Contact:
Heidi Moore
CHD16MediaRequests@flhealth.gov

904-253-1010

Jacksonville, Fla. –The Florida Department of Health in Duval (DOH-Duval) joins partners across the state and the nation to celebrate National Minority Health Month in April. This year’s theme is Bridging Health Equity Across Communities and it reflects the department’s commitment to ensuring Floridians in all communities have opportunities to achieve healthier outcomes.

“An individual’s race/ethnicity, family income, place of residence, and education often leads to decreased access to care, reduced lifespan, and a reduced quality of life,” said Dr. Kelli Wells, Director of DOH-Duval. “National Minority Health Month provides an opportunity for residents, communities, leaders, and healthcare providers to discuss and create solutions to health inequities that often begin before birth.”

Florida has achieved lower morbidity and mortality rates across several different diseases, however, gaps continue to exist. All Floridians regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, geographic location and physical and developmental differences should be able to attain the highest level of health. Eliminating gaps between different communities and across all groups in Florida is a priority for the department.

The department’s Office of Minority Health and Health Equity (OMHHE) works year round to promote several initiatives that support health equity in Florida including the Closing the Gap grant, Florida’s Healthy Babies initiative and HIV/AIDS outreach and prevention. OMHHE will continue to bridge efforts across Florida to help decrease and eliminate health disparities, accelerate health equity and to build stronger, healthier communities.

DOH-Duval has incorporated Health Equity Training into all of its programs in an effort to increase the impact of the services it provides for the residents of Duval County.  Recently, Health Equity Training was conducted for all staff at the agency’s All Staff meeting.

DOH-Duval also recently held its first annual “Creating a Healthier Jacksonville” Public Health Conference on April 6, 2017. Health equity was addressed in each general session and more than 150 professionals and community members were in attendance.

About the Florida Department of Health 

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health, please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.