Contact: Howard Rieger,
hmrieger@gmail.com, 412-303-4942
Debra Smit, dsmit@breatheproject.org
412-760-7677
The 11th Southwest PA’s Resident-Led Air Quality Town Hall (SWPATHS) will continue its 2-year campaign to raise awareness around our region’s unhealthy air quality. Join us to hear Allegheny County executive candidate Sara Innamorato’s bold plan to address problems within the health department and more hard-hitting criticism of UPMC and AGH leadership.
The SWPATHS Town Hall will be held Tuesday, July 18, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.
MEDIA ARE INVITED TO ATTEND
Register here: bit.ly/swpaths11
In anticipation of the election for the next Allegheny County Executive, SWPATHS sent a questionnaire to candidates Sara Innamorato and Joe Rockey asking them to address the tragic consequences of the air pollution that has condemned our region to be one of the worst 1% of places in America for cancers, lung and heart diseases caused by air pollution. Ms. Innamorato responded; Mr. Rockey declined to answer.
“I will work with the Board of Health to find and hire someone who is clearly qualified for this job and has recognized environmental and public health credentials commensurate with the incredible, unique power of ACHD,” said Ms. Innamorato in her response. “It is a disservice to Allegheny County residents to require anything less.”
Complete results of the survey will be shared during the town hall.
During Town Hall #11, you also will hear first-hand from community members and medical practitioners including:
Glenn Olcerst who will address the role AHN and UPMC should play in addressing the impact air pollution has on our health & well-being. Dr. Deborah Gentile will report on how the high asthma rate impacts the lives of her patients in Clairton. Kathlene Skotnicki will report on the devastation that air pollution-related diseases have had on her family. Qiyam Ansari will share how his near-death experience from asthma caused by the pollution in his community has affected his quality of life. Dr. Ned Ketyer, president of Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania (PSR), will review the results of our questionnaire to candidates for Allegheny County Executive .
Recently, the founder of CleanMed and Practice Greenhealth gave environmental excellence awards to 25 of the leading U.S. hospitals honored for their sustainability commitment. These 25 hospitals demonstrate the kind of leadership, innovation, and performance that can drive the entire health sector toward more environmentally responsible practices and a more expansive definition of health.
In addition to the Top 25, Practice Greenhealth recognized an additional 368 health care organizations across 11 areas of sustainability through their annual Environmental Excellence Awards program.
You guessed it, neither UPMC nor AHN made the cut for any of these awards.
We asked UPMC and AHN executives at this conference to have a seat at the Air Quality table and, once again, got no follow-up. This is unacceptable and we need your help here. Enough is enough. Join us to learn more.