Despite the ACB people’s visible minority status, Dr. Etowa informed the meeting that they are the least visible population in health services and health research.
“Currently, 3.5% of Canada’s total population identifies as Black and represents 15.6% of visible minorities. Social determinants, structural inequalities, and discrimination are known to account for the disproportionate health risks and differential health outcomes experienced in Black Canadian populations,” added Etowa.
The professor of nursing also reminded the committee of the added burden of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality challenges, which led to severe health problems for the community and the government and subsequent loss of social capital, cultural equity, and a productive labor workforce.
Burden of Francophone Canadians
However, one of the critical issues requiring urgent attention from her observation was the multifaceted barriers to accessing suitable and responsive health services. She stressed that the findings from the AC Study and APCI 1.0 National study indicated that francophone Black Canadians face more challenges accessing health care as members of a linguistic minority, especially outside of the French-speaking province of Quebec.
“Francophone ACB people were disadvantaged in ways that may have compromised access to health and social services, especially during COVID-19,” Noted Etowa.
She called for structural and policy actions to address the language barrier and other structural factors affecting the Black Community.