April is National Minority Health Month (NMHM). This month is a great time for wellness professionals and the community at large, to raise awareness about health disparities that continue to affect people from racial and ethnic minority groups. Professionals can encourage action through health education, early detection, and control of disease complications.
The 2022 NMHM theme is “Give Your Community a Boost!” to increase the Black Communities COVID-19 vaccination rates, including booster shots. Currently, vaccinations are one of the strongest tools available to end the COVID-19 pandemic which has disproportionately affected communities of color. One reason vaccinations numbers in the Black community are so is mistrust in the US system of care.
Celebrated every year in April, National Minority Health Month:
- Builds awareness about the disproportionate burden of premature death and illness in people from racial and ethnic minority groups.
- Encourages action through health education, early detection and control of disease complications.
The Twin Cities has many people who are committed to improving the health and wellness of the African American community. Jasmine Tane’t Boudah is a holistic maternal health practitioner; Tammie Lynn Richardson teaches physical health and nutrition; Marlon Moore teaches mental, physical, financial, and nutritional health; Alysha Price teaches healthy coparenting; Andre McNeal teaches healthy life skills; Kenya McKnight Ahad and teaches financial health to the Black community and Anissa Nicole Keyes provides mental and emotional health services to support restoration journeys to sound health, resilience, and hope.
According to the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, the origin of National Minority Health Month is in 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 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.”
Before National Minority Health Month is over, research a Black Wellness professional in your neighborhood and support their products and services, because these products and services support you.
Brandi D. Phillips BS, MBA is a freelance health and wellness writer, self-care and mindset expert/educator, mother of two, and life partner. If you have any questions about this article, feel free to contact her at wellifethreesixty@gmail.com.
