In order to avoid that change, those who could not manufacture a plan manufactured and marketed fear. They enjoyed the support of radical fringe groups–groups primarily from outside of our community. While pointing accusing fingers, they played the politics of race and class.

They predicted doom and death. Their predictions were wrong. They tried to paralyze us with fear. They failed–but not entirely.

Some of our District neighbors believed the lie that DC General would be little more than a first aid station. They were initially afraid to go. Some of our District neighbors believed the lie that DC General was completely closed. They initially stopped going for the primary and preventive care that continued to be available at DC General. Scared away from DC General, our neighbors were cared for where they went.

But as we have seen so clearly demonstrated in our community since September 11, 2001, we don't scare easily, and we don't stay scared. As the young folks say, "We represent."

Your Department of Health (DOH) has represented you and the District residents for whom we work quite well. The planning, vision, and actions of the Department of Health's Sherry Adams brought the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to the District within hours of the confirmation of anthrax in the District. Our Department of Health's earlier public health upgrade from diagnosis to symptom reporting led the Inova Fairfax Hospital in Virginia to call the District's health department to report the initial suspicions of what turned out to be the milestone case that changed the world's thinking about the dangers from inhalation anthrax faced by mail handlers.

Page 2 of 8        1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8