Five Years Later: How Ohio Leaders Are Acting on Racism as a Public Health Crisis

In 2020, numerous Ohio leaders, including those in Columbus and Franklin County, declared racism a public health crisis, committing to address systemic inequities. Since then, initiatives such as Columbus Public Health’s Center for Public Health Innovation have implemented programs like the “Vax Cash” incentive, a flavored tobacco ban, and the establishment of the Office of Violence Prevention to tackle disparities in health and safety. This article from The Columbus Dispatch examines how, despite changing political climates, public health officials remain dedicated to promoting racial equity and addressing the long-term impacts of systemic racism on community health.