A local nonprofit organization, Distant Relatives, has stepped up to address the stark health care disparities faced by residents in Washington D.C.’s underserved areas, particularly in Wards 7 and 8. The initiative aims to provide crucial health care screening services to those struggling to access quality care in the nation’s capital.
Every fourth Saturday of the month, Distant Relatives sets up in McPherson Square Park at 10:30 a.m., offering advanced physical examinations typically available only in hospitals. William Asiedu, the organization’s president and founder, emphasized their goal: “Our goal is increasing health care accessibility and also connecting people with free resources to get the screenings or whatever they may need.”
The nonprofit has forged strategic partnerships to expand its impact. Collaborating with Whitman-Walker Health, they provide HIV and sexually transmitted disease (STD) screenings. Additionally, they work alongside Howard University’s Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) to deliver comprehensive health care support to the community.
This initiative comes at a critical time, as life expectancy disparities between D.C.’s wards highlight the urgent need for intervention. Georgetown University’s report reveals a staggering 15-year gap in life expectancy between residents of Ward 3 (87 years) and Ward 8 (72 years).
Yvonne Commodore-Mensah, an associate dean at Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Equity, underscored the importance of such community-based efforts: “We know that community health workers can be deployed and we learned through the COVID-19 pandemic that community health workers can be deployed to tackle health crises.”
By bringing health services directly to underserved communities, Distant Relatives is working to bridge the gap in health care access and address the social determinants of health that disproportionately impact communities of color in Washington D.C.
“How Race and Income Drive Unequal Access to Care in Wards 7 and 8” (September 30, 2024)
