by Hana Kawano
RN, LA County Sheriff’s Department
Even if I wasn’t a nurse in LA County I’d be concerned about health care in this country. More than 60 million Americans have no doctor. Because LA is the second largest city in our country that means proportionally 1.9 million – or one in five – people in Los Angeles County have no doctor.
Right now Congress is starting talks about a major health care reform in the country. This is a long overdue discussion, but the political will may not be there. Recently, I called into a national radio show hosted by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, a strong advocate for a new health care system. Sen. Sanders was soliciting health care stories and so are we, union members. These stories about our friends, families and neighbors who have no health care are the only thing that motivates people into action. Without hearing directly about the toll lack of coverage is taking on Americans, the sad state our system is in is too easy to ignore, especially if you already have health insurance.
I put the call out nationally to speak up about what you’re experiencing and witnessing. Do you have a story to tell? Leave a comment and help get the word out.