REMARKS
Council Member Lynn Schulman Highlights the Importance of Women's Heart Health
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3 min
Council Member Lynn Schulman, Chair of the Committee on Health, opens her remarks by underscoring the significance of discussing heart health, especially on Valentine's Day. Schulman emphasizes the need to focus on the most urgent health issues facing women, including heart disease, and highlights the city's efforts to address disparities in health care. She shares her personal experience as a breast cancer survivor and outlines the city's comprehensive approach to eliminate health disparities among women, stressing health as a human right. Schulman concludes by recognizing her team and partners for their contributions.
Speaker 2
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Good morning, everyone.
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I am council member Schulman, Chair of the New York City Council's Committee on Health.
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I want to thank Chair Lewis and the Committee on Women And Gender Equity for joining with me for this important hearing today.
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Today is Valentine's Day, and there's no day more appropriate to focus on matters of the heart and more specifically, heart health.
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The committees today are shining a light on the most urgent health issues facing women in New York City and in the United States, including heart disease, which according to the CDC is the number one health issue facing women in our country.
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We also hope to discuss any efforts the city is undertaking to address the disparities that women face in the areas of cancer care, chronic lower respiratory disease, and Alzheimer's, all leading causes of death for women in the United States, and among the leading causes of death for women in New York City.
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Persistent gender bias in health care has resulted in inadequate access and treatment for women across the country.
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Studies have consistently found that some healthcare professionals continue to view women as emotional or hysterical and are more likely to attribute their symptoms to a mental health condition rather than a physical condition.
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Misconceptions around women exaggerating pain persist to this day.
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Even among non male physicians.
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Biosies in healthcare provision not only perpetuate harmful stereotypes, but also result in women avoiding medical care or receiving inadequate care that negatively impacts their health outcomes.
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As a breast cancer survivor and as chair of the committee on health, I'm committed to ensuring that every woman in city has access to quality preventive care, including regular screenings.
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Health care is a human right, and the city must work with our state and federal partners health care providers, community organizations, and advocates to eliminate disparities among women when it comes to identifying, diagnosing, and treating Cancer, cancer.
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Social, environmental, and economic burdens contribute to the wide gaps in cancer outcomes for women as compared to men and for non white women as compared to white women.
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For example, in 2021, the rate of premature death from cancer was about 41% higher among black New Yorkers compared to the citywide average.
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Eliminating these disparities requires a comprehensive approach and critical investments in public health.
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Last week, the council unanimously passed my bill to codify the healthy NYC city wide population health agenda to increase average life expectancy in New York City to eighty three years old by 2030.
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As part of this goal, the city aims to decrease heart and diabetes related deaths by 5%, and screenable cancer deaths by 20% over the next 5 years.
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To do this, the city will increase health care access, expand prevention activities, and improve access to healthy foods.
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The plan also calls for reducing toxins in our food supply preventing tobacco use and reducing smoking and alcohol consumption among New Yorkers.
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I look forward to a sustained partnership between this council and the administration to realize and build on the goals of healthy NYC and create a happier and healthier city for all.
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Valentine's day is about honoring those we love, and that includes love for our communities.
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Community care should be at the center of how we address glaring health disparities for women and reduce the incidence and impact of chronic disease.
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I'm hopeful that today's hearing will generate thoughtful discussions and old ideas for advancing equity in women's health.
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In closing, I would like to thank doctor Morris for attending as well as my staff, chief of staff, John Bouchier, legislative director Kevin McAlier, legislative fellow Andrew Davis, my communications director, Jessica Siles, and the health committee staff, Christopher Pepe, Sara Sutra and Minerva for their work on this important hearing.
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I will now turn it back to chair Lewis.
Speaker 1
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Thank you.
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Chairs.
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Shumen now will turn it over to committee council to administer the oath.