Celebrating National Minority Health Month

Celebrated every year in April, National Minority Health Month is an effort to build awareness about the disproportionate burden of premature death and illness in minority populations and to encourage action through health education, early detection, and control of disease complications.

The year 2020 marks the 105th anniversary of the establishment of National Negro Health Week by Booker T. Washington, which lead to the month-long initiative observed today. 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 health disparity populations.” The resolution encouraged “all health organizations and Americans to conduct appropriate programs and activities to promote healthfulness in minority and other health disparity communities.”

In past years, NIMHD has hosted activities throughout April to recognize National Minority Health Month, such as exhibits, poster sessions, forums and guest lectures, exercise classes, and Twitter chats. Since 2017, NIMHD has hosted an annual walk/run/roll event on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland, that engages staff, fellows, students, contractors and friends in celebration of this public health observance.

Like many activities around the country, National Minority Health Month (NMHM) efforts are being impacted by COVID-19. Echoing the messages from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health to practice physical distancing, we will highlight ways to be physically active and enhance emotional wellness.

Please click on the link below to learn more.

2020 National Minority Health Month