National recognition for health equality taskforce
The BLACHIR (Birmingham & Lewisham African & Caribbean Health Inequalities Review) Integrated Care System Taskforce won the corporate achievement of the year award at the National Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Health and Care Awards.
The ICS Taskforce - hosted by the BCHC equality, diversity and inclusion team and chaired by deputy chief medical officer Tonye Sikabofori - is responsible for implementing the health-related priorities of the 39 opportunities for action identified in the review, to improve the health and wellbeing of Black African and Black Caribbean citizens across Birmingham and Solihull.
The award recognises the hard work and commitment of system-wide partners since the launch of the taskforce in 2022. Their drive for change and endeavours to make a difference to the health outcomes of this part of our population is the reason we were very honoured to receive this award on behalf of the Taskforce.
The theme for this year’s awards was 'achieving tangible change' and we commend our Trust and partners for ensuring that we are proactively striving to embed this in the services that we deliver.
We are grateful to all our partners who are an integral part of initiating and sustaining BLACHIR including our community engagement partners for being our 'lens' for change; Birmingham City Council director of public health Dr Justin Varney for his vision to make this work a reality; and our Birmingham and Solihull ICB partners for their vision to sustain the system-wide taskforce.
If you would like to know more about the work of the Taskforce please contact Tonye Sikabofori or Farhana Darwich.