Media Release

FOR: Immediate Release
DATE: April 2, 2004
CONTACT: Ana Novais 222-2901 Coordinator, 
Office of Minority Health

April is Minority Health and Health Disparities Month; RI Health Department Joins Community Agencies in Calendar of Events

Did you know that minorities suffer disproportionately from cancer, HIV, diabetes, heart disease and other life threatening illnesses compared to their white counterparts? In fact, US Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona recently said, "It is a national problem that demands a national solution."

During April many states and organizations are celebrating National Minority Health and Health Disparities Month. The RI Department of Health (HEALTH) along with key community-based organizations and agencies join in the celebration. In its eighth year of implementation, this statewide, month long calendar of public health education and promotion efforts serves as the launching pad for initiatives throughout the whole year. Each of these events demonstrates the local acknowledgement of health disparities and the efforts of local organizations to eliminate the effect of health gaps on community populations.

The goals of this initiative are to build public/private partnerships, foster cultural competency among health care providers, encourage health education and training and expand the use of state-of-the-art technology.

"Rhode Island experienced dramatic demographic changes in the last decade," said Patricia A. Nolan, MD, MPH, Director of Health. "Our mission as a public health agency is to help bridge the gap in health status and ensure the elimination of health disparities. To accomplish this, we embraced Healthy People 2010 Objectives and the Ten Leading Health Indicators to provide strategic direction for the Department and for the state. National Minority Health and Health Disparities Month helps to keep us and our community partners moving in the right direction."

Rhode Island community organized public events through the month of April focusing on health disparities. For a complete calendar of activities go to HEALTH’s webpage at www.health.ri.gov

For more information on health disparities in our state visit http://www.health.ri.gov/chic/healthypeople/hri2010re.pdf