Virgin Islands Delegate to Congress Donna Christian-Christensen gave the keynote address at the Opening Breakfast on International Day on health care for the National Black Caucus of State Legislators 24th Annual Legislative Conference being held this week in Charlotte, North Carolina. Christensen, a physician, who chairs the Congressional Black Caucus's Health Braintrust, spoke to the conference of African American legislators from across the country, including the U.S. Virgin Islands on Tuesday morning, on how the lack of equity and access in health care has hurt people of color around the globe from Africa to the Caribbean to the minority communities of the United States. Noting that HIV/AIDS is the biggest threat to the health and well being of people of color across the globe, Christensen also pointed to the devastation that heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes and preventable accidents have as well. "Our ability to close the gaps, eliminate the disparities, and achieve good health depends on all of the factors upon which the equity and access we seek is built," Christensen said. She spoke of the CBC partnership with national and international community groups which has netted more funds in the US and proposed new funding for Africa and the Caribbean to fight HIV/AIDS. "Because of this virus, and because of our lack of resources to effectively address it, the economies of Africa and the island nations of the Caribbean, and of our communities here, are clearly at stake."
Christensen told the legislators that the success of conquering the pandemic depends on collaboration. "There are excellent surveillance systems in Africa that could work here, there is data on the effect of cultural factors in the Caribbean that could enlighten U.S. research and practice, and there are programs that work in communities of color, here or elsewhere, with similar infrastructure deficiencies, that might be a model that our brothers and sisters in either place could use." Christensen stated that while her support is with Vice-President Al Gore, no matter who the new occupant of the White House is, that the health care needs of people of color has to remain at the forefront of the national agenda. "We will continue our initiative, here and abraod, and we will continue on the path we have charted to reach our goal of equity in health status, and full access to quality health services." She urged the state legislators who are "closer to the ground" to "keep the heat on us so that we don't lose our focus." Christensen was introduced at the conference by fellow Virgin Islander, Senator George Goodwin. Also in attendance were Senators Donald Cole, Adelbert Bryan and Almando Liburd
