Black History Month is observed each year in the U.S. from February 1 – March 1 to recognize the generations of Black and African American individuals who struggled with adversity and to celebrate their many contributions to the United States.  

The HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) is committed to addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) and improving the health of Black and African American communities, the second largest minority population in the United States.

This Black History Month, OMH is focusing on the impact of nutrition and food insecurity on Black and African American communities and their role in obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and maternal and infant mortality.    

Visit the OMH Black History Month website to access resources on key health concerns impacting Black and African American communities, information about the men and women who have contributed to advances in health care delivery and medical research, and templates to create your own graphics during the observance month. 

According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cancer was the second leading cause of death, after heart disease, in the United States in 2020. 

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is February 7, a day to address the impact of HIV on Black and African American communities. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).  Black and African American individuals account for a higher proportion of new HIV diagnoses and people with HIV, compared to other racial and ethnic minority populations.

Today, more tools and strategies than ever are available to prevent HIV, from condoms to medicines such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).  

Testing is the only way to know you have HIV. Use the CDC’s GetTested search tool to find free, fast, and confidential HIV testing near you. Help spark conversations about how HIV/AIDS impacts Black and African American communities on social media by using the hashtags #NBHAAD and #StopHIVTogether.  

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Rare Disease Day on February 28 raises awareness for rare diseases, which the Orphan Drug Act defines as a disease or condition that affects less than 200,000 people in the United States.

This year’s theme is Show Your Stripes, encouraging everyone to show support of the lives  impacted by a rare disease.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), over 7,000 rare diseases affect more than 30 million people in the United States. 

Rare disease patients may experience inequities in diagnosis, care, and research due to limited research, complex needs for clinical care, and lack of treatments and access to health care and insurance. Racial and minority groups experience additional barriers in accessing care and are often underrepresented in clinical research.  

This month, the FDA’s public meeting and the National Institutes of Health (NIH)’s Rare Disease Day event will provide opportunities to learn more about the latest initiatives and research on rare diseases.