The New York City Board of Health is declaring racism a public health crisis.
During a health board meeting this week, members signed off on a resolution formally declaring racism as a health crisis. The city’s Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi says there are 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 color.”
He notes black new Yorkers suffer disproportionately from COVID-19. The Board of Health will make policy recommendations to address the crisis