NHH to fly Black Lives Matter flag for the first time as part of Black History Month activities
Northumberland Hills Hospital (NHH) will commemorate Black History Month by flying a Black Lives Matter flag throughout the month of February.
The move—a first for the hospital—fulfils one of many recommendations, from NHH’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee (EDIAC), and was endorsed with unanimous support from the Senior Leadership Team.
Flying now alongside the Canadian flag, the Black Lives Matter flag is one of several activities planned at NHH this month to advance internal conversations, awareness and understanding about systemic Black racism and its harmful impact on the experience of providers, patients, and caregivers alike throughout the broader health care system.
During the month of February, NHH’s EDIAC is coordinating a variety of activities for staff, physicians, midwives, and volunteers to explore—through written material, lunch-and-learns, a speaker-led talk by Dr. Roberta Timothy, and training opportunities—timely issues related to Black racism while, at the same time, increasing awareness about the contributions made by Black people to the field of modern medicine.
“NHH’s new Shared Purpose is People First. To honour this bold statement, we must acknowledge that racism, including Black racism, still exists in everyday life, including the health care sector,” said Susan Walsh, President and CEO. “It’s critical to recognize the harmful impact that discrimination has on patients, caregivers, and health care providers alike who are marginalized by racism. Dismantling complex racial barriers is very much a work in progress, even in Canada. Flying the Black Lives Matter flag is one of many small steps that NHH is taking to reinforce the point that, like many organizations, we still have work to do before we can say we are truly equitable and inclusive. We are committed to listening, learning, and advocating for the delivery of safe, equitable care for all, and we are grateful to be part of a community that stands united in its commitment to continue working for equity, for all.”