The BMJ’s regional advisory board will give this important region a louder voice
In recent decades, Latin America has made important contributions to global health. Although substantial economic and social inequalities and political instability continue to adversely affect population health, the region is developing knowledge, health policies, and experience that deserve wider recognition. Contributions include Latin America’s efforts in social medicine, especially in social security and nutrition1; national public policies that have become a world reference, such as the compulsory licensing of an AIDS drug in Brazil in 20072; and the health cooperation agenda intended to create a platform for solidarity focusing on infrastructure, health, security, and natural resources within the framework of the now dissolved Union of South American Nations.3
Building on these contributions, and to help boost the region’s profile and leadership in global health, The BMJ has established its f
Sharon Straus and colleagues argue that residents, families, and staff in long term care homes in Canada were failed by governments during the pandemic and need coordinated efforts across federal, provincial, and territorial governments to safeguard these populations
### Key messages
People living and working in long term care homes (LTCHs) (box 1) in Canada mostly older adults were disproportionately affected by covid-19.1 LTCH residents accounted for 3% of covid cases in Canada and 43% of related deaths by December 2021, among the highest proportion of LTCH covid-19 deaths worldwide.12 LTCH residents were prioritised for the covid-19 vaccine rollout and by 15 March 2021 95% had received their first dose.1 Outbreaks and deaths declined but continued; more LTCH outbreaks occurred in 2022 than in 2020 and 2021 combined as vaccination booster uptake varied.3 In 2022 covid-19 was the leading cause of hospital admissions of older adults in Canada.4 Compared with before the pandemic, LTC
Keisha Bentley-Edwards and colleagues argue that systemic racism and economic inequality are at the root of disparity in covid-19 outcomes and suggest how to distribute resources more equitably.
The story of covid-19 in the United States is one of many systemic failures to protect its residents from preventable illness and death. Racist stereotypes about disease susceptibility1 were subsequently discredited by the data.2 Covid-19 brought the US to a sobering standoff with race, a social construct that through systemic racism materializes as disparate outcomes (box 1).3 Once testing became available researchers disaggregated and analyzed data along racial lines, providing a more accurate understanding that was unsurprising to anyone who has examined health equity4: covid-19 is a preventable disease that disproportionately affects racial minorities. Although the effects were felt in all racialized communities, they were magnified most powerfully for black, Latino, and indigenous people
Katherine LeMasters and Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein raise concerns about the lack of sustained change in prison health transparency after covid-19 and implications for future public health crises
People in the jails and prisons across the United States are often housed in abysmal and unlawful conditions that have dire consequences for health.1 From poorly designed built environments (eg, lack of air conditioning, overcrowded dorms) to stressful and unpredictable living quarters, to a lack of quality and timely healthcare, time spent in incarceration worsens peoples’ health.23 In fact, the American Public Health Association considers the current state of incarceration in the US to be a public health crisis.4 Rates of incarceration are high. Although the US contains less than 5% of the global population, it accounts for 20% of the global incarcerated population.5 Furthermore, incarceration disproportionately affects Black, Native American, and Latino people, contributing to racial heal
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