Focusing on supporting: African, Caribbean, and Black communities living in Rexdale, and North Etobicoke

BY KAHA G. – 14 YEARS OLD

Disparities in the African-Black Caribbean communities getting healthcare have been plummeting over the years. Medical mistrust has been a concerning problem as people aren’t getting the services they need. For example: cancer screening, mammograms, vaccines, etc.

During the pandemic, over 60% of Black Canadians noted that they were hesitant to get vaccinated. No one should be hesitant to seek medical attention for an alarming disease circulating. This just goes to show how terribly the government has treated them, so that’s what I’m going to be addressing in this article.

In 1932, the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) conducted an experiment called the Tugskee Experiment. According to Tuskegee Study – Timeline – CDC – NCHHSTP).

This resulted in 600 Black males being given treatment for “bad blood,” a word used for describing syphilis. It was said that 399 of them had syphilis and the other 299 did not. Their consent was not confirmed, and they “made up for it” by giving them: free medical exams, free meals, and burial insurance. Yet the antidote wasn’t provided. The main focus of all of this was to see the natural history of syphilis.

The million-dollar question is what’s stopping them from doing it again, and dehumanizing people? How could Black people feel welcome in an unwelcoming society? What are we going to do about medical mistrust in Canada?

Well, look no further as Rexdale Community Center is here to help with the High Priority Program (HPC). Their team is focusing on supporting: African, Caribbean, and Black Communities living in Rexdale, and North Etobicoke. Their main focus is on increasing awareness and providing access to: health-related services, culturally sensitive screenings, support, referrals and care.

“The way to achieve your own success is to be willing to help somebody else get it first.”- Lyanla Vanzant