LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — COVID-19 cases continue to rise across Southern Nevada, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, communities of color continue to be hit the hardest.
Now, a smartphone app is in the works to try to address that.
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According to the CDC, Black people have a rate of infection that is five times higher than white people.
The agency says long-standing systemic health and social inequities have put some racial and ethnic minority groups at an increased risk of catching COVID-19.
Some studies also show some minority groups have higher rates of underlying health issues and less access to affordable healthcare.
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A new digital platform geared towards Black women, Health in Her Hue, is hoping to address that.
Here's how it works: Type in your location on the platform and it matches you with what it says are culturally competent providers near you.
The founder, Ashlee Wisdom, says she hopes this is a small step in the right direction to addressing some systemic inequities.
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"Right now, Black women are bombarded with scary statistics and headlines that show we're not believed when we're in a healthcare setting," said Wisdom.
"I had a hunch that this was needed even before the pandemic and before the Black Lives Matter movement," she added.
Health in Her Hue is a digital platform that can be saved on your home screen. The company is developing an app and hope to have it completed by the end of the year.
The pandemic has shed light on healthcare concerns that have been in place for years.
Lawmakers, including Rep. Steven Horsford, have released a report analyzing the racial disparities in the healthcare system. The report looks at several systemic barriers, including health insurance and environmental factors.
Sen. Jacky Rosen is now co-sponsoring a bill that would require new targeted testing, contact tracing, and outreach efforts that are specifically directed to those minority communities impacted by COVID-19.
To learn more about Health in Her Hue visit healthinherhue.com.
