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As part of Respiratory Care Week, the Allergy & Asthma Network (AAN) and partners Sanofi and Self Care Catalysts will launch Not One More Life Trusted Messengers, a holistic project built on trust to address health inequities, increase access to important health information and screenings for people of color and improve long-term health outcomes, especially for those with respiratory conditions.
The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed health disparities and interconnected, systemic barriers faced by people of color, as evidenced by the disproportionate infection and death rates in these communities. These disparities can be observed at all ages, but are especially prevalent in younger age groups. Among those aged 45-54, Black and Hispanic/Latino death rates are at least six times higher than whites.[1]
To address this need, the Trusted Messengers project mobilizes leaders from the community, health advocacy and pharmaceutical organizations to drive community engagement, expand health care access and accelerate digital innovation in order to correct disparities in health that go well beyond COVID-19.
AAN piloted the Trusted Messengers project model in Atlanta, hosting screening events on September 19 and 26. “Hundreds of patients in Atlanta were screened for COVID-19, asthma, COPD and were able to consult with healthcare professionals,” said Keisha Lance Bottoms, Mayor of Atlanta. “It’s encouraging to see people coming out and getting tested, and to know that the Trusted Messengers project will continue to help them throughout their health journey.” The Trusted Messengers project includes a follow up 16-week digital intervention program, to help patients move from their initial screening through the continuum of care.
“Interconnected systemic inequities – such as housing, job types, levels of education, etc. – negatively impact the health of people of color,” said Tonya Winders, CEO of AAN. “There is an urgent need to act fast and act now, but the work we have to do to correct disparities in health goes well beyond COVID-19. It takes time to change systems, so in addition to taking action now, we must commit to long-term approaches that result in meaningful impact and the reduction of disparities.”
This Trusted Messengers project was informed by focused conversations with the medical community, including leading allergists, pulmonologists and Black American physicians on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Trusted Messengers project aims to restore trust and empower individuals to take charge of their health through three strategic pillars:
Drive Community Engagement: Empowering people to make lifestyle changes and adopt healthy behaviors through education.
Expand Health Care Access: Addressing complex barriers to care for at-risk patients with COVID-19 and chronic illnesses.
Accelerate Digital Innovation: Translating insights from patient data into personalized solutions, through a secure digital platform.
“We understand the challenges for the underservedin the areas of health, education and access to critical community needs.” said Diana Blankman Roberts, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and President of Sanofi Cares North America at Sanofi. “The Trusted Messengers project meets an urgent unmet need for Black Americans, and we look forward to continuing to support AAN to focus on some of the barriers in the areas of health equity.”
Through the project, a digital respiratory ecosystem will serve as a central hub for all educational content to equip people with the information they need to manage their health.
“Self Care Catalysts’ involvement as the Lead Digital Partner for the Trusted Messengers project is testament to the significance of leveraging technology and science as enablers to bring stakeholders together to support community-driven healthcare,” said Grace Castillo-Soyao, Founder and CEO of Self Care Catalysts. “The impact of COVID19 among people suffering from Allergy, Asthma and COPD requires long term, real world, real time monitoring to continue to uncover how it will affect the quality of lives of people in the community.”
Allergy & Asthma Network’s Not One More Life Trusted Messengers project is made possible through funding from the global biopharmaceutical company Sanofi.
Not One More Life and Health Disparities
COVID-19 data reveals the virus has been devastating to communities of color. According to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Black Americans are 2.1 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than Caucasians.
In addition, Black Americans face significantly higher rates of emergency department visits and deaths due to asthma. Factors for these disparities include air pollution in urban areas, lack of housing, unstable income and inability to access quality and affordable healthcare.
“By partnering with churches in Black American communities, we are bringing quality healthcare to where it is needed most,” Dr. Graham says. “We are giving patients and families the knowledge they need – from trusted, credible sources – to make informed healthcare decisions.
The Not One More Life Trusted Messengers project will be expanded to additional U.S. cities in 2021 and beyond.
For more information about the health screenings, please call Allergy & Asthma Network at 800-878-4403 or visit www.TrustedMessengers.org.
About Allergy & Asthma Network
Allergy & Asthma Network is the leading national nonprofit organization dedicated to ending needless death and suffering due to asthma, allergies and related conditions, especially for those among at-risk and underserved populations. The Network advances its mission through community outreach, educational initiatives that include sharing practical, medically accurate information through its publications and digital platforms, patient advocacy on national, state and local levels, and research that supports new treatments.
About Self Care Catalysts
Self Care Catalysts is a patient-centered digital therapeutics, intelligence and analytics company that puts the patient at the center of human networks, technology and science, deriving value from real-world evidence to inform clinical care, and behavior change interventions. The company will be managing the digital intervention for individuals who are screened through the Trusted Messengers project
About Sanofi
Sanofi is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on human health and is dedicated to supporting people through their health challenges. The company prevents illness with vaccines, provide innovative treatments to fight pain and ease suffering. Sanofi stands by the few who suffer from rare diseases and the millions with long-term chronic conditions.
Contact:
Gary Fitzgerald
gfitzgerald(at)allergyasthmanetwork.or
703-641-9595
Release ID: 88982959