Health

UPDATE Bedford Park: MTA “Heartbroken” Over Death of Female Transit Worker at Mosholu Maintenance Yard

By SÍLE MOLONEY & DAVID GREENE
The MTA has announced the death of a female transit worker who was only three months into her role at its Mosholu maintenance yard in Bedford Park.   In a brief statement on Thursday, Aug. 11, the agency wrote, “The Transit family is heartbroken to have lost a colleague as she was putting a train into service at the Mosholu Yard to help move New Yorkers, and we are conducting a thorough investigation to determine what happened.”   The agency said the victim, Azure Forde, 38, joined NYC Transit on May 15, 2022, as a train operator.     Breaking


Read More

District 14 City Council Member Pierina Sanchez Announces Birth of Baby

By SÍLE MOLONEY
District 14 City Council Member Pierina Sanchez, who represents the neighborhoods of Morris Heights, University Heights, Fordham, Kingsbridge, has given birth to a new baby. The councilwoman announced the news on her social media platform on Thursday, Aug. 11, writing in both Spanish and English, “After an action-packed summer with votes, interviews, block parties and even our baby shower, “Bebé” decided to make their debut!”   She continued, “Mami and Bebé are healthy, and Papi and I now understand when new parents say they are so in love with their bebes!  I’ll be taking time to recover, embrace motherhood, and


Read More

Health Check: Celebrating National Breastfeeding Month

By CLAIRE GARON
Imagine that you’re about to start training for a challenging sport. Perhaps you’re learning how to lift weights or training for your first race. Now, imagine doing this with a crying newborn and four hours of sleep. This is a lot like learning to breastfeed. August is World Breastfeeding Month and a perfect time to talk about the joys and (totally normal) challenges of breastfeeding.   There are many similarities between breastfeeding and starting a new fitness routine; both are physical activities with great health benefits. You will need knowledge and determination to reach either goal. At the start of


Read More

Heat Advisory in Effect from Aug. 8 at 3.23 a.m. to Aug. 9 at 8 p.m., Temperatures in Lower 100s Possible

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a heat advisory which will be in effect from 3:23 a.m. until Aug. 9 at 8 p.m. NWS officials said heat index values indicate that temperatures  in the lower 100s are possible in The Bronx and in all of New York City, with high humidity forecast which may cause heat related illnesses to occur.   New York City residents are advised to call 311 to identify cooling center locations and obtain “Beat the Heat” safety tips. NWS officials said a heat advisory is issued when the combination of heat and humidity is expected


Read More

UPDATE Neighborhood Notes: Polio Vaccine Updates, Free Legal Advice on DV, Overdose Prevention & More!

By SÍLE MOLONEY
August 23 Primary Election As reported, the NY Supreme Court postponed the congressional and State senate primary elections to Aug. 23, amid the latest court decisions around congressional and State redistricting which followed the 2020 census. A court-appointed special master approved new congressional and State senate districts in New York State on May 20. These replaced the maps previously approved by the State legislature in February 2022.   The CUNY Graduate Center has made available online comparative maps at the following link https://newyork.redistrictingandyou.org/ to enable voters to determine their current congressional and State legislative districts and to see how the latest redistricting


Read More

City Announces New Measures to Reduce Overdoses, including Rates of 75.3 percent in Hunts Point-Mott Haven

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Mayor Eric Adams and the City’s health commissioner, Dr. Ashwin Vasan, announced new measures to reduce the number of overdoses in New York City on Friday, Aug. 5. They intend to reverse what they said was the staggering increase in overdose deaths since 2020 by expanding access to technology that tests pre-obtained drugs for fentanyl and other possibly lethal substances. The City plans to do this at sites running syringe service programs (SSP) co-located at overdose prevention centers (OPC).   During a recent visit to an SSP and OPC, Adams and Vasan highlighted the use of drug-checking machines, operated by


Read More

Missing Girl, 17, Likely Victim of Sex Trafficking, Located in Wakefield Motel

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The following is an extended version of the story that appears in our latest print edition.   A 17-year-old girl, who police say had been reported missing from Brooklyn was located by a nonprofit representative at the Metro Motel in the Wakefield section of The Bronx on Saturday, July 23. The nonprofit representative, whose name we are not disclosing for security reasons, but who spoke with Norwood News directly about the incident, said the teen is a likely sex trafficking victim, one of millions caught up in an estimated, billion-dollar, global industry.   The nonprofit works with victims and survivors


Read More

Heat Advisory in Effect from Aug. 4 at 11 a.m. to Aug. 5 at 8 p.m., Highs of 100 Degrees Possible

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory which will be in effect from 11 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 4 to Friday, Aug. 5 at 8 p.m.   NWS officials said heat index values indicate that temperatures of around 100 are expected in The Bronx and in all of New York City, with high humidity forecast which may cause heat related illnesses to occur.   Officials said New York City residents should call 311 to identify cooling center locations, and obtain “Beat the Heat” safety tips. They said a heat advisory is issued when the combination of heat and


Read More

Disability Rights NY Highlights Healthcare Inequity among People with Disabilities

By EMILY SAWAKED & SÍLE MOLONEY
  From maltreatment by medical professionals to overpriced medication, disability rights activists say people with disabilities have been fighting for equity in healthcare for years. July marks Disability Pride Month and on Thursday, July 14, Disability Rights NY held a virtual discussion entitled, “Willowbrook & The Road to Inclusion: Ableism & Access to Health Care Systems,” to discuss the topic of healthcare equity.   Spearheaded by disability rights activists in the medical field, the forum explored historical beliefs about people with disabilities, systemic ableism, and how these views impact people with disabilities’ access to health care systems. It highlighted the struggles


Read More