WELCOME

OMH Kicks Off Fourth Annual Take a Loved One for a Checkup Day

Closing the Health Gap is a national campaign designed to help improve the health of racial and ethnic minority populations, who are affected by serious diseases and health conditions at far greater rates than other Americans. This year, the Closing the Health Gap campaign is also working to spread the word about the new Medicare prescription drug benefit that will begin January 1, 2006. Medicare recipients will be able to begin enrolling in Medicare prescription drug plans on November 15th.

Three key elements of the Closing the Health Gap campaign are Take a Loved One for a Checkup Day, Celebra La Vida Con Salud, and our newest effort, Know What to Do for Life.

Scheduled for the third Tuesday of each September, Take a Loved One for a Checkup Day encourages individuals to take charge of their health by visiting a health professional (doctor, nurse, dentist, nurse practitioner, physician assistant or other health provider), making an appointment for a visit, attending a health event in the community or helping a friend, neighbor or family member do the same. In previous years, the campaign was called Take A Loved One to the Doctor Day. The campaign is launching with a new name in 2005, Take a Loved One for a Checkup Day, to emphasize the importance of preventive screenings and to acknowledge all health professionals involved in keeping communities healthy whether they be doctors, nurses, dentists, physician's assistants, or other health providers.

Celebra La Vida Con Salud (Celebrate a Healthy Life) promotes prevention and celebrates health by drawing upon family and community strengths to make good health practices a part of daily living. Encuentre una Feria de salud cerca de usted.

Know What to Do for Life is an educational campaign to help reduce the infant mortality rate among African Americans by reducing the risks of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), preterm birth, and low birth weight.

Become a partner for 2005 and help us close the health gap.