Rushanara Ali BAME Covid-19 Review

Rushanara Ali on BAME Covid-19 Review

Dr. Mozammel Haque

Rt. Hon. Rushanara Ali Member of Parliament for Bethnal Green and Bow in reply to my email said,  “The disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups is just one example of the discrimination and structural injustice we face as a society.”

She Also mentioned, “The Government’s recent report into the impact of Covid-19 and BAME communities concluded what we already know - that health inequalities amplify the risk of Covid-19, meaning that those living in the poorest parts of our country, as well as those from BAME backgrounds, have a higher risk of death during this pandemic.”

“It found that people of Bangladeshi background face the greatest danger of dying from the disease, and are twice as likely to die from it compared to those from white British backgrounds. Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, Other Asian, Caribbean and Other Black ethnicities had between 10 and 50% greater risk of dying,” said Rushanara Ali MP for Bethnal Green and Bow.

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Speaking about Tower Hamlets, she mentioned, “Here in Tower Hamlets, we have one of the largest ethnic minority populations in the UK which means that many families have been badly affected by this virus. Locally, we are doing everything we can together in partnership with the council, hospitals, GP surgeries, charities, community volunteers, mosques, churches, synagogues, and other faith organisations to protect people and save lives. Unfortunately, this is an uphill struggle. Tower Hamlets has the 4th worst age-standardised death rate in the country.”

Referring to Health Service Journal, Rushanara Ali, MP, said, “The Health Service Journal reported that the Government removed a key section from this report, which included responses from thousands of organisations and individuals who supplied evidence. I joined colleagues to call on the Government to publish all sections of this vital report, this should not have been delayed.” 

“The findings from the report are crucial, yet, the Government has failed to set out the actions it will take to tackle these disparities. I have called on the Government to act immediately to protect BAME communities and other vulnerable groups in response to the virus and to tackle the wider inequalities in our society that caused this injustice,” said Member of Parliament for Bethnal Green and Bow.

Rushanara Ali also mentioned that she has given a speech on the Covid-19 impact on BAME communities which can be seen in youTube.  She was also interviewed on BBC Radio 4 PM programme.