Trending
Those who are organizing local activities that are part of Minority Health Month say the focus will be on health education and lifetime preventative screenings.
Those are important things to pay attention to not just in April, but all year long.
According to the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, the month is designed to raise awareness of the disproportionate burden of premature death and illness in people from racial and ethic minority groups; encourage action through education, early detection and control of disease complications; and focus on understanding how cultures, communities and connections impact overall health.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important for everyone, but there are some sobering statistics that highlight the importance of reaching out to minority populations. According to the American Cancer Society, Black people have the highest death rate for many cancers -- it is estimated that this year there will be 248,470 new cancer diagnoses and 73,240 cancer deaths among Black people in the United States.
Blacks are 30 percent more likely to die from heart disease, 50 percent more likely to have a stroke and 30 percent more likely to have asthma, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The American Cancer Society, meanwhile, reports that Black men have a 67 percent higher incidence of prostate cancer than white men, but are twice as likely to die from the disease. It adds that Black people have death rates for myeloma, uterine corpus and stomach cancers that are twice those of white people, as well as between 40 percent and 50 percent higher rates of colorectal, cervical and liver cancers. When compared with white people, the statistics show that cancer mortality rates are 16 percent higher in Black men, despite just a 4 percent higher incidence rate -- for Black women, the rate is 10 percent higher than white women, despite a 9 percent lower incidence rate.
And, the cancer society reports, Black women are 38 percent more likely to die from breast cancer than white women, despite a 5 percent lower likelihood of being diagnosed.
This year's national theme for the month is Advancing Commitments to Eliminate Health Disparities. Locally, the theme is #ScreenItOut. Working to coordinate activities is the Neighborhood Community Development Center of Urban Mission Ministries.
Included among those activities:
• The "I'm a Survivor" video series, episodes from which will premiere every Sunday in April. Videos are free and open to the public, being viewable on the NCDC's or Urban Mission's Facebook pages. An addition to the Urban Mission's annual Minority Health Month commemoration, the series will feature Ohio Valley natives and their stories of overcoming -- or continuing to fight -- prostate or breast cancer.
• A free women's breast cancer screening from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m April 28. Screenings will be performed in the Tiffany Breast Care Mobile, parked at the Urban Mission main building, 311 N. Sixth St., Steubenville. Women must be Ohio residents and 40 years old or older to be screened. Although there will be some opportunity for walk-ins, women are recommended to pre-register and can do so by calling Diversity Health Initiative founder Dr. Vanessa Palmer at (750) 317-0946. The deadline to register is April 21.
• A free prostate screening from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. April 29 at the Tony Teramana Cancer Center. Men ages 40 and older are recommended to pre-register by calling Gretchen Heizler at (740) 264-8700. The deadline to register is April 22.
The importance of early screening, early detection and early treatment cannot be overstated.
"One person gets that screening and they go and share with that next person. We want (community members) to take advantage of the preventative care opportunities and the education opportunities before it's knocking on your doorstep or knocking on a family member's doorstep." said Cynthia Lytle, community engagement director for the Urban Mission.
That's something that's important to remember today, tomorrow and every day and month going forward.