Oakland, CA, — April is National Minority Health Month, and this year the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH) is highlighting the important role played by the African American Wellness Project and similar organizations in reducing health disparities and improving the health of racial and ethnic minorities.
Founded by Dr. Michael LeNoir in 2002, The African American Wellness Project (AAWP) has brought minority health and wellness to the forefront through its work empowering African Americans to improve health outcomes. Organized to respond to health disparities in the Black community, the AAWP seeks to close these gaps by providing trusted health and wellness information and advocacy. It enables and encourages this population to better navigate the healthcare system, advocate for themselves, and receive improved care, regardless of insurance or circumstances.
The theme for this year’s National Minority Health Month is Give Your Community a Boost! focusing on the continued importance of COVID-19 vaccination, including boosters, as one of the strongest tools we can use to protect communities from COVID-19, which has disproportionately affected communities of color. According to CDC data, nearly one in four COVID-19 deaths is a Black person and one-third of the patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are Black. The Black community is at increased risk of getting sick, having more severe illness, and dying from COVID-19.
“At AAWP we provide the information, tools and resources you need to Protect Your Health. COVID is not going away any time soon. We are all in this together and want to ensure that the Black community has the accurate facts and resources available to them to make informed decisions about getting vaccinated to reduce the spread and protect themselves, their families and their communities,” said AAWP Founder and long-time Bay area award-winning physician Dr. LeNoir.
