Untreated injuries and denied surgeries in prison
In August 2018, Jacob Goethe was arrested for distribution of heroin, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime. But nearly a week earlier, Goethe had been involved in an unrelated car accident, where he suffered several injuries, including three cracked ribs, a left lung contusion, and a laceration in his left hand. He barely survived, but the judge who sentenced him showed no mercy. With injuries left untreated for years, Goethe writes, "They say pain makes you numb, but I wake up in agony every day. I'm locked inside these cinder blocks with no chance of obtaining the surgeries I need."
Read more about the impact of prisons on the overall health and well-being of incarcerated people from Scalawag →
Miss. water crisis receives federal funding one year later, but is it enough?
Residents in Jackson, Mississippi, are still dealing with the effects of last summer's water crisis collapse, reports Prism. Over 70 boil water notices were issued after the disaster between last September and January this year, with residents struggling to perform essential daily tasks (i.e. bathing, cooking, etc.). To address the crisis, President Joe Biden announced last month that $115 million in initial funding will be allocated. But residents and local activists say more needs to be done to prevent further disasters and ensure the city consistently has clean water.Read more from Prism →
New app to help Native veterans access health care
As Native News Online points out, Native Americans have been involved in almost every armed conflict in the nation's history. Native veterans, however, face significant disparities once they return to civilian life. Approximately eight Native veterans experience homelessness per 1,000 veterans, compared to just 1.5 white veterans per 1000, according to the National Council of Urban Indian Health. In an effort to increase access to health care and other essential services for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN), the Indian Health Service and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have created an interagency map application. Read more here →
Meet the Game Changers
Highlighting the innovators transforming health outcomes in our communities
Dr. Catrise Austin, also known as The Queen of Smiles, is a Michigan-born dentist who has been transforming celebrities' smiles since the '90s. She recently joined
WURD Radio
to discuss the relationship between oral health hygiene and diabetes
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