As Black History Month begins, it is necessary for us all to consider how public health and social justice are inextricably connected. We are a city that believes that when there is injustice, inequality, or threats to hope and opportunity, we are obligated to act. In Baltimore, we are working everyday with our communities to reduce health disparities.

Earlier this week, we recognized National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day with community events across the city to educate about HIV/AIDS and to provide testing services. In Baltimore, 13,000 people live with HIV/AIDS. African-Americans are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS and are more likely to die from HIV than their white counterparts. In partnership with community leaders, our efforts have potentially prevented thousands of infections in Baltimore—reversing tragic trends—and saving countless lives in our city.

We cannot afford to lose the next generation to this potentially deadly, but preventable disease. We must reduce the burden of HIV that African-American men, women, and young adults bear. This is a matter of health and social justice.

As the country’s oldest continuously operating health department, we have never taken a back seat to public health. On Thursday, I testified in Annapolis in support of the Maryland Working Families Act (SB230), which would extend earned sick leave to more than 700,000 Marylanders. Paid sick leave is a public health necessity and this bill is about being on the right side of history. Workers without paid sick days are more likely to go to work sick, spread illnesses to others, and delay needed medical care. Studies show that this leads to prolonged illness and expensive ER visits, and it is even more costly for our society as a result.  Providing paid sick leave is the humane thing to do. With this bill, we can protect the health of employees and the health of our residents in Baltimore and across the state.

Across Baltimore we are continuing to invest in public health, because we know that it is also an investment in public safety. On Monday, I joined Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis, State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, Councilmen Eric Costello, Bill Henry, Brandon Scott, and leaders from Behavioral Health Systems Baltimore and the Open Society Institute to announce the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) pilot project. LEAD is a pre-booking diversion program where individuals caught with small amounts of drugs will be offered treatment instead of incarceration. As I mentioned on NPR’s On Point this week, reducing the stigma associated with substance use disorder is based on science: addiction is a chronic disease, not a moral failing. Addressing addiction as a crime is unethical, unscientific, and inhumane.

We applaud and thank our many partners across Baltimore City for adopting an innovative and collaborative approach based in evidence and public health in order to combat the many disparities faced by our residents. By increasing access to treatment—from HIV/AIDS to substance use disorders—we are making Baltimore a safer and healthier city.

Sincerely, 

Leana Wen, M.D., M.Sc.