The Washington Informer



	Editorial Editorial Archives Friday, May 13, 2005; Page 21 Cultural Barriers That Create Health Barriers The Summit Health Institute for Research and Education, Inc. (SHIRE) and the California Endowment (TCE) recently came together to introduce a new report entitled, “Giving Voices to the Voiceless: Language Barriers and Health Access Issues of Black Immigrants of African Descent.” The report identifies key language and cultural barriers that impede access to health care for African immigrants. It suggest that as a result of the United States’ bilingual health care system that is oriented to English and Spanish, many people are left with the tremendous challenge of negotiating adequate and fair health care coverage in a society that is not yet prepared to deal with their cultural needs. The report finds that: 1.) Recent African immigrants face formidable barriers to health care access due to a variety of reasons. 2.) There are very few health care providers in the United States who understand the various African cultures and how to communicate and interact with these patients. 3.) African immigrant health care workers need opportunities to obtain additional training and credentialing in order to utilize their skills in the United States. 4.) Language barriers have a major impact on the entire range of social functions for immigrants and their children. 5.) Mental illnesses and depression for immigrants to the United States is often caused by the challenges faced once dwelling in this country. Many immigrants do not know where to go to receive services and may even find the paperwork involved in receiving care an intimidating process. The report makes many recommendations, including the needed for more data to be collected, more outreach and collaboration between African and African American community-based organizations, increased educational and credentialing programs for immigrant and refugee health care workers, and the development of a Health Care Advocates Initiative to train lay health educators who will teach, inform and promote awareness of the health care system in the United States and how to navigate it. Copies of the report are available from the California Endowment online at http://www.calendow.org.