SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio — A University Hospitals Doctor was hand selected to serve on an important state task force regarding the future of the coronavirus in Ohio.
Doctor Lolita McDavid has worn her white coat for almost three decades at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital. Her expertise led to her role as one of four doctors on the Governor’s Minority Health Strike Force.
“What we hope to do is to see where the inequities are and we are lucky because Cuyahoga county is not as affected as the rest of the state,” said Dr. McDavid.
3News reported COVID-19 has taken a greater toll on African Americans than on other racial groups in America.
“In Cuyahoga county, 30 percent of population is black and they represent 20 percent of the deaths and 29 percent of the cases,” said McDavid.
Doctor McDavid says where we live in Northeast Ohio is beneficial.
“[Here in Cuyahoga county] we have wonderful health facilities, people have access, we have community health center and those are federally sponsored, we have the VA hospital and so there are a lot ways for people to access care,” said Dr. McDavid.
She says it’s not the same for some rural areas in the state that don’t have the same access.
“A lot of rural hospitals have closed down, and so a lot of people don’t have access and not just black people. [This includes] all people in rural areas, and they may live and work in facilities where there is crowding.”
Dr. McDavid hopes her years of experience can help find solutions to stopping the spread within minorities within other parts of the country.
“I’m hoping we will have a road map that will help other counties in the state do the kinds of things we are doing in Cuyahoga County,” said Dr. McDavid. “Hopefully we will be the template for the country as we have been on how to flatten the curve.”