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SECRETARY THOMPSON MOBILIZES COMMUNITIES ACROSS AMERICA Nationwide Call to Action to Visit a Health Professional HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today urged minority communities across the country to take a family member or loved one to see a health care professional, or schedule an appointment to see a health professional. The call to action marks September 24th’s Take A Loved One to the Doctor Day, a nationwide event aimed to help eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health care faced by minority populations. “Communities of color suffer disproportionately from diabetes, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, cancer, stroke and infant mortality, ” Secretary Thompson said. “Eliminating these and other health disparities is a priority for HHS. Individuals can help close this health gap by visiting a health professional on a regular basis. This one preventive measure can help add years to a life.” Take A Loved One to the Doctor Day, which targets African Americans and other minority populations, is the signature event for the department’s “Closing the Health Gap” campaign, created through a unique partnership between HHS and ABC Radio Networks, launched in November 2001. More than 400 national, state and local organizations spanning 47 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico have partnered with HHS in promoting Take A Loved to the Doctor Day and are hosting local activities in their communities. Highlights include health fair screenings, on-site applications for Medicaid and SCHIP programs, free transportation to health care facilities, panel discussions, community health center events and activities for children. In addition, during the week of September 24, ABC Radio Networks’ Tom Joyner Morning Show will conduct on-air interviews with celebrities and special guests to discuss the importance of visiting a health professional. Scheduled for interviews or appearances are singers Patti Labelle, Eddie Levert and National Football League Hall-of-Famer and Chairman of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Lynn Swann, among others. “This is truly a grassroots effort by HHS,” Secretary Thompson said. “Take A Loved One to the Doctor Day is really about getting people motivated and engaged regarding their personal health and well being, as well as the health of a loved one. Today, we are taking that message to the local level and spurring family and friends into action.” HHS’ Closing the Health Gap campaign is part of the department’s overall Initiative to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health. In addition to this campaign, HHS launched in July 2002 the Racial and Ethnic Adult Disparities in Immunization Initiative to increase the numbers of influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations in African American and Hispanic American adults 65 years of age and older. HHS also recently convened a National Leadership Summit on Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health to identify cross-cutting strategies to close the health gap, particularly broadening the scope of scientific research and data on racial and ethnic minorities. The fiscal year 2003 budget request for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) contains nearly $3 billion in funds to research health disparity issues, an increase of $600 million in just two fiscal years. This includes $187 million for NIH’s National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities, the federal focal point for biomedical minority research activities. For more information on the Closing the Health Gap campaign, visit http://www.healthgap.omhrc.gov. ### |
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