Avondale welcomes first black-owned pharmacy

By: Jessica Hart CINCINNATI — A Black-owned pharmacy in Avondale is planning to make health care more accessible for underserved communities. Dr. Emmanuel Ayanjoke is the owner of Altev Community Pharmacy. His pharmacy provides a free discount program that slashes prices. “It’s all about our patients,” Ayanjoke said. “It’s all about our dedication to their care.” Community leaders said Altev is the only pharmacy in their neighborhood. They said it’s been 17 years since Avondale had a pharmacy. “It means a lot for the community, for our community, because we have a lot of Black people in our community,” said Avondale Community Leader Quentin Taylor. “They don’t have cars. They can’t get to [their] medicine.” Taylor said having a Black pharmacist in the neighborhood will break down barriers, creating more trust between the Black community and the healthcare system. “Because it makes the Black people comfortable, coming to the pharmacy … talking to him every day and he understands where we come from,” Taylor said. “He takes good care of me,” said Wanda White, one of Ayanjoke’s patients. After she talked with Dr. Manny, she immediately switched to his pharmacy. “Sometimes I don’t want to do like the doctor tells...