A Dose of Love: The Winning Health Policy Valentines
Valentine’s Day is often associated with expressions of love, romance and affection. However, for some, it’s an opportunity to address more serious concerns such as healthcare systems and the policies that govern them. One such group is the readers and contributors of a unique contest that combines Valentine’s Day with health policy awareness, as they share their poetic insights about a rather unromantic topic.
Health policy may seem like an unusual theme for a Valentine’s Day contest, but it beautifully illustrates the passion and creativity of its participants. They’ve turned to poetry as a medium to express their feelings about health policy issues that deeply affect them, such as surprise medical bills, the cost of healthcare, and outbreaks like the bird flu and COVID-19.
The contest saw many interesting entries, with the grand prize going to a clever and thought-provoking five-panel comic. The cartoon, illustrated by Oona Zenda, depicts a woman’s struggle with the flawed health care system. It beautifully captures the surprise bills and denials that leave patients awestruck. The comic also portrays how profits often take precedence over patient care, leading to financial and emotional stress for the patients. However, on a positive note, it emphasizes the role of doctors and advocates who stand up against these issues.
The runner-up for the contest also penned a fun and insightful piece, incorporating the theme of food safety and fluoride use in their Valentine’s Day poem. Notably, the author weaves in issues such as raw milk and flu-like symptoms from eggs, shedding light on food safety concerns. The poem cleverly suggests fluoridated water as a safer alternative for a Valentine’s Day treat.
Other entries included a poem linking love and health care costs to the percentage growth of GDP, a witty critique of the prescription drug pricing system disguised as a love letter, and a humorous take on measles and chickenpox vaccinations. The creativity and range of entries reflect a deep understanding of health policies and a passion for improving them.
In addition to these entries, the contest also included a segment for sharing previous favorites. The “love for healthcare and health policy” category included a range of poems about the trials and tribulations of health care and the policies that surround it. It’s a great reminder that poetry can provide a unique and accessible way to discuss complicated topics like health policy.
The contest is a powerful example of how humor, creativity, and passion can help raise awareness about serious issues like health policy. It provides a platform for people to express their concerns and hopes about the system, making dense and complex topics more relatable and understandable. This Valentine’s Day, let’s take a leaf from their book and champion a healthcare system that’s fair, honest, and kind.