Search

In New Orleans, African American communities were not only hit hard by Katrina's floods, but also by violent policing during the catastrophe and a disaster "recovery" effort that was fundamentally Anti-Black (closing of publich housing and the privatization of schools and health care). Recovery efforts were not organized along ideals of racial justice that would have addressed gaps in educational and health care resources. Instead, they were imagined along neoliberal principles that systematically excluded the city's Black population. I am interested in looking into how the Anti-Blackness of Katrina "recovery" set the stage for the virulent way COVID 19 is affecting New Orleans' African American communities.

In the US Virgin Islands, Hurricanes Maria and Irma decimated what were already decrepit public school and public health systems. Public schools and hospitals had not been property repaired and remained under-supported as of early March 2020. In places like the Island of St. Croix, residents reported the hospital having only one physicial on staff, and indicated fear of misdiagnosis and prolonged waiting times kept them from seeking health care there. The clientelle of the public health system is predominantly Afro and Hispanic Caribbean. Meanwhile, US "mainlanders" (who are predominantly white) are reported to seek their healthcare off island, something only those with ample financial resources can do. Infection rates and fatality rates for the USVI seem rather low from official reports, but it is important to find out if this is because testing itself is not readily avialable in the territory.

Media coverage from hard-hit cities suggests there is a disproportionate number of arrests and citations related to enforcement of social distancing among racial minorities.

Also, police response seems to have followed very different patterns in the case of "re-open" protests and anti-police brutality protests.

From the “At a Glance.pdf”, OSHA covers a wide range of works from private sector works (including 50 states and other US jurisdictions), states and local government workers that operate their programs to federal government workers.

But their do have some types of workers that are not eligible for the act protection such as self-employed workers, immediate family members of farm employers and workplace hazards regulated by another federal agency (e.g. Mine Safety and Health Administration). [https://www.osha.gov/Publications/all_about_OSHA.pdf]

Image

Funding was not mentioned in the study, but from the author’s relevant background information, personally would assume the study could found by The Miriam Hospital (The Center for Prisoner Health and Human Rights; www.prisonerhealth.org) and CFAR (nationwide Centers for AIDS Research). [https://vivo.brown.edu/display/jrichmph]

Cloud9 is built to serve as a bridge between the patients and the physicians (or similar organizations) to communicate on the issue that they are facing. This app has especially designed for improving mental healthcare for existing and unserved populations. It has engaged both parties with interactive/innovative features to profile and serve the patients. The ultimate aim for Cloud9 is to provide an affordable/approachable access to mental healthcare, along with reduce stigma surrounding mental disorders.