By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
The Global network’s news coverage of Northumberland Hills Hospital’s first-ever declaration of Black History Month and the raising of the Black Lives Matter Flag is part of a bigger effort, hospital President and Chief Executive Officer Susan Walsh said at the hospital board’s February meeting.
Board members got a viewing of the clip to see it for themselves.
Walsh said this was done on the recommendation of the hospital’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee. And it was not the first such recommendation, she added, singling out such recent NHH observances at NHH as is just one outcome from the committee’s recommendations.
“We continue to spotlight significant dates for awareness and education,” she said, singling out such occasions as World Braille Day on Jan. 4, Lunar New Year on Jan. 22 and Holocaust Remembrance Day on Jan. 27.
Walsh’s report said that the flying of this particular flag is “a first for NHH and, we believe, many organizations in the area.”
And throughout February, a number of activities are planned in honour of Black History Month, including a lunch-and-learn event.
“Flying the Black Lives Matter flag is one of the recommendations from NHH’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee, and its flying was to advance internal conversations, awareness and understanding about systemic black racism and the harmful impact it has on patients, providers and caregivers,” Board Chair Beth Selby said.
“Congratulations to the senior leadership team for taking this bold step forward.”
