In Chicago, Illinois, three major health issues are affecting the community; food insecurity, obesity, and drug abuse. The three are prevalent in poor neighborhoods due to lack of adequate health infrastructure. Additionally, there exist disparities that fuel these health issues in the various parts of the city. Chicago being the seat of the Illinois state, presents a cocktail of different disparities prompted by inequalities when it comes to the distribution of resources (Orsi, Margellos-Anast, & Whitman, 2010). As such, poor minorities continue to be the vulnerable populaces that are forced to put up with the challenges emanating with the inept health system.
In cognizance of health challenges facing the city, in 2016 the Healthy Chicago 2.0 was forged to boost conversation around health as well as strategic collaborations in boosting health equity for all parts of the city. The initiative also seeks not only to enhance community engagement but also root causes of health, and reduction of health-related burden. The collaborative efforts have seen the city and the mayor’s office engage on how to pinpoint preventive measures that can be used to improve the state of health. One of the significant resources that the city has enjoyed over the years is the robust health data collection system made possible through the existence of platforms such as Health Atlas. According to the Chicago Health Atlas website, through collaborative efforts with the Department of Public Health, health-related data has been collected over time across a spectrum of health issues that affect the Chicago residents (Chicago Health Atlas, 2019). The information has been instrumental in aiding other non-governmental organizations in their efforts to engage the communities on health-related matters.
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To counter the health issues mentioned above, the city has fostered ties with the community and health organizations to institute strategies to ensure that the city’s residents acquire the necessary aid and information. Food insecurity, as a health issue, with over 1000 low-income Chicago residents identified to be living in neighborhoods that were not food secure. One of the initiatives founded to counter this was a citywide plan dubbed “A Recipe for Healthy Places” (Sweeney, 2017). The said initiative supports healthy eating, promotes the farming of healthy foods, funding of the establishment of health food outlets. The program has seen linkages between poor communities and healthy food suppliers. The program fosters healthy eating, which in turn aids in the fight against lifestyle diseases such as obesity that are prevalent in Chicago.
Rehabilitation centers have increased over time where many affected Chicago residents have been taken over time. Additionally, through collaborative efforts with other entities, the Chicago civic leadership has been keen on preventive strategies against drug abuse such as public sensitization through the media, community mobilization, and engagements (Orsi, Margellos-Anast, & Whitman, 2010). The Drug Enforcement Agency has also been pulled in fighting the health problem proactively. However, they strongly incline towards prescription drug abuse that has been rampant in Chicago. The DEA has designed a class for providers dubbed “Prescription Drug Updates and Medical Providers Safeguards,” which is ardent on countering drug abuse and drug cartels fueling the problem in the first place (Chicago Medical Society, 2018).
In conclusion, Chicago continues to face health challenges due to the inequalities that exist in neighborhoods. Many poor neighborhoods are faced by challenges brought about due to lack of adequate public amenities such as hospitals, security, and schools. However, the city of Chicago has been at the forefront in trying to reverse these trends. It has fueled engagements and collaborations, particularly areas surrounding food insecurity, obesity, and drug abuse. All these deliberate efforts are essential, particularly in city neighborhoods that have been traditionally associated with alienation from the vital health services. The Chicago health problems mirror common challenges faced in many states that are riddled with inequalities.
References
Chicago Health Atlas. (2019). Chicago health atlas . Retrieved from https://www.chicagohealthatlas.org/
Chicago Medical Society. (2018). Fighting opioid abuse in Chicago . Retrieved from http://www.cmsdocs.org/news/fighting-opioid-abuse-in-chicago
Orsi, J. M., Margellos-Anast, H., & Whitman, S. (2010). Black–White Health Disparities in the United States and Chicago: A 15-Year Progress Analysis. American Journal of Public Health , 100 (2), 349-356. doi:10.2105/ajph.2009.165407
Sweeney, B. (2017, March 23). The horrifying health stats on Chicago's poorest neighborhoods . Retrieved from https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170323/NEWS03/170329937/sinai-urban-health-study-on-chicago-s-poorest-neighborhoods
