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Blog: National Partnership for Action
National Minority Health Month
Organ Donation Supports Life
Posted on 4/30/2012 by Dr. Jaime R. Torres
"With quiet compassion and exceptional generosity, organ and tissue donors leave an indelible mark on the lives of countless Americans. Their selfless acts inspire hope at moments of profound need, and they recall the giving spirit that lies at the heart of our national character." These are the opening sentences as President Obama declared April as National Donate Life Month. There are more than113, 000 people of all ages waiting for life-saving organ transplants in our nation, and a new name is added to that list every 10 minutes. Meanwhile, because of the courage of many individuals and their families, around 79 people receive organ transplants every day; these acts of kindness, save thousands of lives every year. I met one of those courageous persons last year. Mirtala Garcia made the choice to donate the organs of her husband, Julio Garcia, when he died of a brain hemorrhage in 2010. Though he is not longer with us, Julio's gift- his corneas, heart, liver, kidneys, pancreas and lungs -changed the lives of seven patients on the national waiting list. In this moving video For Mirtala and her children, Julio is a hero. "After seeing [all recipients] healthy, you feel blissful. I feel proud," she said. Though people of most races and ethnicities donate in proportion to their representation in the population, the need for transplant among communities of color is disproportionately high. Minorities make up more than half of organ donation waiting lists (55 percent), yet they comprise less than half of organ transplants performed (34 percent). This may be explained by the high incidence of chronic conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and others which may damage many organs in our bodies. For example, African Americans, Asians and Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics are three times more likely than whites to suffer from end-stage renal (kidney) disease, often as the result of high blood pressure and other conditions that can damage the kidneys. Almost 35 percent of the more than 80,000 people on the national waiting list for a kidney transplant are African American. Donation is a field that reminds us of just how connected we all are -literally-through blood, tissue organs. People of all ages and ethnicities have the power to save lives. Like the President said; "All of us can play a part in ending this unacceptable loss of life. I encourage every American to consider becoming an organ and tissue donor; to consult their family, friends, physician, or faith leader about their decision." To learn more about organ and tissue donation and how to enroll in a donor registry, visit: http://www.OrganDonor.gov Posted in: National Minority Health Month National Minority Health Month | Comments | Add a Comment | Comment Policy | Permalink Organ Donation Supports Life
Posted on 4/30/2012 by Dr. Jaime R. Torres
"With quiet compassion and exceptional generosity, organ and tissue donors leave an indelible mark on the lives of countless Americans. Their selfless acts inspire hope at moments of profound need, and they recall the giving spirit that lies at the heart of our national character." These are the opening sentences as President Obama declared April as National Donate Life Month. There are more than113, 000 people of all ages waiting for life-saving organ transplants in our nation, and a new name is added to that list every 10 minutes. Meanwhile, because of the courage of many individuals and their families, around 79 people receive organ transplants every day; these acts of kindness, save thousands of lives every year. I met one of those courageous persons last year. Mirtala Garcia made the choice to donate the organs of her husband, Julio Garcia, when he died of a brain hemorrhage in 2010. Though he is not longer with us, Julio's gift- his corneas, heart, liver, kidneys, pancreas and lungs -changed the lives of seven patients on the national waiting list. In this moving video For Mirtala and her children, Julio is a hero. "After seeing [all recipients] healthy, you feel blissful. I feel proud," she said. Though people of most races and ethnicities donate in proportion to their representation in the population, the need for transplant among communities of color is disproportionately high. Minorities make up more than half of organ donation waiting lists (55 percent), yet they comprise less than half of organ transplants performed (34 percent). This may be explained by the high incidence of chronic conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and others which may damage many organs in our bodies. For example, African Americans, Asians and Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics are three times more likely than whites to suffer from end-stage renal (kidney) disease, often as the result of high blood pressure and other conditions that can damage the kidneys. Almost 35 percent of the more than 80,000 people on the national waiting list for a kidney transplant are African American. Donation is a field that reminds us of just how connected we all are -literally-through blood, tissue organs. People of all ages and ethnicities have the power to save lives. Like the President said; "All of us can play a part in ending this unacceptable loss of life. I encourage every American to consider becoming an organ and tissue donor; to consult their family, friends, physician, or faith leader about their decision." To learn more about organ and tissue donation and how to enroll in a donor registry, visit: http://www.OrganDonor.gov Posted in: National Minority Health Month National Minority Health Month | Comments | Add a Comment | Comment Policy | Permalink National Minority Health Month
