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Ruth Caballero, RN, VNSNY By Chandra Wilson During Black History Month, in addition to celebrating the remarkable achievements of African Americans throughout history, it is important to think about how race and ethnicity affect health and quality of life.  Health disparities can be particularly dangerous when people are not aware or don’t understand that they’re at risk. Creating awareness, both within the medical community and among individuals whose lives are impacted by disparities, is a critical step toward better health for all. We hear a lot these days about how social determinants of health—or the economic and social conditions that influence individual or group health status—are responsible for health disparities among different populations. Closing those gaps in care is what the not-for-profit Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY) has been doing for more than 129 years—ever since founder Lillian Wald first cared for vulnerable New Yorkers on Manhattan’s Lower E...

Gov. Kathy Hochul met virtually on Tuesday with education leaders from across the state as debate ratchets up over mask mandates in schools. Mike Groll / Office of Governor Kathy Hochul By Christina Veiga, Chalkbeat New York New York’s health commissioner told lawmakers on Tuesday that there is no date set for lifting the state’s mask mandate in schools, as the governor met with education leaders to map out next steps when it comes to pandemic safety protocols.  Mask requirements in schools have been a flashpoint throughout the pandemic . The debate has ratcheted up recently with governors in nearby states including New Jersey, Delaware, and Connecticut announcing sunsets to such mandates. There is surprisingly little rigorous evidence about the effectiveness – or the harms – of masking students. But polls have consistently shown that most parents and a majority of adults support masking in classrooms , so withdrawing mandates might discourage families from sending their c...

By Chandra Wilson It’s American Heart Month, and there’s no better time to raise awareness of the signs of hypertensive heart disease (HHD), which is better known as hypertension, or elevated blood pressure. Hypertension is often called the “silent killer” because, as reported by the American Heart Association (AHA), nearly half of all Americans have hypertension, and many don’t even realize it. The facts are clear. HHD is the leading cause of death for all Americans. For African American men and women, the risk for developing HHD is even higher, as roughly 40 percent are estimated to have high blood pressure. The condition increases with age, and if not properly managed can lead to heart failure, coronary artery disease, kidney failure, and other serious health issues.  However, with early diagnosis and proper treatment, hypertension is reversible. Ruth Caballero, RN, a public health nurse with the Visiting Nurse Service of New York for more than two decades, provides home...

College Student Sold Assault Rifles, Handguns and High Capacity Magazines to Undercover Officer, Prosecutors said Assault rifles, handguns and high-capacity magazines were seized during an investigation into gun running. -Photo from Bronx DA's Office A college student is accused of being a one-man gun pipeline into the Bronx and Manhattan after being busted with 73 weapons, including assault rifles and high capacity magazines. The student is charged with transporting guns from his college town in the south into NYC and selling them to an undercover cop. Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and New York City Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell announced that a 23-year-old man has been indicted on hundreds of counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm, Criminal Possession of a Firearm and related charges for trafficking 73 weapons and high capacity magazines to the Bronx and Manhattan, where they were sold to an undercover NYPD officer. Shakor Rodriguez, 23, poses with an assault ri...

Tennant advocates rally outside Manhattan Civil Court, Dec. 11, 2021. | Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY By Rachel Holliday Smith, THE CITY  This article was  originally published  on  Jan 14 at 9:52am EST  by  THE CITY With no indication that Albany lawmakers will move to extend the state’s pause on most evictions, New York’s pandemic-era moratorium is set to sunset on Saturday. That means that the nearly 200,000 city eviction cases against New Yorkers currently pending in Housing Court will begin to move forward once again as early as Tuesday. Muriel Robbins is among them. The 54-year-old tenant lives in a Pelham Bay apartment with two cats, Garfield and Patchie Poo, and supports herself on Social Security, she said. She got sick in the month before the pandemic, and remained hospitalized for several months as the COVID-19 crisis unfolded, recovering from a ruptured gallbladder and other organ issues, she said. “I wasn’t thinking straight really, m...

Governor Kathy Hochul delivers remarks at the first meeting of the Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns in East Greenbush. -Photo by Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul New York State Police, NYPD, ATF and More Than 50 Multi-State Law Enforcement Representatives Met to Share Data and Resources to Stop the Flow of Illegal Guns   NYSP Will Also Convene Local Law Enforcement Agencies Across New York As Part of Collaboration    Governor Hochul led the first meeting of the Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns.  The multi-state consortium convened to share intelligence, tools, tactics, and strategies to combat gun violence, especially as it relates to the trafficking of firearms between states. Among other things, the State Police discussed the latest tools and technologies available as well as analysis of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and other data sources in furtherance of this endeav...

File Photo Homebound for the Holidays? Tips for mental health in difficult times By Deirdré DeLeo, Associate Director of Programs and Clinical Operations, Visiting Nurse Service of New York The holiday season is often referred to as the “most wonderful time of the year,” but for many, including those who are elderly or homebound, the holidays can heighten feelings of isolation, grief, and upset.  This year may be especially difficult for those experiencing the “holiday blues,” as the COVID-19 pandemic has generated fear, distance, and the absence of traditional communal activities. Many times, however, these “blues” are a symptom of something much greater, such as depression, anxiety, or even self-destructive ideation. Nearly one in four adults ages 65 and older reported experiencing depression or anxiety in August 2020, a rate that has been steady since the start of the pandemic, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Similarly, 46% of older adults in...