Minority Health Services
The Office of Minority Health works to eliminate health disparities. This office also collaborates with state, local and private sectors to advance and implement health promotion and disease prevention strategies.
Vision
Working together to eliminate health disparities and achieve optimal health for all racial and ethnic minorities (groups) and other underserved populations in Delaware.
Mission
To promote and advocate for the elimination of health disparities among all racial and ethnic minority groups and other underserved populations in Delaware.
We fulfill our mission by:
- working with communities to build capacity to meet the health needs in disease prevention, education and health promotion;
- identifying and supporting assets within Delaware’s public health system to close the gap of health disparities; and
- actively seeking opportunities to provide consultation in the areas of minority health and health disparities to individuals and organizations statewide to better inform minority groups of available treatment and preventive health services.
Goal
To ensure that state, local and private policies, programs and implementation strategies are tailored to significantly reduce the mortality and morbidity rates of members of minority groups.
Health Equity Forum
On August 3, 2011, the Delaware Division of Public Health’s (DPH) Office of Minority Health (OMH) convened a forum at Delaware Technical and Community College Terry Campus as part of its goal to increase the level of awareness about health disparities and health equity in the state of Delaware. The August 3rd forum focused on the National Stakeholder Strategy for Achieving Health Equity. We welcomed Mirtha Beadle, Deputy Director of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health to present an overview of the plans inception to implementation strategy. Ms. Beadle explained the need for a focused effort to address health equity and why the elimination of health disparities is important for the health sector as well as the business community. Other speakers for the afternoon were Deborah Wilson CEO and President of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League and Dr. Karyl Rattay, DPH Director. More than 100 people attended the event from various branches of the health care setting as well as community advocates, consumers and public health staff.
According to Ronniere Robinson, Program Manager for the Office of Minority Health, “There is great interest in the topic of Health Equity and the elimination of Health Disparities but it will take partnerships that cross all sectors to make progress. This forum is what I hope will be the first of many that will keep stakeholders informed, motivated and challenged in the quest to create equal opportunities for better health for all Delawareans.”
Definitions
Health Disparities:
- All differences among populations in measures of health and health care.
- A higher burden of illness injury, disability or mortality experienced by one population group in relation to a reference group.
- A health care disparity can be described as differences in coverage, access or quality of care.
Minority Health Disparities:
- Differences in the incidence, mortality and burden of diseases and other adverse health conditions of minority groups.
More Information
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