Testing site opens in Bond Hill as groups work to close coronavirus racial disparity gap
BOND HILL, Ohio (WKRC) - As more and more data comes out, it’s evident that there’s a racial disparity when it comes to the coronavirus.
Iris Roley is the board chair of the Community Economic Advancement Initiative. She says she wasn't surprised to find out African Americans are being hit the hardest by the coronavirus.
“I had this burning gut feeling that it was going to land in our laps and it did. We're the only people that doesn't have the firewall,” said Roley.
New data shows African Americans make up 22% of COVID-19 cases in Ohio but are only 13% of the state's population.
“We’re the ones who don't have access to health care, very limited health care,” said Roley. “We're the ones that have limited access to healthy foods, nutrition and stores."
But there's a glimmer of hope of closing that health disparity gap: Mercy Health worked with Roley and her group to open up a flu clinic in Bond Hill to serve predominantly African-American communities.
Nia Baucke, who helped lead a study on how to mitigate COVID-19 in the black community, says the testing site will certainly help.
“That makes a huge difference, and while we were not involved in that particular testing site, we did hear from a lot of the health care professionals that giving African Americans access to testing is extremely important,” said Bauke, communications director for the study's author Cohear.
But Baucke and Roley say testing isn't enough. They say focusing on personal protective equipment and essential workers can also help.
“Getting the PPE. We've been partnering with the Urban League to get masks and hand sanitizer to pass out to everyday people,” said Roley.
Beyond that, Baucke says this is a chance for Cincinnati to get it right.
“Just like Ohio really had the opportunity to be the model when it came to taking the lead in how we protect our citizens, Cincinnati has the opportunity to be the model city when it comes to figuring out how to address these disparities we're seeing in the black community,” said Baucke.
Roley says her group is also working to get testing sites opened in Lincoln Heights and Roselawn.
Mercy Health’s newest flu clinic is located at its Bond Hill campus at 1701 Mercy Health Place. The Bond Hill flu clinic will be open initially for 30 days from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, but hours can change based on demand and availability of supplies.
To see Cohear's full study on how to mitigate COVID-19 racial disparities, click here.
