A Blueprint for a Healthier Baltimore (Afro)

Thursday Sep 1st, 2016

By: Dr. Leana Wen

In thousands of conversations with community members, businesses, grassroots organizations, and elected leaders across Baltimore, I have seen how our City continues to wrestle with deeply-rooted issues of poverty, racial inequality, and structural racism.

Here in Baltimore, there are neighborhoods just blocks apart where the life expectancy differs by 20 years. We have made significant strides in reducing infant mortality, and yet Black babies continue to die at twice the rate of White babies. Homicide continues to be the leading cause of death among 15-24 year olds in the city – more than 90 percent of homicide victims in 2016 have been Black.

Read more: http://www.afro.com/a-blueprint-for-a-healthier-baltimore/

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