The Fidelis Care Blog

Black History Month is an opportunity to look at the past and present milestones that members of the African American community have worked toward to break barriers, set trends, and develop legacies that show the important impact the Black community has made in our country and the world. The NAACP in Rome, Oneida County celebrates Black History Month by organizing community events that welcome everyone to learn the importance of the Black experience.

While the Black community faces many socioeconomic disparities, one of the biggest and most crucial is in health care. This includes Black women’s maternal health, breast and cervical cancer, and heart disease. There are also concerns when it comes to prostate cancer in Black men, as well as higher instances of heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes in the Black community at large.

Many Black people are apprehensive about seeking health care as there has been a long history of distrust in the Black community regarding the medical community. Doctors and nurses are not always trained in culturally sensitive care, and health care coverage and health screenings are not always easily available to underserved communities. The Rome NAACP actively addresses this issue by going into the community, educating, and providing screenings. Working with local health care professionals, we have been able to reach out and build trusting relationships within our community. We have encouraged our community to get health checkups, go to their follow-up appointments, and ask the right questions. This is how trust is built and supported.

Fidelis Care is one of our newest partners, and we enjoy a strong relationship. Together, we share health insurance and health care-related information at community events while also educating people on the importance of inclusion, diversity, and health equity. We look forward to a sustained partnership with Fidelis Care during Black History Month and beyond.

Jacqueline Nelson is a 22-year member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), serving as president of the Rome, NY branch for the past 10 years. She was also elected to the NAACP New York State Conference Executive Board and serves as Western Region Education Director. As a licensed practical nurse, Nelson’s commitment has always been to ensure health, social, educational, political, and economic equality and equity for all citizens. She works to ensure that citizens in Rome and the Mohawk Valley are educated and have access to the best health care. This is being accomplished by building trust in underserved communities.