No time to delay health equity

Last week, the Spokane Regional Health District decided to postpone a vote on resolution #20-07, which would have resolved the SRHD to adopt a regional health equity response. Days after the postponement, The Spokesman Review reported that although the Marshallese community represents only 0.6% of Spokane County’s population, it comprises an overwhelming 30.9% of its COVID-19 cases. This is data that the SRHD already had in hand when it decided to postpone action that would address this egregious racialized health disparity.

The postponed resolution would have required the SRHD to apply a health equity lens across all health district programs, supported the development of community partnerships with those most impacted by the health consequences of racism, supported staff training on key concepts of health equity, and applied strategies to ensure a diverse workforce. These are common sense provisions, not divisive policies. As Councilwoman Wilkerson stated, this resolution is not controversial. What should be controversial is a month-long delay in voting for a resolution that aims to help those disproportionately affected by the dual pandemics of COVID and racism.

There have been over 250 new COVID cases in Spokane County since the postponement. By integrating a health equity lens into its work, the SRHD has the opportunity to better address the growing health disparities that persist among communities of color. The SRDH must act now to adopt this resolution, and prevent further harm to the vulnerable people in our community that the resolution is designed to protect.

Emily Grant

Spokane