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 This year the HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) announced a partnership with the Morehouse School of Medicine to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in racial and ethnic minority and vulnerable communities. Through this cooperative agreement, the Morehouse School of Medicine launched the National COVID-19 Resiliency Network (NCRN) which will share important messages and linkages to healthcare and social services in communities across the nation and areas hardest hit by the pandemic. The NRCN will focus on identifying and engaging disproportionately impacted communities, nurture existing and develop new partnerships, disseminate culturally and linguistically appropriate information, leverage technology to connect communities to resources, monitor and evaluate outcomes, and apply broad and comprehensive dissemination methods. . OMH and the Morehouse School of Medicine invite organizations and individuals across the country to be a part of this initiative. To sign up for updates and become a part of this effort, please visit the NCRN website. Also, follow the NCRN on Twitter and Facebook. |  Every year, on December 1, organizations and individuals across the country and worldwide observe World AIDS Day to show support for people living with and affected by HIV and honor those who lost their lives to AIDS. This year, OMH joins federal and other partners to help increase awareness about the HIV epidemic and share resources for health care providers and communities. This year's theme, Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic: Resilience and Impact, focuses on the global commitment to deliver quality, people-centered HIV prevention, and treatment services. It also emphasizes the importance of strengthening the capacity and resilience of communities and health systems to address HIV and other health challenges amid a global pandemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 1.2 million people in the United States had HIV at the end of 2018. Of those people, 1 in 7 didn't know they had HIV. Research also showed that African Americans are most affected by HIV accounting for 42 percent of all new diagnoses. To help reduce this health disparity, find a testing site near you with HIV.gov's testing sites and care services locator, and get tested today! |  The first week of December is National Handwashing Awareness Week (December 1-7). According to the CDC, handwashing is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick and spreading illness to others. Keeping hands clean is especially important right now during the pandemic to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Studies have shown that handwashing can prevent 1 in 3 diarrhea-related sicknesses and 1 in 5 respiratory infections, such as a cold or the flu. Follow these five easy steps to stop the spread of germs: - Wet your hands with clean, running water, turn off the tap, and apply soap.
- Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap.
- Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.
- Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
- Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
To help raise awareness about the importance of handwashing, visit CDC's Life is Better with Clean Hands webpage, also available in Spanish. |  To raise awareness about the importance of continuing flu vaccination through the holiday season and beyond, OMH is proud to support National Influenza Vaccination Week (December 6-12). According to the CDC, as many as 45 million people in the U.S. get sick from the flu each season. Flu vaccination is especially important for people from racial and ethnic minority groups, who are often less likely to be vaccinated against flu and more likely to be hospitalized with flu. During 2020-2021, getting a flu vaccine is more important than ever because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. A flu vaccine this season can also help reduce the burden on our medical system and save medical resources for the care of COVID-19 patients. To protect yourself, your family, and your community from the flu this winter, find a flu clinic near you by visiting the CDC's influenza (flu) webpage, also available in Spanish. |  Managing your mental wellness during the holiday season can be challenging when unaware of holiday triggers. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has resources to help you identify songs, scents, and other holiday reminders that can trigger emotions such as loss, loneliness and shame. The following are tips from SAMHSA to help recognize and manage stressors this holiday season: - Take time to notice your own responses.
- Ask yourself "What helps and what hurts?"
- Talk about what the holidays may bring up for you.
- Pay attention to nutrition and exercise.
For additional resources to help manage mental health and emotional wellness including addressing mental health myths and facts, visit MedlinePlus and MentalHealth.gov. |  The Knowledge Center online library collection provides access to publications that illustrate disparities in the utilization of flu vaccines for minority groups. To read these publications, search the online library catalog here. | |
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