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Illinois Unidos: A Community Demands Equity, Justice, and Inclusion
Marina Del Rios1, Aida Giachello1, Shaveta Khosla1
1Marina Del Rios, Shaveta Khosla, and Ruth Pobee are with the Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago. Aida Giachello is with the Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL. Geraldine Luna is with the Chicago Department of Public Health, Chicago. Pamela Vergara-Rodriguez is with the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, John H. Stroger Hospital, Cook County, Chicago. Noreen Sugrue is with the Latino Policy Forum, Chicago.
Early COVID-19 responses undercounted cases in Latino communities, leading to neglect and high mortality. Illinois Unidos mobilized to address these pandemic-driven health disparities in Illinois.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Equity
- Community Health
Background:
- COVID-19 pandemic revealed significant disparities in the Latino community.
- Underreporting of cases led to systemic neglect and disproportionately high infection, hospitalization, and death rates.
- Existing inequalities were exacerbated by the pandemic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the formation and work of Illinois Unidos.
- To address health inequalities faced by Latino communities during COVID-19.
- To highlight the need for targeted community mobilization and advocacy.
Main Methods:
- Community mobilization efforts.
- Health communication strategies.
- Advocacy and policy work.
- Response to COVID-19 inequalities.
Main Results:
- Illinois Unidos was established to combat disparities.
- The organization engaged in critical community-level interventions.
- Systematic neglect and underreporting were identified as key issues.
Conclusions:
- Targeted interventions are crucial for vulnerable populations.
- Community-led initiatives can address health inequities.
- Policy and advocacy are essential for mitigating pandemic-related disparities.
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