I want to celebrate the resilience, legacy, and achievements of the Black community, but also encourage us to work together to change our mindset of what healthcare is and should be in America.
Every year I’m excited to celebrate Black History Month and reflect on the successes, contributions, and resilience that Black people have shown throughout time. Not only am I reminded of what others have done throughout history, but also of the sacrifices and actions made by my own family members that paved the path for me and my siblings.
My dad is originally from Trinidad, moved here as a teenager, and worked his tail off to provide us with more opportunities. My mom is the soldier of our family (literally she’s in the military). She raised us in New York with the same southern values and entrepreneurial work ethic my grandparents passed down to her.
I started working at K Health because I believe in the importance of high-quality, judgement-free, accessible healthcare and information—things many in the Black community have historically not had access to. This led to a reactive approach to health and worse outcomes, which is something I want to change.
In honor of Black History Month, I’m proud to be leading the effort to get everyone in the HBCU community to be more proactive about their health. This month, with the support of K Health, I’m encouraging my generation and those younger to advocate for ourselves by seeking more information about their body and using better care options that exist.
Stop Waiting To Seek Care.
I’m thankful for all that’s been done to pave the way for me, however, there’s still an elephant in the room: there is a lot of change that needs to happen in how we approach healthcare. We need to focus on preventative care.
This past May, my grandmother passed away after suffering from many cardiovascular diseases. My grandfather also passed away from the same cause. Even though 80% of cardiovascular diseases can be prevented, it’s the leading cause of death among Black Americans.
I want to help prevent this for future generations.
I’m not ignorant—there are severe challenges in the Black community that lead to these poorer outcomes. Barriers like lack of insurance coverage, living in a medical desert where a primary care provider is hard to find, and high costs are just some of the reasons for not seeking care proactively.
Trust is also a huge issue—as the healthcare system has not always acted in our best interest. But it’s nothing we haven’t been able to overcome.
My generation and those younger have sparked changed before. Together we can change the social norms for a better, healthier, equitable lifestyle.
Try Out K Health for Free.
I know how deeply invested Historically Black College and University (HBCU) students and faculty are in making positive changes for the African American community. If we start switching our mindset to being more proactive in healthcare, I believe we as people will live longer days.
That’s why I am proud to say that K Health is offering free clinician visits to students and faculty at HBCUs for the month of February.
K Health offers text-based, affordable, high-quality care that doesn’t require insurance–meaning you can ask a doctor’s opinion or get treatment for any health concern without completely disrupting your normal day. We believe it’s a step to getting people away from the reactive mindset and become more proactive.
I’ve already gotten to know K Health users whose lives were saved because they proactively used K Health to check a symptom.
I want HBCU students and faculty to know that resources like this exist, where you don’t have to wait days or months, and can get support for anything—big or small. From UTIs to migraines to anxiety to high blood pressure, K Health covers hundreds of conditions.
This February is Extra Personal
The last few years have been difficult. My hope is that we use new healthcare options like K Health as a starting point to shift the mindsets of future generations. I’m tired of people losing years from something that could have been prevented, aren’t you?
This Black History month, let’s celebrate our resilience, legacy, achievements, but also work together for better healthcare resources, information, and a positive, proactive mindset shift.
I am grateful to everyone throughout history, the media, and my everyday life for showing me what Black excellence means and how I can make a difference in small ways.
