The Pathetic Story Of People Of African Descent

Whereas the Americas and Europe are usually associated with descent living, for people of African descent there, it is a different story.

In fact, their lives are characterized with poverty, and often, limited access to health services.

The submission has been made by an organisation that is positioned to know, the the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

The organisation says people of African descent are 2.5 times more likely to live in poverty and often face limited access to health services.

Speaking recently in commemoration of the International Day of People of African Descent, the Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, called for a change of scenario.

He appealed to countries of the Americas to promote, protect, and respect the rights of people of African descent, including their right to health.

A release by PAHO said approximately 210 million people of African descent live in the Americas, representing 20% of the population, observing however that the health needs of these groups are often neglected, leading to significant inequities.

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The release referred to a study published in 2021 on Afro-descendant populations in 18 Latin American countries which showed that people of African descent live in extremely unequal social and economic conditions that affect their health.

“These inequities are rooted in historical exclusion, racism, and discrimination, which contribute to poor health outcomes and perpetuate the precarious living conditions of a significant portion of this population,” the PAHO Director said in a video message to mark the International Day.

“PAHO is committed to improving the health, health equity, and well-being of people of African descent in the Americas,” he added.

PAHO’s actions against racial health inequalities

To address these concerns, in 2017 PAHO Member States approved the first Policy on Ethnicity and Health, and in 2019 the Strategy and Plan of Action on Ethnicity and Health 2019-2025.

PAHO said that through their implementation, it provides technical support to countries to reduce inequalities and eliminate barriers in access to health services for people of African descent.

“Recently, PAHO organized three subregional consultations on health equity with Afro-descendants and, together with the Government of Brazil, a regional event on ethnic and racial health inequalities.

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The recommendations emerging from these meetings underscore the importance of generating evidence, exchanging good practices, adopting policies, empowering social participation, and recognizing ancestral knowledge to improve the health of this population group.

“On this Day, PAHO calls on its Member States to continue advancing the Strategy and Plan of Action on Ethnicity and Health,” Dr. Barbosa said in his message.

He reiterated the Organization’s commitment “to promoting an intersectoral and intercultural approach with a human rights, gender, and social determinants of health focus to achieve equity and well-being for all peoples in the Americas”, the release said.

The International Day of People of African Descent is observed every August 31