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The theme for National Minority Health Month 2017 is Bridging Health Equity Across Communities. Throughout April, OMH will join with our partners in raising awareness about efforts across health, education, justice, housing, transportation and employment sectors to address the factors known as the social determinants of health – environmental, social and economic conditions that impact health. The HHS Office of Minority Health will continue to bridge efforts across the nation to help eliminate health disparities, accelerate health equity, and build a stronger, healthier nation.
Check back soon for more information, including tools and resources to support National Minority Health Month events and projects in your community!
Download the official National Minority Health Month mark.
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.
2016: Accelerating Health Equity for the Nation 2015: 30 Years of Advancing Health Equity | The Heckler Report: A Force for Ending Health Disparities in America 2014: Prevention is Power: Taking Action for Health Equity 2013: Advance Health Equity Now: Uniting our Communities to Bring Health Care Coverage to All 2012: Health Equity Can’t Wait. Act Now in Your CommUNITY!
