COVID-19 study brings support for Edmonton Black-led agencies and businesses

A pick-uptruck packed with thousands of face masks setout formultiple Black organizations and businesses in Edmonton last week.

The donation from MHCare Medical comes after a national study revealed the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black Canadians research thathas also caught the eye of federal health officials.

"Canada's definitelypaying attention to our study," said Dunia Nur, co-author of the report and president of the African Canadian Civic Engagement Council (ACCEC), in an interview on Friday.

"People are listening and aside from listening, they're ready with the actionable items of implementation."

• Black Canadians hit hard by COVID-19, new national study shows

Conducted in partnership with the Innovative Research Group, the study found Black Canadians are more likely than other Canadians to be infected, hospitalized or know someone who has died from COVID-19.

Black Canadians also reported being more likely to experience layoffs or a negativeimpact on household finances due to the virus.

Those grim figures first reported by CBC News grabbed the attention of executives at Edmonton-based MHCare Medical, a major supplier of personal protective equipment and the company that donated 10,000 masks.

"We jumped on the opportunity to help and give back," said vice president Imen Haymourbefore he and his team loaded boxes of masks onto the delivery truck on Friday. "And we're grateful that we can help."

• Marginalized Edmontonians in need of masks, advocates say

When the pandemic hit,demand for protective gear spiked, recalled Haymour. Within months, MHCare Medicalbrought in more than 200 million pieces of personal protective equipmentto supply health institutions and government sectors in Alberta.

"And that really opened our eyes tohow many susceptible people are out there that either can't afford the PPE(personal protective equipment) that they need,or don't know where to find it," Haymour said.

The company is also supplying free PPE to shelters in Edmonton and Calgary and sending supplies to Beirut to help with recovery efforts after last month's devastatingexplosion.

In Edmonton, the ACCEC is redistributing the masks to the Somali Cultural Society of Edmonton, Black Lives Matter Edmonton, theBoyle McCauley Dental Clinic and severalother organizations.

"My community, the salon, everybody we need it. Andwe are really grateful for that."- Mariatu Sesay, Almaria Beauty Salon

Recipients also include Black businesses such as Almaria Beauty Salon And Spa where masks are mandatory for all clients and service providers acost that quickly adds up.

"I was so happy when (Dunia)called me and told me," said ownerMariatu Sesaywhose salon also offers barber shop services and a hub for community to gather.

"My community, the salon, everybody we need it. Andwe are really grateful for that."

10,000 face masks donated to Edmonton Black entrepreneurs and organizations

4 years ago

Duration 1:28

MHCare Medical donates ten thousand masks to Black community groups showcased in recent CBC Edmonton story.

The study waspublished last week after warnings from advocates and researchers that a lack of race-based data in Canada was preventing those most affected by the pandemic from getting the help they need.

Inquiryfrom Public Health Agency of Canada

Among agenciesinterestedin the research,the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has requested more information from Nur, who has also been presented with newfunding opportunities.

PHAC said a new initiativeis underwayto ensure Canada has the data it needs to protect the health of all people in Canada and support the economy.Anexpanded dataset will be in operation by October 2020.

"Improving data on race and ethnicity, Indigenous identity, occupation and socio-economic variables such as dwelling type are also priorities," PHAC spokesperson Tammy Jarbeau wrote in an email.

Backed by the findings of the study, Nur said the priority now is to talk to federal and provincial government officials in the hopes of seeing policy implementation that best supports the needs of Black Canadians during COVID-19.

"That will show if we have elected a government that genuinely cares for the people," Nur said.

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.