When Ed Anderson walks into the Atlanta VA Medical Center, he doesn’t just see a hospital. He sees the place that once saved his life. “I can say with no shame in my voice that the VA mental health care saved my life more than 20, 25 years ago,” said the 71-year-old Air Force veteran. […]
health
Posted inCOVID-19
New COVID Vaccine Guidance Could Hit Black Georgians Hardest
A recent change in how federal officials are recommending the COVID-19 vaccine may have far-reaching implications for health equity in Georgia — especially for Black residents, who were among the hardest hit during the pandemic. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices shifted its recommendation for the COVID […]
Posted inHealth
Florida Vaccine Rollback Sparks Concerns for Black Families in Georgia
As Florida’s surgeon general announced earlier this week that the state plans to roll back vaccine mandates, some are wondering whether similar efforts could advance in Georgia. While there have been no formal proposals or public conversations from Georgia officials about ending vaccine mandates, health experts warn that the ripple effects from Florida could influence […]
Posted inCommunity, Economic Development, Food Access
Atlanta’s New Market Brings Fresh Food to a Former Food Desert
To combat food insecurity, Atlanta officials partnered with local companies to provide fresh and affordable options to downtown residents, workers, and college students. The two-story Azalea Market, located at 25 Peachtree St., plans to serve 5,500 shoppers per day. “We have been in a food desert for far too long. We have to make sure […]
Posted inHealth, Public Services
Where to Find Free HIV Testing in Atlanta as the South Faces a Crisis
As the South marks Southern HIV/AIDS Awareness Day today, local health organizations are sounding the alarm on a persistent public health crisis often overshadowed. “We’re still very much in an HIV epidemic,” Justin Smith, director of the Campaign to End AIDS at Positive Impact Health Centers, told Capital B Atlanta. “A lot of people assume […]
Posted inHealth
Health Alert: West Nile Virus Confirmed In Atlanta-Area Mosquitoes
Fulton County health officials confirmed that mosquitoes trapped in two locations in the county have tested positive for West Nile virus. The traps were located at the Atlanta Virtual Academy in the Grove Park neighborhood and the Hoyt Smith Recreation Center in Hapeville. To combat the threat, county officials said in a press release that […]
Posted inCommunity, Maternal Health, Mental Health
This Nurse’s Tiny House Clinic Is Reimagining Black Mental Health Care
In a state where mental health care access can be limited, especially for Black communities, one nurse is serving Black Atlantans in an unconventional way – by running a clinic on wheels. Psychiatric nurse practitioner Joanne Patterson launched a virtual practice in 2019 and served over 6,000 patients during the past six years. But after […]
Posted inHealth, Maternal Health, Politics & Policy
Mourners Attend Adriana Smith’s Funeral and Call Out Georgia Abortion Ban
After several months of controversy, the brain-dead woman, who leaves behind two children, was laid to rest in Lithonia.
Posted inHealth, Politics & Policy, Public Services
CDC Cuts HIV Communications, Leaving Vulnerable Black Georgians in the Dark
As infectious diseases like measles, salmonella, and hepatitis quietly spread across the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has gone largely silent. Of particular concern for Atlanta residents is the CDC’s lack of communication about HIV. According to the CDC, Georgia had the second-highest HIV diagnosis rate and the second-highest rate of HIV […]
Posted inEducation, Food Access, Health, Politics & Policy, Social Welfare, State Politics
Georgia Skips Feeding Kids This Summer as GOP Pushes SNAP Cuts
As Atlanta Public Schools are set to close for summer break next week, one of the main questions on Kimberly Dukes’ mind is how she will feed her children. The mother of 10, and executive director of the education advocacy group Atlanta Thrive, is well aware of the hardships many APS families face when schools […]