WASHINGTON. April 2, 2024 (Biz Republic) — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra released the following statement in honor of National Minority Health Month, recognized every year in the United States throughout the month of April. HHS also takes this opportunity to highlight some of its actions to support health equity across the nation.
“Celebrated every April, National Minority Health Month sheds light on the disproportionate burden faced by Americans from racial and ethnic minority groups. In 1915, Booker T. Washington established National Negro Health Week which later became National Minority Health Month. This month-long celebration has evolved into a vital platform for encouraging people to access health care and take other actions to improve their wellbeing.
As we recognize National Minority Health Month, let us rededicate ourselves to the principles of equality and justice for all. Let us encourage early detection and the control of disease complications, which are key to bridging the gap within our diverse communities. And let us work tirelessly to ensure that every individual, regardless of race or ethnicity, has access to the resources and care they need to thrive.
Together, we can forge a future where health disparities are a relic of the past, and every American has the opportunity to live a life of dignity and wellbeing.”
Improving Health Outcomes Through Our Cultures, Communities, and Connections
April is National Minority Health Month! This annual observance builds awareness about the health disparities that persist among racial and ethnic minority and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations and encourages everyone to take action to end these inequities. This year’s theme, Be the Source for Better Health: Improving Health Outcomes Through Our Cultures, Communities, and Connections, is about understanding how the unique environments, cultures, histories, and circumstances (known as social determinants of health, or SDOH) of racial and ethnic minority and AI/AN populations impact their overall health.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH) is committed to working with public health and community-based partners to Be the Source for Better Health by providing quality, equitable, and respectful care and services that are responsive to diverse cultural health beliefs and practices, preferred languages, economic and environmental circumstances, and health literacy levels. When patients are provided with culturally and linguistically appropriate information, they are better able to create healthier outcomes for themselves, their families, and their communities.
