National Minority Health Month
April is National Minority Health Month (NMHM), a time to raise awareness about the importance of improving the health of racial and ethnic minority communities. NMHM acknowledges the social, economic, and geographic disadvantages that intersect across disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, and ethnicity. These groups often experience more negative health outcomes due to the health disparities such as poverty, discrimination, gender inequality, or geographic location.
National Minority Cancer Awareness Month (NMHM) also takes place during April, which is fitting considering that cancer is a negative example of a health outcome that disproportionately affects minorities. NMHM provides a more specific opportunity to raise awareness about cancer-related health disparities. Many minorities are disproportionately impacted by conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and other infections. These health disparities can make cancer treatment more complicated and cause more severe side effects. When patients are provided with culturally appropriate information, they can become empowered to create healthier outcomes for themselves and their communities. For resources and information visit the links below.
