US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy began his presentation to the League of United Latin American Citizens with his own immigration story.

“I stand before you as Surgeon General of the United States knowing that in no other country could the grandson of a poor farmer from India be given this extraordinary and humbling opportunity to serve,” Murthy said.  

He told the crowd that improving public health is everyone’s responsibility. He thanked members of the league for their partnership and leadership in extending health care coverage to 4.2 million Latinos in the last 2 years through the Affordable Care Act, representing a 12 percent drop in the uninsured rate. But Murthy said health disparities remain a challenge in the US.

“Obesity and many of the leading causes of death disproportionately affect Latinos and other minority groups. For example, roughly 31.9 percent of Latinos were obese in 2010, compared to 26.1 percent of non-Hispanic whites, and this disparity is even greater among women.”

Murthy said the way to a healthier country is to build a culture of prevention and address health inequities as a civil rights issue.