Franklin County declares racism a public health crisis

Franklin County Public Health formally declared racism a public health crisis this week and vowed to do something about it (Source: “Franklin County: ‘Racism is a public health crisis’” Columbus Dispatch, May 14, 2020).

The declaration was a first of its kind for the agency, and health officials say it’s more than just the statement of a formal opinion. Rather, the declaration included a number of action steps to address racism and disparities within the agency and in how it provides services to residents.

Franklin County Public Health began developing the resolution months before COVID-19 hit the scene, but the ongoing pandemic has further spotlighted health disparities among African American and other minority residents, including higher incidences of hypertension, diabetes and other chronic health issues.

Franklin County’s health department is among the first in Ohio to declare racism a public health crisis, with Cleveland also considering its own resolution.

In recent years, HPIO has produced research and analysis on health equity that focuses on policy options that eliminate health disparities and inequities across population groups.