Title
To declare April 2017 as Minority Health Month in the City of Columbus.
Body
WHEREAS, National Minority Health Month was first started more than a 100 years ago as National Negro Health Week; in fact Dr. Booker T. Washington dispatched a letter to the leading African American newspapers, in April of 1915 proposing the observance of "National Negro Health Week;" arguing that "Health was the key to progress and equity in all other things,” and that “Without health and long life, all else fails;" and
WHEREAS, Dr. Washington called on local health departments, schools, churches, businesses, professional associations, and the most influential organizations in the African-American community to "pull together" and "unite… in one great National Health Movement;" and
WHEREAS, this observance grew into what is today a month-long initiative to advance health equity across the country on behalf of all racial and ethnic minorities - National Minority Health Month; and
WHEREAS, Columbus Public Health created the Office of Minority Health to provide leadership in terms of reducing health inequities in minority communities in Columbus and its surrounding areas- focusing on health awareness and disease prevention; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Office of Minority Health fulfills its mission by monitoring and reporting the health status of minority populations, mobilizing community partnerships and local action, developing policies and plans to support health efforts by informing, educating and empowering our communities; and
WHEREAS, The Minority Health Month Campaign of 2017 in addition to partnering with various community organizations to present programming, throughout the Month of April, will feature events that include: Community Health Forums, Wellness Events, Clinical Management of STDS, Healthy Eating & Walking Promotion Events, Cancer Awareness Workshops, as well as bring attention to hypertension, substance abuse, domestic violence, nutrition and more; and
WHEREAS, this campaign will provide information which will promote healthy living, showcase providers of grassroots healthcare resources, highlight health disparities in minority and underserved communities - ultimately working to find ongoing solutions to improve minority health year round; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby recognize April 2017 as Minority Health Month in the City of Columbus.