"The Associated Press published data from the National Center for Health Statistics about the life expectancy at birth of nearly 66,000 census tracts nationwide. The project, which was done with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information Systems, maps the data and crosses it with demographic and socioeconomic data for a dimensional picture of the region.
The results show that failure to increase wages, create jobs, and provide universal access to education and health insurance is dramatically shortening the lives of poor people in Philadelphia — many of whom are black and brown.
For example, the life expectancy at birth in Strawberry Mansion is 64 years. Those living in Fairmount/ Spring Garden can expect to see 87. Those born in the nearby Lower Merion area are likely to have a 92nd birthday...
For example, the life expectancy at birth in Strawberry Mansion is 64 years. Those living in Fairmount/ Spring Garden can expect to see 87. Those born in the nearby Lower Merion area are likely to have a 92nd birthday...
The biggest takeaway from the data is that economic policy and education policy are inherently health policy. Sometimes a job, high school diploma, or raise is the prescription the doctor ordered. If we want to invest in health, we must create jobs, increase wages, ensure access to education, and allow mobility for people to choose where to live."
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