Bethany Waggoner, director of global program development at CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort), discusses the importance of community resilience in crisis recovery.
Bethany Waggoner
Director of Global Program Development, CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort)
What is your main mission at CORE, and how does it relate to health equity?
Our overall mission as an organization is to empower communities in and beyond crisis, which means that we are implementing programs that look to equip local communities with the resources, capacity, knowledge, and skills to be able to navigate a crisis in the moment. Our core mission is also to prevent and alleviate suffering so that communities are able to recover more quickly because they’ll have increased capacity and resilience. When we think about health equity, we believe that increasing access to health services, resources, and education is critical because it closes the gap and allows people to take control of their health.
How is climate change related to health access and equity?
There is a huge relationship and lots of touch points between health and climate change. One is around extreme heat: As temperatures are rising in most places around the world, vulnerable populations in low-income communities don’t typically have access to cool spaces. Another is the increased frequency and severity of storms, which can severely impact health infrastructure. Getting first aid or healthcare can be really difficult following a major earthquake or storm, and flooding can impact the water supply, which can lead to cholera outbreaks. Finally, climate change is really affecting the food supply, and when people — especially children — don’t have access to food, it can have irreversible damage on their lives. All of these things impact our ability to maintain our health and well-being.
What role does community have in closing the health equity gap?
We believe communities play a vital role in the success of any endeavor. Community members have an insider understanding of the challenges and barriers they’re facing, and they also give context to be able to come up with solutions. It’s important to engage people who know what they’re talking about and who can navigate the circumstances, since they have the skills and resources to continue doing the work even after our funding ends. It’s crucial that whenever we enter a community, even if we are well-integrated into the community, we do our homework and understand how the underlying conditions of the situation affect our ability to support people.
