Report on Community Health Initiative and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A community wellness event was held in Charlottesville, Virginia, on July 19, providing free health checkups for women. Organized as a partnership between UVA Health and the Chihamba arts and culture group, the initiative focused on making preventive care more accessible and addressing health disparities, particularly among Black women. This report analyzes the event’s direct contributions to several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), facilitated through SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Alignment with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The event’s core mission was to promote health and well-being by providing essential services and information, directly supporting the targets of SDG 3.

• Preventive Care and Screenings: By offering free checkups, the initiative worked to reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment (Target 3.4). Jacklene Martin, UVA Health Director of Community Partnerships, noted the critical need for early diagnosis, stating, “The data is very clear. Black women have either the worst outcomes when we have some sort of disease, or we are late getting it diagnosed.”
• Access to Healthcare: The event lowered barriers to healthcare access, a foundational component of achieving universal health coverage (Target 3.8).
• Health Education: Organizers emphasized the importance of conversation as a first step toward healing. Dr. Joann Pinkerton of UVA’s Midlife Center stated, “Sometimes if you can just talk about it, then we just really encourage you to make that appointment and then keep the appointment.”

Addressing SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

The initiative placed significant emphasis on empowering women and tackling systemic health inequities, which aligns with the principles of SDG 5 and SDG 10.

Key Focus Areas:

1. Gender Equality (SDG 5): The event was designed for women, recognizing that their health is often neglected as they care for others. By prioritizing women’s health, the initiative empowers them with the knowledge and resources to take control of their own well-being, which in turn strengthens their families and communities.
2. Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10): The explicit focus on addressing the health disparities faced by Black women is a direct action toward reducing inequalities within a community. Dr. Pinkerton highlighted that cultural context is a significant factor in seeking care, and events like this create culturally competent spaces that build trust and encourage engagement from marginalized groups.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals and Community Impact

The collaboration between a major healthcare provider (UVA Health) and a local cultural organization (Chihamba) exemplifies the multi-stakeholder partnerships (SDG 17) necessary to achieve sustainable development.

• Building Trust: This partnership model helps build trust between medical institutions and the communities they serve, which is essential for effective public health outcomes.
• Community-Wide Impact: The event’s strategy extends beyond individual health. As Dr. Pinkerton noted, educating women has a multiplier effect: “If we could educate women, and they take that information back to their family and their friends and their community, it’ll really start to increase the health of our community.”

The ultimate goal of the initiative is to create a sustainable cycle of health awareness and action, thereby advancing community well-being and ensuring that progress on health is both equitable and inclusive.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights several issues that are directly connected to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The entire initiative is centered on providing “health checkups for free,” “making preventive care more accessible,” and promoting health through “screenings, checkups, and conversations.” The goal is to improve health outcomes and encourage women to “take the time to take care of ourselves.”

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  The event specifically targets women, aiming to empower them by addressing their unique health challenges and societal roles. The article notes, “A lot of times we’re so busy taking care of everyone else, we don’t take the time to take care of ourselves,” highlighting a gender-specific barrier to healthcare. By focusing on women’s health and education, the initiative aims to empower them, which in turn benefits the entire community, as stated by Dr. Pinkerton: “If we could educate women, and they take that information back to their family… it’ll really start to increase the health of our community.”

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  A core focus of the event is “addressing health disparities, especially among Black women.” The article explicitly points out the inequality in health outcomes, citing data that “Black women have either the worst outcomes when we have some sort of disease, or we are late getting it diagnosed.” The initiative is a direct action to reduce this inequality by providing accessible care and building trust within a specific racial and gender demographic.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The event is a collaborative effort, demonstrating the importance of partnerships to achieve health and equality goals. The article mentions that “UVA Health and the African American arts and culture group Chihamba, hosted a wellness event” at “Mount Zion First African Baptist Church.” This represents a multi-stakeholder partnership between a healthcare institution, a cultural group, and a community-based religious organization.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the activities and goals described in the article, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Under SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
     
     Explanation: The event’s focus on “preventive care,” “screenings,” and “checkups” is a direct strategy to prevent diseases or catch them early. The advice to “address them before they have some type of crisis” aligns perfectly with preventing premature mortality from NCDs.
   • Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services…for all.
     
     Explanation: The article states that women were able to get “health checkups for free.” This directly addresses the financial barriers to healthcare and improves “access to quality essential health-care services” for the community.

2. Under SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.
     
     Explanation: The initiative tackles the systemic health disparities faced by Black women, which are a result of intersecting forms of discrimination based on gender and race. By providing targeted, culturally sensitive care, the event works to counteract these discriminatory outcomes.

3. Under SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social… inclusion of all, irrespective of… race, sex… or other status.
     
     Explanation: The event is designed to empower and include Black women in the healthcare system. While “open to everyone,” the article emphasizes that the “message to Black women was critical,” aiming to include a group that faces significant health disparities.
   • Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome…
     
     Explanation: The stated purpose is to address the fact that “Black women have either the worst outcomes when we have some sort of disease, or we are late getting it diagnosed.” The event is a direct action aimed at reducing this “inequality of outcome.”

4. Under SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…
     
     Explanation: The collaboration between UVA Health (a major health system), Chihamba (a civil society cultural group), and Mount Zion First African Baptist Church (a civil society community organization) is a clear example of the effective civil society and public-private partnerships this target aims to promote.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention official SDG indicators, but it implies several metrics that could be used to measure the success and impact of the initiative:

1. For SDG 3 Targets:

   • Number of women attending the event: The article mentions the goal was “to get more women in for screenings, checkups, and conversations about their health.” Counting the participants is a direct measure of reach.
   • Number of screenings and checkups performed: This is a direct output indicator for preventive care services provided.
   • Health metrics collected (“know what your numbers are”): Progress could be tracked by the number of women who learn their key health indicators (e.g., blood pressure, cholesterol), which is the first step to managing them.

2. For SDG 10 Targets:

   • Data on health outcomes disaggregated by race and gender: The article explicitly refers to this type of data: “Look at the data… Black women have either the worst outcomes… or we are late getting it diagnosed.” A key indicator of progress would be a reduction in these disparities over time.
   • Rate of late-stage diagnosis among Black women: A reduction in the rate of late diagnoses for various diseases within this demographic would be a powerful indicator of the success of such preventive health initiatives.

3. For SDG 17 Targets:

   • Number and type of organizations involved in the partnership: The article identifies three distinct partners (healthcare, cultural, religious). This serves as an indicator of a multi-stakeholder partnership in action.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: 29news.com