Report on the “Walk USA for Health Equity” Campaign and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction to the Initiative

A national campaign, “Walk USA for Health Equity,” is underway to raise awareness of health disparities across the United States. The initiative is led by Dennis Godby, a 69-year-old naturopathic doctor, who is undertaking a multi-year, cross-country trek. The current stage involves a 750-mile walk from Fargo, North Dakota, to Bozeman, Montana. This effort highlights systemic issues preventing equitable health outcomes, directly aligning with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Addressing SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The campaign’s primary focus is on achieving universal health coverage and ensuring healthy lives for all, a core tenet of SDG 3. The walk specifically draws attention to barriers that compromise this goal, particularly in rural areas.

• Healthcare Provider Shortages: The initiative highlights critical shortages in primary care doctors, dentists, and mental health providers. It was noted that in North Dakota, 46 out of 53 counties are federally designated as having a shortage of medical professionals.
• Lack of Health Insurance: Testimonies gathered during the walk indicate that a lack of health insurance is a primary and common barrier to accessing necessary medical care.
• Geographic Barriers: The physical distance to healthcare facilities in rural regions presents a significant challenge to receiving timely and consistent care.

Promoting SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

The campaign fundamentally advocates for the reduction of inequalities within and among communities, which is the central mission of SDG 10. Mr. Godby emphasizes that a person’s health should not be determined by their social or economic circumstances. The walk exposes several root causes of health inequity:

• Poverty and Discrimination: These factors are identified as significant contributors to the lack of health equity, creating systemic disadvantages.
• Food Deserts: The inability to access nutritious food directly impacts health outcomes, creating disparities between communities.
• Inadequate Public Infrastructure: A lack of safe and accessible public spaces for physical activity, such as walking, contributes to health inequalities.

Highlighting Interconnected SDGs

The issues raised by the campaign demonstrate the interconnected nature of the SDGs. Achieving health equity requires a multi-faceted approach that also addresses:

• SDG 1 (No Poverty): Poverty is consistently cited as a primary driver of poor health outcomes.
• SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): Addressing food deserts is crucial for ensuring access to safe and nutritious food.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Creating inclusive and safe public spaces and infrastructure is essential for community health and well-being.

Campaign Logistics and Progression

The multi-stage journey is a significant physical undertaking designed to maximize public engagement and awareness across a broad geographic area.

1. Phase One (2022): The walk commenced in Myrtle Beach, SC, and progressed through North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
2. Current Phase: The campaign is currently focused on the 750-mile route from Fargo, ND, to Bozeman, MT.
3. Final Phase (Planned): The cross-country journey is scheduled to conclude with a final leg from Bozeman, MT, to Seattle, WA.

• Daily Progress: The walk averages 26 miles per day, which involves 8 to 11 hours of walking and equates to approximately 60,000 steps.

1. SDGs Addressed or Connected to the Issues

The article highlights several issues that are directly and indirectly connected to the following Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: This is the central theme of the article, focusing on health disparities, access to healthcare services, and the overall well-being of communities, particularly in rural areas.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The campaign “Walk USA for Health Equity” explicitly targets inequalities. The article mentions discrimination and poverty as reasons for the lack of health equity, which directly aligns with this goal.
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: The mention of “food deserts” connects the issue of health equity to food security and access to nutritious food, which is the core of SDG 2.

2. Specific Targets Under Identified SDGs

Based on the article’s content, the following specific targets can be identified:

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services… for all. The article directly addresses this by highlighting the lack of health insurance as a common issue and the shortage of healthcare providers (doctors, dentists) in rural counties, which are barriers to accessing essential services.
• Target 3.4: …promote mental health and well-being. The article specifically points out the shortage of “mental health providers” in 46 out of 53 counties in North Dakota, indicating a direct challenge to achieving this target.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… economic or other status. The article’s focus on “health equity” and ensuring “everybody should have a fair chance” regardless of poverty directly relates to promoting inclusion and reducing health-related inequalities.
• Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome… The campaign aims to raise awareness about health inequalities that result from factors like poverty and discrimination, which aligns with the goal of reducing inequalities of outcome.

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people… to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round. The article’s mention of “food deserts” as a reason for a lack of health equity points to this target, as food deserts are areas with limited access to affordable and nutritious food.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied

The article mentions or implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress:

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• Indicator related to 3.c.1 (Health worker density and distribution): The article provides a specific statistic: “46 out of 53 counties are designated by the federal government as short on primary doctors, doctors of all kinds, dentists, mental health providers.” This is a direct measure of health worker distribution and shortage.
• Indicator related to 3.8.1 (Coverage of essential health services): The statement that the most common issue people experience is “not having health insurance” serves as a qualitative indicator of the population not covered by essential health services and facing financial barriers to care.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• The article implies indicators by referencing the causes of inequality, such as “poverty” and “discrimination.” While not providing specific data, it identifies these as factors contributing to health disparities, which could be measured through income-level health statistics or surveys on discrimination in healthcare settings.

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• Indicator related to 2.1.2 (Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity…): The term “food deserts” is a direct, though qualitative, indicator of a lack of access to nutritious food. The prevalence and location of food deserts can be mapped and measured to track progress on this target.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: kfyrtv.com