National Minority Health Month (NMHM) is an annual observance held in April to help raise awareness about the importance of improving the health of racial and ethnic minority communities and reducing health disparities. This month is dedicated to educating the public about the unique health challenges faced by minority groups and to promoting healthy lifestyles and access to quality healthcare.
For example, African Americans are more likely to die from heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes than White Americans. They are also more likely to experience chronic health conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
There are many factors that contribute to health disparities which include: social determinants of health, such as poverty, lack of access to quality healthcare, and discrimination. Social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and they have a major impact on health outcomes.
So what can be done to improve your health?
- Addressing social determinants of health, such as poverty and lack of access to quality healthcare.
- Promoting healthy lifestyles, such as eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and not smoking.
- Providing culturally and linguistically appropriate healthcare services.
- Increasing awareness of health disparities and their causes.
National Minority Health Month is an important opportunity to raise awareness about the health challenges faced by people and to promote healthy lifestyles and access to quality healthcare. By working together, we can improve the health of all Americans.
Here are some additional resources about National Minority Health Month:
- The Office of Minority Health (OMH) is a federal agency that works to improve the health of racial and ethnic minority groups. OMH offers a variety of resources on National Minority Health Month and other health topics.
- The National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) is a nonprofit organization that works to improve the quality of healthcare for minority populations. NMQF offers a variety of resources on National Minority Health Month and other health topics.
- The American Heart Association (AHA) is a nonprofit organization that works to reduce cardiovascular disease and stroke. The AHA offers a variety of resources on heart disease and stroke, including information about the health of African Americans and Black people.
- The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is a nonprofit organization that works to prevent and cure diabetes. The ADA offers a variety of resources on diabetes, including information about the health of African Americans and Black people.
For more information, visit aawellnessproject.org.
