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Toronto Declares Anti-Black Racism A Public Health Crisis

Toronto has officially declared anti-Black racism a public health crisis in the city. 

The move comes a week after a coalition of Black health leaders, backed by NDP leader Andrea Horwarth, called on the Ford government to formally recognize anti-Black racism as a public health crisis. 

The motion, introduced by Joe Cressy, was unanimously approved by the Toronto Board of Health on Monday, June 8.

It also asked for Board of Health members to affirm its commitment to support policies and programs that address inequities faced by Black communities; a request for the Medical Officer of Health to re-prioritize resources to address anti-Black racism in health inequity; and a request for the Civic Appointments Committee to promote diversity when filling positions on city boards and committees, including the Board of Health.

Cressy said he hoped the recent protests would provoke a change in policies that contribute to systemic racism and not just changes to behaviour.

Source

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Ontario Government Launches Investigation, Takes Over 5 Long-Term Care Homes

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) released a disturbing report regarding five high-risk long-term care homes in Ontario: Orchard Villa in Pickering, Altamont Care Community in Scarborough, Eatonville in Etobicoke, Hawthorne Place in North York, and Holland Christian Homes Grace Manor in Brampton.
 
Some of the key findings include:
  • Residents being left in bed in soiled diapers
  • Unsafe nursing medication administration errors
  • Cockroach infestations
  • Improper use of PPE by staff and doctors
  • COVID-19 patients being housed with residents who have not tested positive
  • Residents crying for help with no response from staff for 30 mins to over 2 hours
  • Residents not bathed for several weeks
  • Residents forcefully fed
  • COVID-19 positive patients allowed to wander around freely
Premier Doug Ford said it was the “most heart-wrenching report I’ve ever read in my entire life.” One of the homes – Orchard Villa – has been named in a $40-million class action lawsuit on behalf of all the residents and their family members. Many Canadians are also calling for the resignation of Merrilee Fullerton, the Minister of Long-Term Care.
 
The Ontario government has already launched an active investigation into the five privately-owned homes and has started the process of taking over management at four of the facilities. The fifth, not included in the report, is Camilla Care Community in Mississauga. An independent commission into Ontario’s LTC system is scheduled to begin this July.
 
You can read the full report here 👉🏾 https://tinyurl.com/yb8gc395
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Ontario To Start Collecting Race-Based Data From COVID-19 Patients

After months of pressure from Black community advocates and health experts, Ontario announced it will soon begin collecting race-based and socioeconomic data on COVID-19. Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Williams said the province is consulting with health equity experts to determine what information to collect. So far, no further details have been provided. However, Ontario health official Dr. Barbara Yaffe revealed they are in the process of updating the questionnaire distributed to patients by public health units. 

Just last month, community leaders issued a joint statement on COVID-19’s devastating impact on Black communities in Ontario, and urged public health officials to collect race-based data to better inform the government’s pandemic response. Ottawa’s first Black councillor Rawlson King also authored a letter of support, noting the importance of using the data to design a more equitable healthcare system, as well as improve resource allocations for Black communities. 

Citing long-standing structural and systemic inequities rooted in anti-Black racism, they outlined concerns the pandemic has amplified existing health and socioeconomic disparities, including poorer health outcomes; poverty; low income; unaffordable housing; and incarceration, which research has shown affects the Black population at disproportionately higher rates.

Black workers, particularly Black women, are overrepresented among essential workers in frontline jobs like PSWs or RPNs; and in service jobs that require close contact with the public. Many of them are providing essential services – such as grocery store clerks, cleaners, and warehouse workers – yet unable to access social and financial relief for their families. 

Black families are more likely to live in multi-generational households and may find it difficult to practice physical distancing or self-isolation. Black Canadians are also more likely to have pre-existing health conditions (i.e. diabetes, hypertension, etc.), and lack access to healthcare, putting them at increased risk for severe illness or death from COVID-19.

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Health

Poverty makes people sick. Mental health issues are on the increase in our community, however, stigma and lack of resources will not allow us to seek help, most of the time. African Caribbean and the Black Canadians are 4 times at risk of getting diabetes, cataract and many other illnesses. One in seven people living with HIV in Canada is from the ACB community though we only constitute 3% of the population. Research indicates we suffer from Healthy Immigrant Effect which means our health which is higher than average Canadian starts deteriorating 5 years after arrival in Canada due to several factors including racism and discrimination.

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