Minority Health

Minority Health

April is National Minority Health Month. This year's theme is "Advance Health Equity Now: Uniting our Communities to Bring Health Care Coverage to All." For more information visit The Office of Minority Health - HHS

Working to ensure high quality, affordable and accessible healthcare for all New Yorkers!

Some people experience poor health due to life circumstances, discrimination or exclusion. Many people are affected including, but not limited to:

  • Racial and Ethnic Minorities
  • Rural Residents
  • Women, Children and Senior Citizens
  • People with Disabilities
  • Lower Socioeconomic Classes (low-income/poor)
  • People of Various Religious Groups
  • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Individuals; and
  • Individuals and Families Experiencing Mental Illness

"Individuals' health and well-being should not be negatively affected by their race, ethnicity or the community in which they live. Differences in the health of New Yorkers due to these factors are unacceptable. Addressing health disparities and improving public health services for minority populations are key priorities of the Department. Our goal is to assure every New Yorker has access to high-quality health care services."
- Commissioner Nirav R. Shah, M.D., M.P.H.

The Office of Health and Health Disparities Prevention works to eliminate unequal health outcomes, or health disparities. Health disparities are differences in health among groups of people. These differences can include: how frequently a disease affects a group; how many people get sick; or how often the disease causes death. These differences are seen in populations including those identified above.

OHDP works with individuals, communities, government, and public/private partners. Our goal is to ensure high quality, affordable and accessible health care for all New Yorkers. We are a resource for all of New York State and ultimately want to reach every resident.

The New York State Department of Health's Prevention Agenda, is the state's blueprint for improving the health of its residents through increased emphasis on prevention. Its priority areas address the chronic disease, health care quality and access issues disproportionately faced by minority New Yorkers.