“Family Reunion” Event to Address Health Disparities in
Black Community
Aug. 1, 2008 - DENVER - A free event to discuss
health disparities and health issues in the black community
is scheduled Saturday, Aug. 16, from 2 to 6 p.m. at the
Doubletree Hotel, 3203 Quebec St., in Denver.
The Office of Health Disparities based at the Colorado
Department of Public Health and Environment is sponsoring
the event to gather input to provide solutions for achieving
health equity in the black community and to encourage
participants to become active partners in the development
and implementation of strategies to improve health.
Mauricio Palacio, director of the Office of Health
Disparities, said, “Communities of color are
disproportionately affected by disease, disability and
death. These health disparities exist across all health
areas, including chronic disease, communicable disease,
injury and maternal and child health.”
Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities in Colorado 2005, a
report published by the Office of Health Disparities,
detailed some of the health disparities among blacks,
including that African-Americans experience the shortest
life expectancy; the highest death rates of cancer,
including lung, breast, prostate and colon cancer; the
highest death rate of stroke; the highest infant mortality
rate and the highest death rate of AIDS. The Office of
Health Disparities is a state program of multicultural
professionals dedicated to eliminating racial and ethnic
health disparities in Colorado. The office has evolved from
a Turning Point grant provided by the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation and a start-up grant from Kaiser Permanente to
officially launch the Office of Health Disparities. The
office was codified in statute through Senate Bill 242 in
May 2007. The Aug. 16 event is titled, “Family Reunion:
Embracing our strength through health and achieving health
equity in the black community. It’s time for solutions.”
For more information or to RSVP, call Cerise Hunt, health
disparities specialist at 303-692-3474 or e-mail cerise.hunt@state.co. --30-- |
