Drinking Tap Water From an Outsider’s Lens

Image: NYC Environmental Protection website

This post was written by Bronx Health REACH Intern Sandra Nakandakari Higa.

Growing up in Lima, Peru, my relationship with tap water was different from most people in the United States. I would use it to wash my body and rinse my mouth, but it would always stay on the surface, never letting it get inside my body. Peru is a county where typhoid and cholera can be present in water, and as such, before drinking, water must always be boiled to kill germs.

In Peru, as in many countries in South and Central America, the struggle to access safe drinking water is a complex problem with many layers. First, the source of water is a highly polluted river, with runoffs from mining and industrial activities. Second, treatment plants usually don’t have the technologies and capacities to remove hazards appropriately and their main approach to control bacterial levels is throwing an excessive amount of chlorine. This renders a potable water that fails to meet WHO standards for drinking. Lastly, often the underground water line is not protected and different contaminants leak into the stream. Thus, even if the water leaves treatment plants free of microbes, it can get contaminated on their way to the tap, forcing users to boil the water before consumption.

By contrast, the New York water supply has many layers of protection. First, the areas surrounding the two main sources of water, the Delaware and Catskill watersheds, are regulated to prevent hazards from getting into the source. The stream, pumped by gravity alone, travels via aqueducts to the Kenisco Reservoir, where water quality is constantly monitored and treated with appropriate levels of chlorine. Then, the water reaches the high-tech treatment plant in Westchester, where UV light (a safer and supplementary option for chlorine) is used to kill microbes. Next, right before the water enters the city, it stops at the Hillview Reservoir. There, water is monitored and treated again to disinfect it and the pH is raised to levels that prevent the leaking of harmful metals due to corrosion of the pipes. The water finally feeds the city through a huge network of pipes and around 1000 water-sampling stations throughout the city allow the regular testing for contaminants, including lead.  


After two years in the US, my perception of tap water has completely changed. When I first arrived in 2014, I only drank bottled water or filtered tap water. As immigrants, we take our culture and customs with us, which is an important practice that preserves our history and heritage. However, it is equally important to keep an open mind to change, especially when these changes improve quality of life and health. In New York City, we are fortunate to have access to high quality water all over the five boroughs, from a tap in the Empire State Building to a sink in a South Bronx apartment.  If you struggled coming up with reasons to choose tap water, it is time to reconsider. Making consumption of tap water a habit  should be easy, because the benefits are many for health, the environment and it’s free!


References:

“Water Problems in Latin America”. World Water Council, 22 Mar. 2004. Web. 4 May 2016.

Barlow, M. and Clarke, T. “The struggle for Latin America’s Water”. Global Policy Forum, Jul 2004. Web. 4 May 2016.

Rueb, Emily S. “How New York Gets Its Water”. The New York Times, Mar 2016. Web. 5 May 2016.

Gada Dickerson - Doing All That She Can to Help Improve the Health and Well-being of Bronx Residents

As the Health and Wellness Ministry Chairperson for Thessalonia Worship Center in the Bronx, Gada Dickerson always had an interest in health; not just her health, but improving the health and well-being of others. Her mother and father worked in a hospital, so it seemed natural for Gada to pursue a job as a hospital nurse. She enrolled and graduated from a nursing program, but as fate would have it, her nursing career was not to be. After completing the nursing program a hiring freeze went into effect at New York City public hospitals, which quickly limited her options. As a result, she changed her career focus and, instead, pursued a health services administration degree.

When Gada began attending Bronx Health REACH meetings, she discovered that Bronx Health REACH offered various health programs at Bronx churches. In time, Thessalonia Worship Center joined Bronx Health REACH's Faith Based Outreach Initiative. This Initiative helps faith organizations – of all denominations – raise their congregations awareness of racial and ethnic health disparities; provide health programming around nutrition and fitness, and diabetes prevention and management. The first program launched at Thessalonia Worship Center was Fine, Fit and Fabulous. It was well received by the congregation with 20 church members participating in the program. Gada pointed out that the reason for the success was, “Our late pastor, Dr. Rev. Shellie Sampson, Jr. was a big supporter of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. He viewed obesity as a daily struggle, and allowed us to use the banquet hall whenever we needed it for our Fine, Fit and Fabulous classes. Our current pastor, Reverend Malobe Sampson is also a big supporter."

Following on Fine, Fit and Fabulous, Thessalonia Worship Center implemented the culinary ministry which provided information on selecting, preparing, and serving healthy versions of favorite meals at church events. "Our church provided traditional fare such as macaroni and cheese, fried fish, fried chicken, and collard greens which are not the healthiest options. A Bronx Health REACH nutritionist spoke to the church kitchen staff that had been preparing the meals, and eventually there were changes made that included using less fat and salt, offering fruit and salad at the start of the buffet table, and reducing portion sizes," Gada noted.

As a lifelong South Bronx resident Gada sees many health challenges faced by those living in the community. “When I go grocery shopping and see other shoppers filling their shopping carts with unhealthy items such as frozen pizza and hot pockets, I wonder, where are the fruits and vegetables? If you eat fruits and vegetables as a child, you will continue eating them as an adult. People have to make health a priority in their life.”

For now, Gada is focused on improving the health of her fellow church members. “Our church is always doing a healthy program, and since I am on various email lists, I am able to get Thessalonia Worship Center involved in a variety of health programs. Currently our church is doing blood pressure readings every Sunday for church members.” Whether it be at her church, or a #Not62 – Campaign for A Healthy Bronx! Town Hall event, you can be certain that Gada is doing all that she can to help improve the health and well-being of her fellow Bronx residents.

