Today Nottingham City Council’s Executive Board will gather to discuss the development of a framework which outlines the breadth of action that will be required to tackle BAME health inequalities.
The health inequalities experienced by BAME communities have been brought into sharp focus through the coronavirus pandemic, with Public Health England and the Office of National Statistics have found a higher risk of COVID-19 deaths in black and Asian populations.
Health inequalities are unfair and avoidable differences in health across the population, and between different groups within society. Health inequalities arise because of the conditions in which we are born, grow, live, work and age.
The council will be taking action to ensure its decisions, policies and services are considered through the prism of potential health impacts on particular communities. Council assets such as buildings, outdoor spaces and the wealth of experience in our communities will be mapped to build up a picture of how they can work together to better serve our diverse communities.
The actions proposed are just a starting point and the framework is designed to act as a starting point for further conversations with communities about what changes will have the biggest impact and matter most to them.
Portfolio Holder for Health, HR and Equalities, Cllr Eunice Campbell-Clark, said: “Nottingham is a diverse city which prides itself on the ideas of citizenship and inclusion and where we know overwhelmingly people from different backgrounds get along well.
“Our BAME community makes up just over a third of the city’s total population and so inequalities affecting them is of great significance. There’s a lot of work already underway but Covid has thrown the issue of inequality into sharp focus. This is a moment for us to galvanise ourselves with a renewed effort to deliver health and wellbeing improvements, by working with our BAME communities on their priorities and what can be changed so they can be better served by their city to live safe and healthy lives.”