Just as we have understood that Covid-19 is a threat to all our patients, so too do we witness first hand that racism is a public health crisis.
Whereas one is a recent threat, the other has been ruining and killing too many lives for generations. Whereas one seems to be born from nature, the other is created by humans, white humans, who have benefitted from the oppression and dehumanization of Black and Brown peoples on this continent for over 400 years.
The Neighborhood Clinic is grounded on the belief that healing occurs where physical and medical care is accompanied by consistent emotional support and a regard for the whole person. As a healthcare organization, we recognize that inequities in health, healthcare access, and access to care are divided along racial lines, and that points to a systemic problem. We also cannot ignore that when we care for the whole person we need to look at the context of people’s lives, the socio-economic forces, the racism which impact our patients’ health.
As we continue to offer free medical care regardless of ability to pay, the question persists, “How can we do better?”
We stand with Black Lives Matter.
