Title
To recognize Minority Health Month in the City of Columbus and to encourage a year round commitment to reducing health care inequities while promoting systematic efforts that work to improve the Social Determinates of Health for us all.
Body
WHEREAS, Minority Health Month was first started more than 105 years ago when Dr. Booker T. Washington wrote a letter in April of 1915 arguing that "Health was the key to progress and equity in all other things - and that without health and long life, all else fails;" and
WHEREAS, Dr. Washington called on local health departments, schools, churches, businesses, professional associations, and the most influential organizations within the African-American community to "pull together and to unite in one great National Health Movement;" and
WHEREAS, this observance has grown into a month-long initiative to advance health equity across the country on behalf of all racial and ethnic minorities - now known as National Minority Health Month; and
WHEREAS, health disparities have existed in America for more than 400 years - however we are witnessing a coronavirus pandemic that is highlighting the long-running racial divide - black patients are dying in larger-than-expected numbers and are disproportionately suffering due to long standing unaddressed health disparities; and
WHEREAS, African Americans experience high rates of homelessness, incarceration, reduced educational opportunity, life expectancy, adverse childhood experiences, health outcomes, and economic hardship as a result of years of discriminatory lending practices, redlining, limited access to nutritious food, increased rates of lead poisoning, access to clean water, infant mortality and chronic disease which include asthma, diabetes, hypertension, and more; and
WHEREAS, this Council recognizes these disparities as a public health crisis that affects us all - and deserves action from every level of a civil society - moreover this council applauds Columbus ...
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