The origin of National Minority Health Month was the 1915 establishment of National Negro Health Week by Booker T. Washington. In 2002, National Minority Health Month received support from the U.S. Congress with a concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 388) that “a National Minority Health and Health Disparities Month should be established to promote educational efforts on the health problems currently facing minorities and other populations experiencing health disparities.” The resolution encouraged “all health organizations and Americans to conduct appropriate programs and activities to promote healthfulness in minority and other communities experiencing health disparities.
National Minority Health Month is an inclusive initiative that addresses the health needs of people of color. The goal is to strengthen the capacity of local communities to eliminate the disproportionate burden of premature death and preventable illness in minority populations through prevention, early detection, and control of disease complications. The desired outcomes of this annual campaign are to:
- Build awareness about the disproportionate burden of premature death and illness in people from racial and ethnic minority groups.
- Encourage action through health education, early detection, and control of disease complications.
This year’s theme is, Be the Source for Better Health: Improving Health Outcomes Through Our Cultures, Communities, and Connections.
Source: https://www.nimhd.nih.gov/