Posted on 4/27/2012 by Ms. LaJoy Y. Mosby
The Office of Minority Health Resource Center (OMHRC) is a national resource and referral service on minority health. Established in 1987 by the Office of Minority Health, the Resource Center provides a variety of services and programs that focus on the reduction of health disparities. In observation of Minority Health Month, we join with the Office of Minority Health as we recognize the health disparities that affect minority communities, as well as the underserved in the United States and its territories. This year's theme, "Health Equity Can't Wait Act Now in Your CommUNITY" is a call to action for individuals, organizations, businesses and local and state governments to take action to impact the racial and ethnic health disparities in our communities. Many people call our Resource Center to ask what tools and resources might be available, which will allow them to make a significant impact in the quest to create awareness and reduce health disparities in their communities. Information is readily available, for free, from the Office of Minority Health Resource Center. Either call us, toll free, at 1-800-444-6472, visit us online at www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov, or follow us on Twitter @minorityhealth for the latest news, data, tools, and funding opportunities. Once equipped with information, individuals can begin to spread the word and take action. Discuss the merits of staying healthy with friends or colleagues. Invite a few friends over and steer the discussion toward the importance of staying healthy. Organize a workshop or seminar at your church or with your social, book or garden club or fraternal organization to discuss health disparities and how staying healthy is important from a physical, spiritual and economic standpoint. Another great way to show your involvement is to make a commitment to create awareness by taking the National Partnership for Action to End Health Disparities (NPA) online partner pledge to support health equity. Additional information on creating awareness for both individuals and organizations is featured in the National Partnership for Action Toolkit for Community Action. Of course, the health status of our communities begins with us. As we observe Minority Health Month, we can all start to make the changes, within our control, to lead healthier lives. One way to get started is by making better choices in our diet. Choose My Plate features important information, tools and guidelines on nutrition that we can all use. Stress is also associated with many of the chronic conditions that are prevalent in minority communities. We can make an effort to reduce stress by listening to music or reading a book or magazine to relax. We can choose to become more active by incorporating more movement into our day. Walk more or further. Dance or spend time in your garden. Try to get up from your desk, if possible, and walk to the office of your colleague instead of sending an email or picking up the phone. The First Lady's Let's Move! initiative offers a number of options for leading a healthier lifestyle though physical fitness, as does the President's Active Lifestyle Challenge We all have a stake in lowering the health disparities within our communities and the nation as a whole, and there are lots of resources to help us get started or sustain the action we are taking in our communities. By doing our part to the best of our ability, we can make strides toward achieving health equity for all. For more suggestions on how to address the issue of health disparities in your community, contact the Office of Minority Health Resource Center toll-free at 1-800-444-6472, or via email at info@minorityhealth.hhs.gov. Posted in: National Minority Health Month | Comments | Add a Comment | Comment Policy | Permalink Celebrating National Minority Health Month
Posted on 4/26/2012 by J. Nadine Gracia, MD, MSCE
Cross-posted from the WhiteHouse.gov blog During April, we celebrate National Minority Health Month by reflecting on the progress that has been achieved in reducing racial and ethnic health disparities. As we continue to move forward toward health equity, we recognize that this has truly been a year of unprecedented opportunity for minority populations. The Affordable Care Act -- the landmark health care law signed by President Obama two years ago -- is generating new opportunities in the national effort to eliminate health disparities. The new health care law gives Americans the security of knowing that they don't have to worry about losing coverage if they get sick or change jobs:
The law makes significant investments in funding community health centers and increasing the number of doctors, nurses, and other health care providers in underserved communities. And, in addition to these items, the law calls for the development of new data collection standards in order to better understand the diversity of the populations we serve. The standards have been developed for HHS-sponsored population health surveys and will expand Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) categories - Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Native Hawaiian, Guamanian or Chamorro, Samoan, and other Pacific Islanders. Commenting on the importance of research and data collection, President Obama said that improved insight into Asian Americans' and Pacific Islanders' diverse health needs will help ensure that no one is invisible to their government. We built on the Affordable Care Act with the release of the the HHS Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities and the National Partnership for Action's National Stakeholder Strategy for Achieving Health Equity. We also celebrated the release of the first-ever HHS Plan for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Health which elevated Asian American and Pacific Islander health issues across the