Health Equity
News, Statements, and Testimony on Health Equity Issues
25th Council session information coming soon.
Mayor Declares Gun Violence a Public Health Emergency
On Wednesday, Mayor Muriel Bowser declared gun violence a public health emergency in the District and outlined steps her administration will take to reduce violent deaths.
According to DCist, the order is part of a larger initiative called Building Blocks DC. The initiative is a network of government resources and services tasked with addressing gun violence in certain parts of the District. The initiative is led by Director of Gun Violence Prevention Linda Harllee Harper.
The first step in Building Block DC is creating the Gun Violence Prevention Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Located in Anacostia, the EOC is, according to the press release, "a first-of-its-kind in the nation to deploy a public health approach to gun violence prevention."
Two advisory board with public sector representatives will guide the initiative's work. One group is co-Chaired by Dr. Roger Mitchell, who recently stepped down as the District's Chief Medical Examiner (and spoke at this year's MSDC annual meeting). The District will also create a dashboard to track the program's effectiveness, similar to the COVID-19 dashboard the District created last year.
The action comes after the District recorded 198 homicides in 2020. In 2021, the homicide rate is outpacing 2020, with a 14% increase compared to this time last year.
Leave a comment
Sample of Health Equity Legislation MSDC Tracked
What does it say? The bill allows for the administration of medicinal marijuana in schools as well as allows students to bring sunscreen to schools and apply it without a prescription.
MSDC position: MSDC supports the language permitting sunscreen application in schools
Current status: A win for DC physicians and public health! The legislation passed the Council in February and was signed by the Mayor. Previous temporary and emergency legislation permitted students to use sunscreen at schools this school year already.
What does it say? The bill requires DC Health to establish an electronic Medical Order for Scope of Treatment registry (eMOST).
MSDC position: MSDC supports this legislation to more easily allow patients to make their treatment orders known.
Current status: A win for the physician community and our patients! The Council passed the bill in December and the Mayor signed it into law on January 16, 2020.
What does it say? The bill would implement a 1.5 cent per ounce tax on the distribution of "sugary" beverages. The money collected from the tax would establish a Healthy People, Healthy Places Open Spaces Grant Program.
MSDC position: MSDC sent a letter to Council Chair Mendelson asking for a hearing to discuss all of the issues around a beverage tax.
Current status: The bill was introduced October 8, 2019 and referred to the Committee on Business and Economic Development and the Committee of the Whole.