Health in Her HUE startup is challenging the status quo of black women’s health
Health in Her Hue (Hearing and Understanding their unique Experiences) Co-Founder, Ashlee Wisdom and Co-Founder Davida Farhat wants black women to prioritize their health. Wisdom, a Howard University graduate with a BS in Psychology, a minor in Biology, including an MPH with a concentration in Healthcare Policy & Management from NYU, borne her company Health in Her HUE out of frustration from observing the structural racial impacts of black women in health care.
Co-Founder Davida Farhat, MPH received her BA in Anthropology from Washington University in St. Louis. She also holds an MPH in Socio-medical Sciences from Columbia University.
It's no secret that black women have lead some of the most revolutionary movements in modern history, black women's health is no exception. Wisdom and Farhat are leading the charge in a race to get ahead of the growing issues arising in black women's health.
The mission: to connect Black women to health care providers, services and resources that are committed to their health and overall well-being.
Why Black women’s health matters
There are many misconceptions about black women and health care. For starters, Anxiety Disorders are the most common mental health disorder in the United States. Studies have shown that black women had more chronic anxiety and intense symptoms than their non-black counterparts Recognizing these symptoms as well as seeking help for anxiety is no longer “taboo”. Black women want to seek help and are doing so.
Black women are 43% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women. This is largely due to their biological makeup and access to adequate care. Another reason, pervasive health insurance coverage for black women. Unfortunately, discriminatory insurance coverage polices negatively impact black women far greater than non-black counterparts, this includes maternity care, preventative care, mental health services, prescription drugs and more.
Although 88 percent of black women ages 18-64 had health insurance in 2016, black women of reproductive age still face coverage disparity.
The most notable disparity in black women’s health in the United States is maternal mortality. Black women die at a rate of three to four times the rate of their white counter parts 42 deaths per 100,000 live births among black women versus 12 deaths per 100,000 live births among white women. This is partly due to racial discrimination in the health care system as well as poor access to high quality reproductive health information and services.
As health care advocates, Co-Founders Ashlee Wisdom and Davida Farhat wants Black women to know, that they are a priority including their health. Health In Her Hue is that “safe space” for Black women to not only share their stories and concerns, but to be heard as well. Please follow Ashlee and Davida’s journey’s as they tackle the healthcare industry’s most challenging issues.
