In public health, it is our duty to protect the most vulnerable populations, from babies to seniors.

As an expecting mother, I know that prenatal care is essential to a baby’s good health. This week, BCHD hosted a celebration for 11 graduates from the Nursing Family Partnership, a program that supports first-time expecting parents by pairing them with nurses who provide important resources and encouragement. Programs like NFP support women with essential education and empower mothers to build healthy families.

Baltimore never takes a backseat to public health. Public health saves lives every day, but because there is no face of prevention, it is often difficult to make the case for our core services that protect and promote health for our residents.

This past week, the dedicated team at BCHD presented our programs and services to the Baltimore City Council. I always say that I have the best job in the world, and I was very proud to represent the dedicated women and men of BCHD who are on the frontlines every day to work on maternal and child health, senior services, trauma and mental healthcare, violence prevention, HIV/AIDS and STD services, environmental health, and much more.

Every day in our city, two people lose their lives due to overdose. These are not random people—they are our friends, family, and fellow community members. These deaths are particularly tragic because there is a life-saving medication, naloxone, that can reverse an opioid overdose. 

Naloxone gives everyone the power to save a life, which is why I first issued a standing order to Baltimore’s 620,000 residents in October 2015. As a result, more than 800 lives have been saved from overdose by fellow residents. 

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Every day, I am proud to work at the Baltimore City Health Department with nearly a thousand dedicated women and men who support the most vulnerable in our community. We deliver core services such as preventing deadly outbreaks, ensuring sanitation in food service facilities, and caring for both human and animal residents in their time of need.

One of our core services is healthcare access, which is being threatened by the recent proposal passed in the House of Representatives to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. On Monday, I joined U.S. Representatives Elijah Cummings and John Sarbanes at a Town Hall to discuss the importance of Medicaid to Baltimore, and how it serves as the safety net for our most vulnerable residents, including our children, families, seniors, and those with mental illness and addiction.