Minority Health
"Although some gains have been made, racial and ethnic minorities continue to experience a disproportionate burden of disease. People of color continue to have dramatically higher rates of HIV infection, Hispanics have higher incidence of diabetes deaths, and African Americans have higher rates of death from cancer." - Dr. Richard Daines, NYS Commissioner of Health
While progress in reducing minority health disparities for certain diseases and access to care has been made, minorities continue to experience lower health status when measured against other groups and the population as a whole, according to findings of the state's 2007 Minority Health Surveillance Report. An estimated 40% of New Yorkers are ethnic and racial minorities.
The U.S. Census Bureau predicts that minorities, now roughly one-third of the U.S. population, are expected to become the majority in 2042, with the nation projected to be 54 percent minority in 2050. By 2023, minorities will comprise more than half of all children.
The demographic changes anticipated over the next several decades magnify the importance of addressing disparities in health status. Groups currently experiencing poorer health status are expected to grow as a proportion of the total U.S. population. The future health of America as a whole will be influenced substantially by successes and failures in improving the health of these groups.
Minority health addresses the special health needs of minority racial and ethnic populations including: American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander.
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.
The Department offers a wide variety of programs aimed at helping to reduce health disparities. The Office of Minority Health helps to focus the department's efforts in this area.
