The Chicago Board of Health had its first meeting since Mayor Brandon Johnson’s abrupt firing of Public Health Commissioner Allison Arwady was announced Friday, Aug. 11.
Good Morning! I’ll be live-tweeting the Chicago Department of Public Health meeting for @CHIdocumenters #CHIdocumenters. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m.
08:52 AM Aug 16, 2023 CDT
This meeting is the first after Dr. Arwady was relieved of her post.
President Janet Lin calls the meeting to order. Interim Commissioner Fikirte Wagaw gives an opening statement.
President Lin moves on to the agenda. Approval of Minutes for the July 2023 meeting has passed.
Interim Commissioner Wagaw is delivering the Commissioner’s update. The department is focusing on Medicaid redetermination, helping Chicagoans to stop smoking, and environmental justice.
Re-enrollment for Medicaid is a top priority, so Chicagoans will not lose their insurance. The CDPH data has shown Covid activity has slightly increased recently. In September, the Narcan nasal spray will be available free of charge at all 81 Chicago Public Library locations.
Board members are asking for alternative locations to offer Narcan throughout the city. This is an effort to prevent opioid overdoses.
Narcan and fentanyl test strips are available at all CDPH mental health and STI clinics.
Board members are asking how the CDPH is planning to prepare for an increase in Covid cases. The interim commissioner stated that information and vaccines are how the department plans to respond.
The board is discussing how to provide migrants in shelters around the city with medical care.
Males outpace females in Hepatitis C cases. The SID wants to improve screening /education, treatment, and community efforts among Chicagoans.
The SID wants to build staffing and create a viral hepatitis elimination plan.
The presentation from SID Bureau is over. They are now receiving questions from the board. The board wants to know how the bureau plans to assist people who may lose their insurance coverage. The SID wants to increase screenings and partner with community organizations.
The SID bureau wants to provide Chicagoans with screening regardless of finances and resources so that Hepatitis C cases will continue to fall.
The public comments period ends. On to standing business. There are no new finance updates.
The standing business update ends. On to agenda item VIII new business.
Correction to a previous tweet. Chief Operations Officer Carmen Vergara, MPH is heading this meeting.
Public Health Consultant Rosa Martínez Colón, MS has asked for updates to the board’s processes so board members are not left in the dark to future decisions.
The board is discussing a change in the meeting schedule. The next meeting will be held on September 27th, 2023. With no further business before the board, the meeting has been adjourned.
The Chicago Department of Public Health Board meeting ends at 10:30 a.m. This ends my coverage for @chidocumenters find more information through Holland Harmon’s notes at http://documenters.org