Department. It's a remarkable moment of opportunity. Conversations about health equity are occurring across the country and strengthened by community support across the nation. In that spirit, we have designated the theme for this year's Minority Health Month to be Health Equity Can't Wait: Act Now in Your CommUNITY! - a call to action for stakeholders everywhere, because this chance to make progress and change history won't wait. There are many things that people can do to celebrate National Minority Health month, including participating in local community events across the country or taking our online pledge and adding your voice to others around the country that are working to achieve health equity. To find out more about National Minority Health Month; the HHS Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Plan; and other initiatives on health equity, visit http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov. Posted in: HHS National Minority Health Month | Comments | Add a Comment | Comment Policy | Permalink Project HIRE's Alignment with NPA Goal
Posted on 4/25/2012 by Jessica Broome
In the spirit of the National Partnership for Action's stated goal of improved access to health care, Project HIRE works to break down barriers to medical care for formerly incarcerated individuals with HIV and other chronic health conditions. These individuals often face a myriad of challenges to obtaining appropriate health care. They may be hesitant to seek health care if they lack health insurance or cannot access transportation to a health care provider. Furthermore, many competing priorities, such as housing and other basic needs, often lead to health care being placed on a back burner. To expand access for this notoriously underserved population, Project HIRE engages participants at every stage of their transition from incarceration to community. While still incarcerated, they attend education sessions, which emphasize the importance of HIV testing and ongoing health care. They are introduced to the services available to them through the Osborne Association generally and Project HIRE, specifically. Incarcerated HIRE participants also receive transitional planning services, with the aim of having housing and other needed services, such as substance abuse or mental health treatment in place on the day of release. Discharge plans also help participants to organize and keep track of the many appointments they need to attend to access services soon after their release. A crucial time for maintaining formerly incarcerated individuals' involvement and commitment to accessing health care is the day of release. Project HIRE works actively to make this transition as smooth as possible, relying heavily on a Peer Navigator. The Peer Navigator, who was himself formerly incarcerated, plays a critical role in smoothing the road to health care access and healthy living for project participants. Upon their release, participants are picked up at Queensboro Correctional Facility in an Osborne vehicle and driven by the Peer Navigator directly to the Osborne office. This travel time affords the opportunity for the Peer Navigator to offer encouragement, answer questions, and remind participants of Project HIRE's services. In Osborne's Bronx office, participants encounter a welcoming "one-stop shop," where they can receive lunch, a "dignity kit" of personal hygiene items, and clothing, as well as meeting with intake staff to enroll in Osborne's substance abuse day treatment program and apply for entitlements. Finally, participants are transported to their pre-arranged housing and accompanied by the Peer Navigator as they settle in. With so many basic needs taken care of, participants are able to make health care a priority. Project HIRE's partnership with Montefiore Hospital's Transitions Clinic is another method of expanding access to health care for project participants. The Transitions Clinic offers services exclusively to recently released individuals, and participants' discomfort is largely assuaged by clinic staff's acceptance and understanding of their unique situation. Because it is offered on Saturday mornings, the clinic tends to be less crowded than a typical health clinic, thus reducing the wait time for patients. The Peer Navigator continues to play an important role for HIRE participants who visit the Transitions Clinic. He is at the minimum a familiar face for participants in their visits to the clinic. Beyond this, his involvement includes reminding participants of their appointments, transporting participants to the clinic or providing them with a ride, facilitating the completion of paperwork in advance of appointments, interpreting between medical staff and monolingual participants, ensuring that prescriptions are filled in a timely manner, and liaising between participants and medical staff between appointments. In short, Project HIRE's Peer Navigator breaks down many potential barriers to health care, and makes accessing health services as easy as possible for project participants. In addition to medical services, project HIRE participants meet regularly with project staff for counseling sessions. These sessions provide a means for staff to encourage adherence to HIV treatment plans, ensure that participants' basic needs are being met, and intervene immediately if a participant's situation seems on the verge of derailing them from a focus on maintaining good health. Posted in: National Minority Health Month | Comments | Add a Comment | Comment Policy | Permalink Top 5 recent blog topics are shown on this page. Please use search feature for other blog topics.
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About the BlogThe Federal NPA Team writes about their thoughts on pressing issues, news and events concerning NPA. Follow and participate in this candid discussion.
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