discussions around healthcare policy continue, Bonta remains steadfast in promoting initiatives that protect emergency care access, asserting that everyone deserves timely and appropriate medical treatment in emergencies. His efforts align with ongoing legal and advocacy battles to preserve the rights established by EMTALA in the face of evolving healthcare challenges.