April is National Minority Health Month

Follow and join the conversation with #NMHM16

Each year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health (OMH) leads the observance of National Minority Health Month (@MinorityHealth) and joins with federal, state, tribal, local and territorial partners across the country in calling for a renewed commitment to eliminate health disparities and achieve health equity. 2016 marks the 30th anniversary of the creation of the HHS Office of Minority Health, which for the past three decades has led the development of policies and programs to improve the health of minority populations.

History
National Minority Health Month began 100 years ago as National Negro Health Week. In April 1915, Dr. Booker T. Washington dispatched a letter to the leading African American newspapers, proposing the observance of “National Negro Health Week.” Health was the key to progress and equity in all other things, he argued: “Without health and long life, all else fails.” He called on local health departments, schools, churches, businesses, professional associations, and the most influential organizations in the African-American community to “pull together” and “unite… in one great National Health Movement.” That observance grew into what is today a month-long initiative to advance health equity across the country, on behalf of all racial and ethnic minorities – National Minority Health Month.

This Year’s Theme
The theme for 2016 is “Accelerating Health Equity for the Nation. The HHS Office of Minority Health seeks to bring communities across the nation together to help shine a spotlight on the inequities in healthcare that affect ethnic and racial minorities. While OMH is already working together with communities to accelerate health equity, there is more work to be done and it begins with spreading awareness.

Get Involved

• To participate all month long in National Minority Health Month check out the list of events happening in your community and others or submit your own event in which others can participate.
• Find out if you can get or change 2016 health coverage by enrolling in the Health Insurance Marketplace.
• If you are already signed up for health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace research how your coverage can work for you and lead the way to a healthier lifestyle.
• Receive email updates on OMH and health disparity issues by signing up for their newsletters.
• Use My Health Portal to find out information of your health condition.
• Use the NMHM toolkit which provides logos, graphics and social media guidance.