Personal Injury Law

Jacksonville's Dubious Distinction

By Eddie Farah

Here's something the city is not going to be adding to its Chamber of Commerce brochures.

The city's infant mortality rate continues to be the highest in Florida. The black community of Jacksonville has nearly twice the infant deaths of white families, according to the Jacksonville Community Council Inc.

It is inexcusable that in 2006, 130 infants died before their first birthday in Jacksonville.

The mortality rate overall in the city is 9.5% with the rate for whites 7.2% and for blacks 12.7% in 2006.

This is not something the city wants to be known for. Jacksonville was just named as one of Forbes Top Ten Cities for Retiring. Many Fortune 500 companies are eyeing the city for future expansion.

And besides the economic incentive of improving numbers, it's simply just not right.

How to fix the problem. The Council suggests that poor nutrition could be addressed by opening more grocery stores in the city. The high price of gasoline will surely exacerbate the problem without more options locally, which logically might include producing food by growing it, locally, and seasonally.

Another option proposed is turning to an Ombudsman program to help expectant mothers navigate the difficulties of access to heath care and to be their advocate. However we address the problem, it will reflect just what kind of city we want to be.

"Racism, poverty, poor housing, crime, poor education, access to medical care and joblessness is killing our babies," said Joy Burgess, a member of the study team.

Full post as published by Jacksonville Personal Injury Lawyer on June 07, 2008 (boomark / email).