“Racism is a Serious Threat to the Public’s Health” Says Rochelle Walensky MD, MPH, Director of the CDC

We’re in the midst of National Public Health Week, where contributions of public health professionals and movements are noted and where we draw attention to the pressing issues central to improving the health of our nation.

This year’s theme is Building Bridges to Better Health and there are daily activities to partake in listed here.

More essentially, today the national Center for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC) came out with a sweeping direct statement:

Racism is a Serious Threat to the Public’s Health.

As the foremost public health institution in the land, this fact-based statement by its new director, Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH, is a breath of fresh air in laying out the truths and demanding study, collaboration and ongoing work to unwind the long arm of racism and its health impact on individuals and communities. There are links at the bottom of the statement that are also worth reading, which reflect the political, education and membership organizations being on the same page here, so that working across many institutions and areas of expertise can make measurable impact on the disturbing truths related to health inequities.