I’m sure you’ve seen the 2020 United States Census signs popping up everywhere, urging everyone to participate. In a few days, households will be receiving their official Census Bureau surveys.
Why is it important that we participate?
Have you ever seen a patient unable to receive the best possible care because of social factors? I have. The patient who couldn’t quite make it to her appointments; didn’t quite understand the extent of her disease? Didn’t pick up the phone, didn’t contact us, didn’t follow up.
A lot of social factors directly affect the care of our patient. The Arab American population has typically been under-represented, because Middle East/North Africa (MENA) did not and still does not have a box to check on the national census. It is so important to get representation. Our numbers determine our political representation and federal funding for education, health care, and language assistance.
There is apprehension that the data will be used to discriminate against people of Arab descent. There is anger that the MENA category was not included in the census, even after years of advocacy. It is vital, nonetheless, for everyone to participate. Unfortunately, those who are the most vulnerable, who have the most to gain, are the ones most likely not to.
So this Census, please, be an advocate and help your neighbors, your relatives, those who are isolated, who can’t read, to get their census in.
#2020Census #RepresentationMatters
Thank you,
Leila Hajjar, MD, MHSA, FACOG
President, NAAMA-MI