FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ohio — April is Minority Health Month, which is an annual observance aimed at building awareness about the health disparities that persist among racial and ethnic minority and Native American populations.
State, local lawmakers and health experts are reminding everyone that "Good Health Begins with You." Among them is Franklin County Commissioner Erica Crawley who said there is a reason the county was first in the state to declare racism as a public health crisis.
Commissioner Crawley pointed out the research shows Black women are dying at three times the rate of white women.
“Our babies are dying at three and a half times the rate of white babies and we can absolutely address this,” she said.
Franklin County Public Health is also urging people to know their numbers and prevent heart attacks and strokes. Health experts point to research on life expectancy that reveals, black and brown individuals are not living as long as their white counterparts, especially for black men, with a life expectancy of 66 years compared to 73 years for white men.
Here are some events Franklin County Public Health will be sponsoring or joining in collaboration:
April 13, 2024
BCCO Annual Wellness Fair 2024
10:00 AM—3:00 PM
The Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio annually hosts a Health and Wellness event every April, coinciding with Minority Health Month. This event attracts participants from a wide range of organizations serving minority and refugee populations in Central Ohio. The event is open to all communities and age groups. The event features diverse health and wellness education sessions and offers basic healthcare services. Primarily, it serves as a crucial link between service providers and the community.
Hosted By: Archana Intl. Grocery 7657 E. Main Street Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 (614) 804-2240
April 13, 2024
Birthing Justice Movie Screening: A Panel Discussion and Community Conversation 12:00 PM—3:00 PM The event will screen the movie Birthing Justice and follow up with a panel discussion/ community conversation related to maternal and infant mortality rates among minority and other vulnerable populations. We will have a panel of doulas, birth workers, and community advocates discuss how we turn our outrage into action and tangible change.
Hosted By: Kingdom of God Int’l Church 6055 Taylor Road Columbus, OH 43230 (614) 740-9001 Sponsored By: MOBiNurses, Inc. Jatu Boikai jatuboikai@gmail.com (614) 483-2769
April 18, 2024
Cultural Humility Presentations: African American & Asian
2:00 PM—4:00 PM
This YLUWXDO workshop is designed to engage the community in dialogue about the African American and Asian communities as it relates to cultural norms, beliefs, and the impact on health.
Hosted By: Office of Minority Health at Columbus Public Health 240 Parsons Avenue
Sponsored By: Office of Minority Health at Columbus Public Health (614) 645-7335
Ryan E. Johnson, MPH rejohnson@columbus.gov (614) 645-7335
April 26, 2024
Family Wellness Fair 3:00 p.m.—6:00 p.m.
This family wellness fair will be an interactive event where community members are able to learn through experience, access community resources, and receive referrals from various community partners.
Hosted By: Whitehall Library 4445 E. Broad Street
Sponsored By: Franklin County Public Health Kevida Bowry kevidabowry@franklincountyohio.gov