Every April, the FDA Office of Minority Health and Health Equity (OMHHE) observes National Minority Health Month (NMHM) to raise awareness of the importance of improving the health of racial and ethnic minority populations and reducing health disparities.- Apr 7, 2023. https://www.fda.gov

By being more aware of the health and health care disparities that affect racial and ethnic minorities, one can improve their ability to assist and educate those who are more at risk. https://www.nimhd.nih.gov › nmhm

Some of the topics that address the improvement of minority health include the following:
Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week, National Pediatric Transplant Week, Pediatric Sepsis Week (a severe inflammatory response in the body of children that can cause tissue damage and organ failure) and National Infertility Awareness Week.
According to CDC other important health targets include: STD Awareness Month, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Sexual Assault Awareness Prevention Month, Sexual Violence, and Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month. https://www.cdc.gov 

April is also  National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

National Child Abuse Prevention Month recognizes the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect. https://www.childwelfare.gov › topics

CDC adds COVID vaccines to recommended schedule for adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) added the COVID-19 vaccines to its recommended vaccine schedule for adults and children. The updated schedule, published Feb. 10 in a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, also reflects changes in influenza vaccine recommendations. (READ MORE) Older adults should receive what’s often referred to as a high-dose flu shot. You can find the updated vaccine schedule for adults on the CDC’s website.

Bivalent boosters are effective against the latest circulating variants. T A new report from the CDC found that so-called bivalent boosters cut the risk of a symptomatic infection nearly in half in adults ages 18 to 49. The boosters were 40 percent effective against symptoms from a coronavirus infection among individuals 50 to 64 years old, and 43 percent effective among those 65 and older. Note- Bivalent vaccines available for kids as young as 6 months

Americans can still order free at-home COVID tests from the government.  covidtests.gov; shipping is also free. Read More

Health Legacy of Cleveland has been committed to bridging the gap of healthcare disparities for well over 25 years. For the past two and a half years, the pandemic has illuminated the myriad of health disparities for minorities. Because of the economic and social landscape of this country it has been reported by the Centers for Disease Control and others, that African-Americans with asthma, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes were at a greater risk than other populations for contracting Coronavirus. Furthermore, minorities are more at risk for suffering from more serious complications from Coronavirus.

The Association of American Medical Colleges and others document that about 5 percent of practicing physicians in the U.S. are black. Health Legacy of Cleveland’s mission becomes even more pressing, since the Association of American Medical Colleges data shows that black patients have better outcomes when treated by black doctors.

According to the Cleveland Council of Black Colleges Alumni Association more than 70 percent of African American dentists and physicians earned degrees at HBCUs . Therefore, according to Dr. Bessie House-Soremekun-President/Chairperson of Health Legacy of Cleveland, Ohio Inc. and the Board Members… it is imperative that more funds are raised to provide scholarships and mentoring for student doctors and dentists to bring more of them into the “Cleveland Healthcare Corridors” to better manage the healthcare of minorities.