The long COVID nightmare is far from over
With the end of COVID-19 as a public health emergency in May and the subsequent dismantling of mask mandates across the nation, Prism reminds us that COVID-19 is far from over, especially for people with disabilities, women and people of color. “[People] don’t realize that vaccinations may stop you from dying from COVID, but it’s not stopping you from getting long COVID,” said Cynthia Adinig, who first contracted the virus in March 2020.
Within the last three years, Adinig, a mother living in Virginia, has developed dysautonomia and mast cell activation syndrome, which are common symptoms experienced by long-term COVID patients. She represents 6% of people in the U.S., around 16 million, who suffer from the virus' lasting effects.Read more here →
Parents call for further guidance as schools grapple with COVID-19 surges
COVID infections have risen in recent months, with U.S. doctors treating more patients in intensive care units and leaving school districts to decide how to respond to COVID-19. In Texas and Kentucky, some school districts decided to temporarily close their classrooms due to an outbreak of infections in August. While many schools have stopped issuing COVID-19 related guidance to students and their families, there is still a debate about whether or not to keep classrooms open and its implications on students' mental health and academic performance. Prism spoke with teachers and parents to learn how they wanted their school district to respond to the ongoing situation.
A is for asbestos: The environmental challenges facing Philly schools
For the past few years, Philadelphia, an old and beloved city, has dealt with lead paint and asbestos in its homes and schools. However, last year, the city's school district filed a lawsuit against the city's oversight and management of environmental hazards, namely asbestos. WURD Radio’s ecoWURD reported last month that a $2.5M settlement agreement was reached to renew the city's commitment to regularly inspect schools for asbestos, improve its technology for managing asbestos data and communicate the results to parents, teachers and the general public.Read more here →
Meet the Game Changers
Highlighting the innovators transforming health outcomes in our communities
When Verna Volker (Navajo Nation) moved to Minnesota at 34, she began running to get in shape. Fifteen years later, the mother of four runs to pray, heal and stay connected to her deceased family members. In addition, she founded Native Women Running to honor the lost Native American tradition