Equal Hope fights breast cancer disparity on West Side – Austin Weekly News

Report on Equal Hope’s Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals in Chicago

Executive Summary

This report details the activities of Equal Hope, a Chicago-based organization, and analyzes its impact on several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The organization’s primary mission is to eliminate health disparities, with a significant focus on breast and reproductive cancer mortality rates among Black women. Its work directly contributes to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 5 (Gender Equality) through targeted community outreach, education, and direct service provision.

Analysis of Health Disparities and Alignment with SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

Equal Hope’s work is centered on addressing the significant inequality in health outcomes, a core target of SDG 10. The disparity in female breast cancer mortality rates in Chicago is a clear indicator of this inequality.

• West Garfield Park: Mortality rate of over 41 per 100,000 women.
• North Lawndale: Mortality rate of 33.5 per 100,000 women.
• Austin: Mortality rate of nearly 26 per 100,000 women.

In contrast, nearby areas report mortality rates that are half as high (12-14 per 100,000 women). By focusing its efforts on these high-disparity neighborhoods, Equal Hope directly targets the reduction of inequalities in health access and outcomes. The organization’s success in helping reduce the breast cancer death disparity for Black women in Chicago from 62% to 32% by 2017 is a measurable achievement toward SDG 10.

Strategies for Achieving SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

Equal Hope employs a multi-faceted strategy to promote health and well-being, directly aligning with the targets of SDG 3. The organization’s model is built on research, policy, and direct community-level intervention.

Community Health Worker Program

The use of Community Health Workers (CHWs) is a cornerstone of the organization’s strategy to ensure access to quality essential health-care services.

1. Education and Outreach: CHWs engage directly with residents in high-disparity areas to provide information on preventative care and available resources.
2. Service Navigation: They connect community members to a range of essential health services, contributing to universal health coverage goals.
3. Barrier Removal: CHWs address socio-economic barriers that impede health access, such as lack of transportation and financial constraints, which disproportionately affect low-income populations (many clients earn under $20,000 annually).
4. Building Trust: Consistent and repeated engagement builds the trust necessary to encourage participation in preventative health programs.

Comprehensive Health Services

The services facilitated by Equal Hope are critical for achieving SDG 3 targets related to non-communicable diseases and reproductive health.

• Breast and cervical cancer screenings (mammograms).
• HPV and Covid vaccinations.
• Blood pressure and diabetes checks.
• Connection to primary care physicians and mental health facilities.

The emphasis on HPV vaccination is particularly noteworthy, as it aligns with global strategies to eradicate cervical cancer, a key goal for women’s health under SDG 3 and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).

Future Outlook and Commitment to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Equal Hope’s strategic initiatives demonstrate a long-term commitment to building sustainable and healthy communities.

• Wellness West Project: A targeted initiative to close the health care gap on Chicago’s West Side by connecting over 80 residents per month to a network of health and social services.
• Sankofa Wellness Village: The organization’s planned relocation to this new facility in West Garfield Park physically embeds its services within the community it serves most intensely, fostering an inclusive and accessible health ecosystem. This move strengthens community infrastructure and supports the vision of SDG 11.

By integrating its operations within the community fabric, Equal Hope is helping to build a more resilient and equitable urban health landscape, ensuring that vulnerable populations are not left behind.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

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

The article highlights issues that are directly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus on health disparities, access to healthcare, and inequality aligns with the following SDGs:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The core of the article is about addressing breast and reproductive cancer, reducing mortality rates, and providing access to essential health services like screenings, vaccinations, and primary care.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The article’s central theme is the disparity in breast cancer mortality rates between Black and white women in Chicago. Equal Hope’s mission is to address and reduce this specific inequality based on race and location.
• SDG 1: No Poverty: The article connects health access to economic status, noting that “Most of our clients are making under $20,000 a year.” By providing free services and transportation, the organization addresses the financial barriers that prevent low-income individuals from accessing healthcare.

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, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. 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.” The article directly addresses this by focusing on reducing deaths from breast cancer, a non-communicable disease. The work of Equal Hope, through education and providing access to screenings and treatment, is a clear effort to lower premature mortality.
   • Target 3.8: “Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.” The article details how Equal Hope provides “free breast cancer and reproductive cancer services,” connects people to “cervical, mammograms, Covid and HPV vaccines,” helps them find a “primary care doctor,” and provides “free transportation to get to appointments.” This directly contributes to achieving universal health coverage for the vulnerable populations they serve.

2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.” Equal Hope’s mission began specifically “to address the disparity in breast cancer deaths between Black and white women in Chicago.” Their outreach targets communities with significant Black and Brown populations who have historically had less access to healthcare, thereby promoting inclusion in health systems.
   • Target 10.3: “Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome…” The article highlights a significant inequality of outcome: the higher mortality rate from breast cancer in Black women. By providing education and access to high-quality care, Equal Hope works to reduce this specific inequality of outcome.

3. SDG 1: No Poverty

   • Target 1.3: “Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable.” The article states that Equal Hope’s services ensure clients have support “that’s not going to break their bank.” Providing free health services and transportation acts as a social protection measure for low-income individuals, preventing health issues from causing further financial hardship.

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

The article mentions several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

1. Indicators for SDG 3

   • Mortality Rate from Cancer (Indicator 3.4.1): The article provides specific data points for this indicator, stating that in West Garfield Park, the female breast cancer mortality rate is “over 41 of every 100,000 women,” while in other neighborhoods, it is as low as “12-to-14 of every 100,000 women.” Tracking this rate over time is a direct measure of progress.
   • Coverage of Essential Health Services (Indicator 3.8.1): While not providing a total number, the article implies this indicator through the description of services. Progress could be measured by the number of women receiving mammogram or cervical screenings, the number of people receiving HPV vaccinations, and the number of individuals connected to a primary care physician. The article notes that one worker, John Tate, “checks in with over 80 West Siders a month,” suggesting a metric for service coverage.

2. Indicators for SDG 10

   • Reduction in Health Disparity by Race: A key indicator mentioned is the reduction of the disparity in breast cancer mortality. The article states that Equal Hope helped reduce the disparity “from 62% to 32% for Black women” in 2017. This percentage gap between racial groups is a powerful indicator of progress toward reducing inequality.

3. Indicators for SDG 1

   • Proportion of Population Covered by Social Protection (Indicator 1.3.1): The article implies this by identifying the target demographic as those “making under $20,000 a year.” An indicator of progress would be the number or proportion of these low-income individuals who receive free health services, screenings, and transportation support through Equal Hope’s programs.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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