Tulane University, through the Center for Health Equity in Latin America (CHELA) and the Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, hosted the first meeting on Racism and Health in Latin America, a key event that brought together academic leaders from the region to address discrimination in healthcare.

On October 17 and 18, the event brought together researchers and academics to discuss the impact of racism in health care, with the aim of promoting teaching and research from the perspective of Latin American social medicine. Within the framework of this meeting, the creation of a Pan-American Diploma on the Prevention of Racism in Health Care was proposed as one of the main proposals to combat these discriminatory practices in the region.

Topics addressed included the interrelationships between racism and health, and how profound inequalities in outcomes are linked to social and ethnic factors. Latin America, known for its ethnic diversity, presents significant health disparities, especially for indigenous communities, which has led to an urgent discussion about exclusionary practices in health systems.

Guatemala's participation: a view from the indigenous communities

Benilda Batzin, Executive Director of CEGSS/REDC-SALUD, offered a valuable perspective from indigenous communities on the topic: “The role of users in monitoring and reducing racism in health services”. During her presentation, she pointed out how structural and historical racism continues to permeate the health system in Guatemala. She also pointed out that communities face multiple barriers, from lack of care in their mother tongue to discrimination based on their clothing. She also mentioned the case of traditional midwives, whose ancestral practices have been excluded from the formal health system. Although there have been efforts to integrate them, many refuse to participate due to the restrictive conditions imposed by the authorities.

This meeting not only seeks to generate changes in public health policies, but also to ensure that affected communities are part of the process to build a more inclusive and equitable health system.