Advertorial
THE AFRICAN DIASPORA
COVID-19 RESPONSE — A Community United —
The Black community, particularly immigrants, have had a contentious relationship with health care and social support systems. These services are often provided through a distorted lens leaving minorities feeling othered, less than and at times blatantly neglected. There are stigmas prevalent within the community attached to newcomers seeking help. Couple this with a general distrust of healthcare providers, and we’ll find a significant impact on the overall willingness and ability to access critical services. Layer these issues with a global pandemic and the negative effect quickly snowballs.
were nearly three times as likely to report knowing someone who has died of the virus. The trend is further supported by reports from various international jurisdictions, all reflecting that ethnic minorities have a higher rate of exposure and mortality to COVID 19.
While Canada’s federal government has lagged in collecting race-based data, geospatial data from the City of Toronto showed high rates of COVID19 in predominantly Black populated neighborhoods. Montreal reported that immigrants, refugees, and lower-income people live in the hardest-hit regions. One research group noted that Black Canadians
FOOD SECURITY
The pandemic birthed an unprecedented collaborative effort by several non-profit organizations, academics and students, initiated by the Nile Valley Foundation and coordinated by Africa Centre. The African Diaspora COVID 19 Response provides vital support on two fronts:
MENTAL HEALTH
