Supervisors pass health equity resolution

EL CENTRO — After six weeks of meetings between the Imperial County Health Equity Committee and the Public Health Department, the county Chief Executive Office and other stakeholders, the Imperial County Board of supervisors on Tuesday adopted a health equity resolution.

The resolution established an ad hoc Imperial County Health Equity Committee that will collaborate with county departments and community stakeholders to incorporate strategies for leveling the playing field vis-à-vis prevalent disparities and inequities experienced in underserved and underinvested communities in Imperial County.

Supervisor Ryan Kelley said the goal is to address the inequalities and address the healthcare equity in the county. “We are the lowest disproportionate place (in the region),” he said.

Supervisor Mike Kelley, who teamed with

Ryan Kelley in getting the resolution before the entire board, said everyone is concerned with COVID-19, and, some are worrying about their safety.

He said he is very optimistic this is a positive step toward closing the gap in a county where unemployment and lack of infrastructure are just two areas of concern.

Daniela Flores, who heads the Imperial Valley Equity and Justice Coalition, a group that worked closely with county officials in the development of the resolution, said the health equity resolution is a step toward eliminating the deep inequities and disparities that have been brought into sharp focus by the COVID-19 crisis.

IV-EJC said in a press release that Imperial County is a textbook example of the unequal impacts of economic, health and social problems.

“Historically, our communities have been underinvested and underserved, impacted by poverty, food insecurity, elevated endemic chronic conditions, environmental pollution, inadequate labor conditions, inadequate levels of healthcare infrastructure, and high levels of unemployment.”

Luis Olmedo, executive director of Comite Civico Del Valle, a local advocacy organization, expressed support for the equity resolution and described the importance of this moment.

“Today (Tuesday) is a historical moment in time that we can now draw consensus about the existing inequities and aspire for a more equitable county of Imperial that is truly addressing the needs of our most vulnerable populations,” he said.

Over the next month, the community groups said they will work closely with the board of supervisors on the implementation of this resolution, as it begins to dismantle structural racism that has persisted in Imperial County.

Committee member

Eric Montoya Reyes said he wants to support equality and improvement and called the resolution a step forward as a way to evolve with the decisions made in the future.

“It’s heartening and disheartening that it has taken this long,” Montoya said, adding that while the resolution is a crucial first step, the implementation is the most important part.

“We will continue to push the implementation that is solid,” he said.

Committee member Kenny Prada said community organizers took it a step forward, adding he wants to make sure all essential workers, not just grocery store union employees, are being protected.

To do so, he said employers need to make sure their workers protect themselves in areas such as face coverings and social distancing. He also observed the county health officer has instituted a stay-at-home order that is still in place for those employees able to work from home.

“Keep in mind COVID is not based on opinion,” Prada said. “There is serious action that needs to be taken,”

Prada told the supervisors they will be here for whatever the county needs from them.

Supervisor Chairman Luis Plancarte said, while he is in favor of the proposal, he wanted to see how this worked in other communities and asked for information to be forwarded to him.

Plancarte said something of this magnitude cannot concentrate solely on COVID-19 because this is a long-term health equity plan, while the coronavirus is not.

He also questioned how the plan would be funded.

Ryan Kelley tried to answer some of those questions.

On the funding question, he said they don’t have the money to appoint a dedicated position to lead the group, pointing out San Diego has only one person overseeing their program, and this position is dedicated to that city.

“As you and I agree, this should be overachieving and ongoing,” Kelley said, before the board voted

4-0 to approve the resolution. Supervisor Raymond Castillo was not in attendance.