Addressing Racism and Public Health in VDH

June 16th, 2022

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/06/16/greene-racial-disparities-youngkin-virginia/

Along with the VLBC, I condemn the statements made by Commissioner Greene. It is extremely dangerous for Virginia’s top health official to blatantly deny the existence of structural racism and its effects on public health. Racial disparities in healthcare, such as the higher rates of maternal mortality for Black women, must be addressed head on.

Greene’s actions further the false narrative that it is our discussions of racism, not racism itself, that is problematic for our Commonwealth. The VLBC has requested a meeting with Governor Youngkin to discuss how his administration plans to remedy the comments and actions made by Commissioner Greene.