Imperative in the News

A lot of progress has taken place over the past 100 years, but none has been as central to improving the lives of women and their families as access to safe and effective reproductive health care. Ironically, in many communities, we are still fighting to gain access to such basic care.

Today March 26, 2013, the Imperative acknowledges American Diabetes Association Alert Day!.  Alert Day! is a one day “wake up call” to encourage everyone to learn more about seriousness of diabetes, explore your family health history, and find out you can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.

On February 28, 2013,  women's health warrior, Gwen Braxton was laid to rest.

Veteran women’s health advocate, Eleanor Hinton Hoytt, President and CEO of the Black Women’s Health Imperative, told PRA: “This is the first time we have the evidence to definitively state: Black people support the full range of reproductive rights including abortion. The study also makes clear, regardless of class status, the majority of African-Americans believe that public funding should be available for abortion care.”

Since 1974, Byllye Avery has been a leader dedicated to improving the health and welfare of African-American women and girls. Vision 2020 honors Avery for representing its National Goal of women in senior leadership positions.

The Black Women’s Health Imperative mourns the loss of L.Alyce M. Ingram, who was lovingly referred to as “GiGi” by her close friends and family. She is survived by her children and their families: Byllye Avery,(Ngina Lythcott), Rev. David Reddick, (Allie Reddick), and Rev. Donna Reddick. Her son Quitman predeceased her in 1990.

“We as people, we as black women, we as women are not destined to be sick, we are not destined to die prematurely, and not destined to live a life of neglect, disrespect, and dishonor, and we are not destined to be in denial about our health,” said President and CEO, Eleanor Hinton Hoytt.

No one can reach their full potential if they are not healthy in both mind and body. As women who have devoted our lives to health care and in particular, to black women’s health, we are celebrating Black History Month by continuing to fight for the healthiest generation yet. We know firsthand why it’s critical for women and men in the — American community to have access to preventive health care services, and we are determined to move our country closer to a health care system that treats all people with dignity and provides affordable, high-quality care for all. These are the promises of the Affordable Care Act.