Testifying in Support of More PE Funding for South Bronx Schools

This post was written by Victor Gidarisingh, Program Coordinator for the Creating Healthy Schools and Communities program.

When New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer released his report, “Dropping the Ball: Disparities in Physical Education in New York City Schools,” which points out that many NYC schools have not been meeting the state mandate for physical education, due to a number of challenges such as insufficient numbers of certified physical education instructors, limited training for existing teachers, and space constraints, in effect, he was declaring that physical education, which had not been a priority in New York City public elementary schools now was. Through that report, Comptroller Stringer was speaking for schools in Districts 7, 8, 9, and 12. I had visited these schools through the winter and spring and witnessed that they did indeed lack adequate staffing, space, and resources for physical education.

A few weeks ago I found myself downtown at City Hall, not to have a leisurely stroll on the Brooklyn Bridge, but to represent Bronx Health REACH, a member of the Phys Ed for All Coalition. I was there to provide testimony supporting increased funding for PE in New York City public schools, especially those in the South Bronx. Even though physical education mattered to me, as I was sitting in the Committee Room at City Hall for the first time in my life, I was not certain if that was the case for the other strange and important audience members also assembled to provide testimony. 

After waiting almost four hours to be called, it was my turn to give testimony. As I reached out and gripped the microphone I felt my heart leap to my throat. I felt like a rookie quarterback, called up to play in the fourth quarter preparing for the final drive. But my team was those South Bronx schools in Districts 7, 8, 9, and 12, and I needed to deliver for them. Tucking my chin, I testified that those schools in the South Bronx, specifically those in Districts 7 and 12 had not been beneficiaries of the PE Works program, while District 9 schools with the program had made great strides. As I made this point, I could see Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson nod approvingly as this is her district. I went on to emphasize that physical activity should not be divorced from the academic achievement in students through integrated learning. I assured the Council members that PE would flourish if funding made its way to those districts that needed it the most, like those in the South Bronx. When it does, students attending those Bronx schools will not only improve their health outcomes, but their academic outcomes will also improve.

Dr. Eric Gayle – A Commitment and Passion for Providing Underserved Communities with High Quality Medical Care

Bronx Health REACH continues its series on individuals who have made a significant contribution to not only the Institute for Family Health, but to the African-American, Black and Latino communities in the Bronx where they have been strong activists for needed change. A notable member of this group of change agents is Dr. Eric Gayle, Vice President, Medical Services and Regional Medical Director, in New York City for the Institute for Family Health. Dr. Gayle also mentors minority students who are interested in careers in medicine, and leads the Institute’s credentialing committee.

Growing up in Kingston, Jamaica Dr. Eric Gayle quickly learned that a community lacking robust healthcare means having to wake up at 4:30 in the morning to stand in line for hours to be seen by a doctor. To Dr. Gayle, this did not seem right, and those experiences influenced him to become a doctor. The path to becoming a doctor began following his arrival in New York with his mother after completing high school in Jamaica. Dr. Gayle found having to navigate getting into college and medical school in the United States had its challenges. One was the few financial resources available to him; the other was improving his language skills since his spoken language was his native Jamaican patois. He found that he had to work hard to enhance his own standing in the eyes of others for them to give him access to opportunities. After determining the best avenue for getting into medical school, Dr. Gayle enrolled at the Sophie Davis Biomedical Education/CUNY School of Medicine, beginning his path to a career in medicine.

One class he took opened his eyes to the poor health services many New Yorkers received. Dr. Gayle had to review health services offered to the Harlem community and in doing so he was shocked to learn that Harlem residents received the same poor health services as Dr. Gayle experienced growing up in Jamaica. As a Bronx resident Dr. Gayle also observed that his neighbors in the community were not getting what they needed to become healthy. After completing his B.S. from the Sophie Davis Biomedical Education/CUNY School of Medicine, Dr. Gayle transferred to the Mount Sinai School of Medicine to complete his medical degree. He then did his residency in family medicine at Beth Israel Hospital, and upon completion of his residency in 1998, went to work at one of the Institute for Family Health’s (IFH), clinics in the Bronx.

His current responsibilities relate to the overall operations of the IFH New York City clinical centers. Dr. Gayle is responsible for ensuring that there is enough provider staff at all IFH centers, and that providers meet expectations on the quality of care for patients. "We are here for the patients, to improve their health and to serve the community. My principal responsibility is to give all health centers everything they need to be successful and meet that objective. Even though practicing in underserved communities is not easy, I can impact someone’s health by prescribing medication or offering them advice. It is hard to impact some of the social determinants of their health. Those are outside my control," says Dr. Gayle.

From his days growing up in Jamaica, Dr. Gayle knows what his patients are experiencing when it comes to accessing healthcare in underserved communities. "I know what it means to be in poverty and have social determinants impact your health. When my mother and I arrived in New York we did not have health insurance so I understand what my patients are going through and I have an understanding of what it takes to get them through these challenges," says Dr. Gayle. Addressing the current state of health disparities, Dr. Gayle believes there is more work to be done. "I don’t think we have impacted social determinants of health. I see there is dialogue and research but nothing has been done to improve income equality or housing, as many are still dealing with the same issues that were there 20 years ago. People are struggling to find food. Why does that continue to be a problem? It would take commitment and resources such as money to revamp the whole system," says Dr. Gayle.


A commitment to providing underserved communities with high quality medical care is what has been a guiding passion throughout Dr. Gayle’s career. So what advice would he give to those graduating medical school seeking a similar career but who are graduating with $200,000-$300,000 in student debt? “Though, this may be seen as a significant barrier I tell students not to be discouraged. If you have the passion, and really want to do this work, you can be successful," says Dr. Gayle.