On Monday, the Health Board of New York City declared racism a public health crisis and guidelines were issued for a more “racially just” covid-19 recovery.
In a statement to the press, Dr David, commissioner of the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said, "To build a healthier New York City, we must confront racism as a public health crisis”. He added, "The Covid-19 pandemic magnified inequalities, leading to suffering disproportionately borne by communities of colour in our City and across the nation.”
The board in its statement offered recommendations for the health department like, review policies that contributed to racial health inequities, suggestions to the city's Racial Justice Commission and forming a "data for equity" group to ensure that the department interprets health data through an anti-racism perspective.
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“Underlying health conditions undoubtedly play a role. But why are there higher rates of hypertension, diabetes and obesity in communities of color? The answer does not lie in biology. Structural and environmental factors such as disinvestment, discrimination and disinformation underlie a greater burden of these diseases in communities of colour,” he said.
A few other recommendations were working with agencies to report deaths and health conditions by race and issuing a progress report twice a year to the board about the resolution.
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The statement also said, "The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is committed to addressing structural racism within our own institution and addressing racism as a social determinant of health as part of our mission to protect the health of New Yorkers."
The New York City Board of Health is one of the oldest in the United States and the largest public health agency in the world. Its members are appointed by the mayor and serve without pay.