March Health Equity Link

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March 2022  |  View as a webpage

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In this Issue

OMH Announces the Theme for National Minority Health Month 2022

OMH announces 2022 theme for National Minority Health Month: Give Your Community a Boost!

The HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) will celebrate National Minority Health Month 2022 with the theme, Give Your Community a Boost! Throughout April, OMH will promote #BoostYourCommunity, a social and digital media campaign to empower audiences to debunk misinformation and support vaccination in their communities.

Activities and materials throughout the month will highlight the overall message that COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are critical to ending the COVID-19 pandemic in one's community and the importance of combating COVID-19 and vaccine misinformation. Equally important are the existing recommendations to prevent COVID transmission, such as physical distancing, use of well-fitting masks, adequate ventilation, and avoidance of crowded indoor spaces.

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Women's History Month

Illustration shows several women, including Black women, a woman who is blind, and a Muslim woman

During Women's History Month in March, OMH celebrates women's contributions within the fields of medicine and health equity.

Explore the National Library of Medicine (NLM)'s online exhibition, Changing the Face of Medicine, to learn about the lives and achievements of racial and ethnic minority women in medicine. The Library of Congress's Women in Medicine Resource Guide contains books on women's history in medicine, pharmacy, nursing, and dentistry.

Visit the HHS Office on Women's Health (OWH) for information on many topics related to women's health, including reproductive health, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides information and resources on the health of lesbian, bisexual, and trans women, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) publishes a biannual Report of the Advisory Committee on Research on Women's Health

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National Kidney Month

National Kidney Month. Building Paths to Better Kidney Care. NIH NIDDK.

March is National Kidney Month, and this year's theme is Building Paths to Better Kidney Care. Black, Latino, and American Indian people are at high risk for developing kidney failure.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), Black/African Americans account for 35 percent of the people with kidney failure, Latinos are almost 1.3 times more likely to be diagnosed with kidney failure, and American Indians are about 1.2 times more likely to be diagnosed with kidney failure.

The path you build to prevent or treat kidney disease should be personalized—a plan you can stick to, and that gives you the flexibility to make adjustments along the way. Remember, what works for someone else may not work for you, but every step you take can help keep your kidneys healthier longer. Build a kidney care plan that works for you and your lifestyle and take steps toward better kidney care with these tips from the NIDDK.

Start a conversation about kidney health at your next family reunion or your church with the NIDDK's Family Reunion Guide and Kidney Sundays Toolkit.

World Kidney Day (March 10) calls on everyone worldwide to be aware of kidney disease and know their kidney health measures. For more information or to find resources and campaign materials in multiple languages, visit worldkidneyday.org.

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National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (March 10)

March 10: National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Let's Stop HIV Together.

National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is observed every year on March 10.

Black women face the highest risk of HIV, but many Black women do not know their HIV status. Stigma and fear of racial discrimination may prevent them from getting tested or seeking care if infected. Similarly, cultural challenges such as language barriers and immigration status may raise Latina women's risk for HIV.

Knowing your HIV status gives you the power to take control of your health. Did you know you can take an HIV test at home or in your own space? When we reduce HIV stigma and promote prevention, testing, and treatment for women, we can help end the HIV epidemic.

Learn More Find HIV Services Near You


National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (March 20)

March 20: National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. CDC.

March 20 is National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, a day to address the impact of HIV on American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian populations and to encourage HIV testing, prevention, and treatment in Native communities.

According to the CDC, HIV infections among American Indian and Alaska Native people have increased since 2014, and although Native Hawaiian people account for a very small percentage of new HIV diagnoses, HIV affects Native Hawaiian people in ways that are not always apparent because of their small population size.

The 2022-2025 National HIV/AIDS Strategy designates American Indians and Alaska Natives as one of five priority populations disproportionately impacted by HIV and sets out goals to reduce HIV-related disparities and health inequities within Native communities.

This video from the Indian Health Service (IHS) National HIV and Hepatitis C Program provides updates on HIV data for American Indians and Alaska Natives. You can also find social media communication guides, trainings, fact sheets, and educational videos at the National Indian Health Board's Tribal HIV Initiative and the Urban Indian Health Institute's Urban Indian HIV and AIDS Project

Learn More Find HIV Services Near You


OMH Knowledge Center

Looking for minority health library services or resources? Visit the OMH Knowledge Center.

This month, the OMH Knowledge Center is featuring a collection of resources focused on HIV/AIDS among women. This collection touches on various health issues, including PrEP, barriers to HIV care, stigma, and health beliefs. These resources are free to read and can be accessed through links in the online catalog

To view this collection, click here.

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