COLUMBUS, Ohio — The City of Columbus and Columbus Public Health are working to find solutions around health equity and looking at racism as a public health issue.
The New Center for Public Health was launched in April following a request by Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther during the 2020 State of the City address.
“In the last few years, there has been momentum around health equity and looking at racism as a public health issue,” Columbus Public Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts said. “We will be looking at heath equity as well as chronic disease prevention.”
Dr. Roberts says African Americans across the nation and in central Ohio are greatly impacted by health disparities.
Statistics from the Columbus Public Health reveal In Columbus, African Americans make up 38% of hospitalizations even though they make up 28% of the city’s population.
“Minorities are disproportionately affected by many chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and other lung diseases,” Dr. Roberts said.
She says the goal with this center isn’t to research the statistics, but rather, provide solutions. She tells 10TV at time when a pandemic is highlighting the disparities, it is time find a resolution.
“Clearly the COVID-19 pandemic has put a spotlight on the health disparities that we’ve known about and seen, but it’s really put a spotlight on those issues and any others that might not have been aware of the issue before," Dr. Roberts said. “(The mayor) wants recommendations about what we are going to do about it and that’s what this center is really going to focus on.”