Making Sense of the Census
By Julie Menin, Director of NYC
Census 2020 AND Kristina Newman-
Scott, President of BRIC.
With COVID-19 at the top of everyone’s
minds, it’s important to take a
moment to appreciate and thank the
workers that are keeping our city going.
From our doctors, nurses and
health officials, to bus drivers and
conductors, to the essential workers
keeping our city running, we’re relying
on our public services more and
more every day.
And now, they’re counting on us.
Because to keep our public services
fully funded and working for the
next decade, we need to make sure all
of us are counted in the 2020 Census.
This is why NYC Census 2020 and
BRIC partnered to create a new PSA
demonstrating why doing the census
is one of the most important ways to
support our communities in these difficult
times.
With the coronavirus introducing
new challenges to our communities,
the census could not be more important.
Now more than ever, we are seeing
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Caribbean L 14 ife, April 10-16, 2020
Cuba dispatches 140 medics to
help fight covid-19 in Jamaica
Cuban medics arrive in Jamaica to help the country in its fi ght against coronavirus.
Jamaica Information Service
By Vinette K. Pryce
One hundred and forty Cubans
arrived at Jamaica’s Norman Manley
Airport last week to help their beleaguered
neighbor distressed by the ravages
of the coronavirus, which already
has claimed 19 cases on the island.
Wearing green, protective coverings
across the lower half of their faces the
cadre seemed ready to tackle the task of
reducing the rate of infection and stopping
the growing list of casualties.
According to reports, the majority of
the dispatched Cuban health workers
represent female doctors and nurses
with more than 20 years of experience
in Cuba’s public health system.
“We will assist our sister nation,”
Eduardo Ropero, spokesperson for the
group said. “We are proud of following
the principles of the Cuban collaboration.”
Met by Dr. Christopher Tufton, the
island’s minister of health and wellness,
the team comprised nurses specialized
in critical care, emergency, medical
surgical and primary care, internists,
hematologists, therapists and 46 doctors.
“I want to take this opportunity to
say a big thank you to the government
and people of Cuba for being here and
sending the professionals. We really
appreciate the support as usual,” Dr.
Tufton said.
Accompanied by Cuban ambassador
Ines Fors Fernandez afterwards Dr.
Tufton escorted the group through the
Kingston gateway where they delivered
a message of solidarity with Jamaica
and expressed determination to assist in
containing the deadly disease.
In keeping with the island’s adapted
protocol of confining arrivals to a 14-day
quarantine the group was immediately
taken to an area for isolation.
The two nations have enjoyed diplomatic
relations since 1975 with Cuba
contributing to the health and education
sectors and with medical collaborations
and assistance during hurricanes
and other emergencies.
“We, along with Cuban doctors
already working in Jamaica as part of
a bilateral agreement between the two
governments, are committed to helping
address COVID-19,” Ropero added.
Inside the terminal the delegation
displayed their one-star flag in a gesture
of pride and loyalty to the much-maligned
revolutionary Caribbean nation,
still ostracized however relaxed since
President Barack Obama restored diplomacy
with the United States.
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how much we all rely on our public
services: our hospitals, healthcare,
roads and bridges, transit, schools
and countless other programs.
The census is also vital because
census data is being used to determine
our responses to crises. The
communities hit hardest by COVID-19
are some of the most historically undercounted
in the census. If New York
City does not have a complete count, it
hurts the funding, political representation,
and data needed to serve these
communities.
Luckily, since the census is available
online, over the phone, and by
mail, you can get counted on your
own from home. In other words, you
can still fight for social justice while
social distancing.
“Making Sense of the Census” is a
weekly column from Julie Menin, Director
of NYC Census 2020. Every week
we will be publishing pieces from Julie
and guest authors laying out the facts
and answering tough questions about
this year’s census. Fill out the census
now at my2020census.gov.
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