April is National Minority Health Month

By: Red Hot Mamas

Published: April 1, 2016

April is National Minority Health Month!

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.

The HHS Office of Minority Health leads the observance of National Minority Health month each year, 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.

Source: http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/content.aspx?lvl=2&lvlid=12&ID=10234