In this Issue

Black History Month

February is Black History Month. During this month, we celebrate the achievements and contributions of African Americans and raise awareness about the health disparities that impact African Americans in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly half of African American adults have some form of cardiovascular disease.

This year, the HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) will focus its efforts on raising awareness about cardiovascular disease and the effects on the African American community. Visit the Black History Month webpage for downloadable materials, upcoming events and health resources.

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American Heart Month

American Heart Month is observed every February to raise awareness about heart disease and the importance of reducing the risk through healthy lifestyle changes, such as increased physical activity and healthy eating. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 610,000 people die from heart disease a year, making the disease the leading cause of death in the United States.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is launching the #OurHearts national initiative to encourage heart healthy habits. For more information on American Heart Month activities and resources, visit the NIH NHLBI webpage.

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National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day - February 7

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day encourages and promotes HIV education, testing, community involvement and treatment in African American communities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 3,000 African Americans died of HIV disease, accounting for 52% of total deaths from HIV in the United States in 2015.

Fortunately, HIV diagnoses among African Americans have declined in recent years. However, there is still work to be done.

For more information, resources, testing services and downloadable materials, visit the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day webpage.

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Rare Disease Day - February 28

Rare Disease Day is a global observance that takes place every year at the end of February to raise awareness about the impact of rare diseases on every day people. This year’s theme, “Bridging Health and Social Care”, highlights the importance of connecting those living with rare diseases with health services.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sickle cell disease affects approximately 100,000 individuals in the United States. Join the HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) in amplifying sickle cell disease on Rare Disease Day by visiting the sickle cell disease website for resources, activities and more information regarding the disease. You can also watch and share OMH’s Sickle Cell Stories videos.

In observance of Rare Disease Day, on February 28 at 1 pm ET, OMH will be hosting a sickle cell disease webinar on holistic approaches to treatment, as well as mental and behavioral health of sickle cell disease patients. Register now.

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YHEMOP Application is OPEN

The HHS Office of Minority Health is excited to announce that the Youth Health Equity Model of Practice (YHEMOP) Summer 2019 Health Equity Fellow Application is now available! Through its YHEMOP program, OMH places students enrolled in higher education studies into short-term health equity fellowships to help meet the needs of diverse organizations.

Share this announcement with your networks that connect students or postgraduates to interesting learning opportunities. The YHEMOP webpage describes the YHEMOP Fellowship experience and requirements.

Application InformationApplications for Summer of 2019 should be submitted via mail directly to the following address with a postmarked date of February 22, 2019:

YHEMOP Program
805 Fifteenth Street NW, Suite 910
Washington, DC 20005

For more information on the YHEMOP Program please visit the YHEMOP webpage or email us at OMHYHEMOP@atlasresearch.us.

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Knowledge Center

The Knowledge Center online library catalog contains a wealth of information. In recognition of Black History Month and American Heart Month, a specified search related to heart health for African Americans is available. To see the most recent publications on this topic search here.