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1991.06.20 :  Improve Minority Health Status

Contact: Marc Stern (301) 496-2535
June 20, 1991

        The National Institutes of Health today announced new
efforts to improve the health status of minority Americans,
including steps to enhance minority talent resources, strengthen
institutions and further explore key health issues in the
minority community.
        HHS Secretary Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., said the NIH
efforts are part of a broader initiative within the department to
address minority health problems.  
        John Ruffin, Ph.D, NIH associate director for minority
programs, said, "NIH already has several successful programs to
assist and encourage students and faculty at minority schools. 
This new initiative will fill existing gaps:
        "--by encouraging elementary through high school students
to pursue science careers,
        "--by fostering cooperation between two-year colleges and
four-year colleges,
        "--by offering support to minority students who are
enrolled at 'majority' universities,
        "--by helping support minority college graduates who wish
to seek doctorate degrees, and
        "--by making it possible for faculty at minority
institutions to devote some of their professional time to
conducting research that is funded by 'seed grants.'"
        A central feature of the initiative will involve expert
guidance to institutions to more effectively develop their
infrastructure, including efforts to expand financial assistance.
        The expanded NIH minority health plan will also target
problems including infant mortality and the health behavior of
adolescents and young adults.
        Some minority groups experience a higher mortality rate
and a poorer health status than the white population.
        The adolescent pregnancy rate in blacks is four times
that in whites, while the infant mortality rate in blacks is
double that in whites.  Adolescent violent death, particularly
the homicide rate in black males, is many times the rate in white
males.  Also, numerous illnesses--including sexually transmitted
diseases, hypertension, and kidney disorders--are much too common
in minority youth.
        "Many of the NIH's 13 institutes will be actively
involved in this initiative," Ruffin said.  "We will bring
together talented people in grantee institutions and in community
programs to tackle the dual goals of improving the health of
minority citizens and of developing minority talent resources for
an important role in future biomedical research."

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