Sankofa Health Experience plans to address Black health disparities

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Black BRAND is ‘shaping a healthier future’ for the Black community in Hampton Roads. The Sankofa Health Experience is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 16 at 520 E. Main St. Ste. 4 in Norfolk. Seventeen medical professionals will come together to address racial disparities in healthcare. The panel will address women’s health concerns, cardiology, psychology and mental health. The discussion will combat the trust issues that exist in the Black community within healthcare.  “We know that members of the Black community are far more likely to experience horrible outcomes as it relates to even just showing up for assistance,” said Blair Durham, CEO of Black BRAND, also known as, the Black Chamber of Commerce Hampton Roads. “There are malpractice issues, and these are longstanding issues that we’re really looking to address. Our mission is around narrowing the racial wealth gap. In order to build wealth, we have to actually be around.” The issue of distrust dates back decades. Some of the reasons behind the distrust are statistics like this, that Black women are more likely to die during childbirth. Said Durham: “[Black women] could die in childbirth because she’s not being heard, she’s not...