    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [February 21, 1998]
    [Pages 263-264]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    February 21, 1998

        Good morning. February is Black History Month, the time when we
    celebrate the rich heritage of the African-American community and
    rededicate ourselves to the value of equal opportunity for all Americans
    that is at the heart of the American ideal. Today I want to talk

    [[Page 264]]

    about an important step we're taking to make sure all Americans, no
    matter what their background, have a better opportunity to live
    healthier lives.
        In the last 6 years, we've worked hard to make quality health care
    more accessible and affordable and to place more emphasis on prevention.
    And this approach is working. Since 1993, our Nation's health has
    greatly improved. Infant mortality has reached an all-time low,
    childhood immunization levels are at an all-time high, and AIDS death
    rates are falling for the first time in the history of the epidemic.
    Americans are living longer and are in better health than ever before.
        This is good news we should all celebrate. But we must not be blind
    to the alarming fact that too many Americans do not share in the fruits
    of our progress, and nowhere are the divisions of race and ethnicity
    more sharply drawn than in the health of our people.
        Consider: Infant mortality rates are twice as high for African-
    Americans as for white Americans; African-American men suffer from heart
    disease at nearly twice the rate of whites; African-Americans are more
    likely to die from breast cancer and prostate cancer. Overall, cancer
    fatalities are disproportionately high among both Latinos and blacks.
    Vietnamese women are 5 times as likely to have cervical cancer; Chinese-
    Americans, 4 to 5 times as likely to have liver cancer. Hepatitis B is
    much more prominent among Asian-Americans than the rest of the
    populations. Native Americans suffer higher rates of infant mortality
    and heart disease. And for diabetes, Hispanic rates are twice the
    national average, and Native American rates, 3 times the national
    average.
        Research shows that, overall, all these groups are less likely to be
    immunized against disease, less likely to be routinely tested for
    cancer, less likely to get regular check-ups. We do not know all the
    reasons for these disturbing gaps. Perhaps inadequate education,
    disproportionate poverty, discrimination in the delivery of health
    services, cultural differences are all contributing factors. But we do
    know this: No matter what the reason, racial and ethnic disparities in
    health are unacceptable in a country that values equality and equal
    opportunity for all. And that is why we must act now with a
    comprehensive initiative that focuses on health care and prevention for
    racial and ethnic minorities.
        This is our national goal: By the year 2010, we must eliminate
    racial and ethnic disparities in infant mortality, diabetes, cancer
    screening and management, heart disease, AIDS, and immunization.
        My balanced budget plan devotes an unprecedented $400 million to
    spur promising prevention and outreach programs to help us meet this
    challenge. I'm asking our top public health officials, led by Secretary
    Donna Shalala, to convene a task force to
    find new ways of targeting existing Federal programs to reduce racial
    and ethnic disparities. Our new Surgeon General, Dr. David
    Satcher, will launch a comprehensive campaign
    to educate the public and work with community leaders and health
    professionals to reach more Americans.
        These steps, along with our drive to give 5 million more children,
    many of them minorities, health insurance and our huge increase in
    overall medical research, will bring us closer to our goal. But to truly
    eliminate these disparities and ensure better health for all Americans,
    all Americans must do their part.
        I'm pleased to announce that Grant-Makers in Health, a major
    coalition of over 136 philanthropic foundations across the country, is
    joining our efforts. Together, we'll host a national conference this
    spring to help solve this national problem, community by community.
        Above all, Americans must take more responsibility for our own
    health and the health of our children, for good health is the greatest
    gift God can bestow, and it is each of our duty to protect it. America
    has the best health care system in the world, but we can't take full
    pride in that system until we know that every American has the best
    health care in the world. With these steps, I'm confident that we can
    meet the challenge and go forward as one America into the 21st century,
    stronger and healthier than ever before.
        Thanks for listening.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:06 a.m. from the Oval Office at the
    White House.