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STEUBENVILLE -- April is National Minority Health Month, and Urban Mission Ministries will be rolling out four events to commemorate and promote health for community members.
For about 20 years, the Urban Mission has been hosting events for the national observance, which was established in Ohio by the Ohio Commission on Minority Health in 1989, said Cynthia Lytle, the nonprofit's community engagement director.
Created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the 2024 Minority Health Month theme is "Be the Source for Better Health: Improving Health Outcomes Through Our Cultures, Communities and Connections." Building on that, the Urban Mission's local theme is "Making My Health a Priority."
Lytle said, "What we're making available are tools, materials and connecting people with health care providers. ... Now is the time for members of our community and minority community to take action and make their health a priority. We're here to help along the way, but you've got to take the steps."
The schedule will look a bit different this year, and missing will be the 5K and dance for life events. Those changes were made, Lytle said, to shift the focus toward health education and lifesaving preventative screenings, which make up half of the month's programming.
Kicking off the observance will be a men's health breakfast on April 13 from 9 a.m. to noon at Vinson Hospitality House, 719 N. Fifth Street. Free and open to the public without prior registration, the breakfast will feature guest speaker Dr. Triston Smith, an interventional cardiologist for Trinity Health System, who will answer men's health questions for the second year in a row.
Lytle said the annual breakfast is a "crowd favorite" and "provides men in the community a safe space to dialogue with local health care providers and to get their questions answered right there on the spot."
That event will be a precursor for the next -- a free prostate screening on April 23 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Tony Teramana Cancer Center, 3204 Johnson Road. Men will be treated to tailgate-style refreshments after their scheduled appointments.
Men 40 and older must register ahead of time and can do so by calling the cancer center's Marsha Lewis at (740) 264-8207. The deadline to register is April 19.
The free screenings are made possible by the Urban Mission's partnership with the cancer center, as well as the Women in Action Against Cancer Coalition, which Lytle said is picking up the bill.
"We're so grateful to the local doctors, urologists, nurse practitioners and the staff at the Tony Teramana Cancer Center who give their time after normal work hours to help make this screening possible," Lytle said.
There will be a free women's breast cancer screening event on April 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mammograms will be provided through a mobile care unit from the Tiffany Breast Care Center, parked at the Urban Mission's food warehouse, 311 N. Sixth St.
Lytle said women have been historically more comfortable with the mobile care unit, as opposed to entering a clinic for mammograms. Dr. Vanessa Palmer will be present to counsel women before their scheduled appointment.
Once their appointments are complete, women will be able to interact with representatives of the event's sponsors. Tables will be set up where women can connect with other resources and take home free goodies.
The event is presented through Palmer and the Diversity Health Initiative, which works in close partnership with the Ohio Valley Health Center. Sponsoring the event are the Breast and Cervical Cancer Project of Northwest Ohio, Buckeye Health Plan and Care Source.
A 30-woman pre-registration goal has already been met for the event, though individuals shouldn't fret, Lytle said. Women who don't make it to this screening can call Palmer at (740) 535-6033 to be registered for a screening in June, with an exact date to be determined.
Finally, a free natural health day event will wrap up the month, occurring from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 27 in the War Memorial Building, 423 North St. Speakers will present on and demonstrate nutrition, chiropractic, stress reduction, mental health, addiction, fasting, yoga and massage, alongside a health fair with informational booths, health screenings, vendors, exercise, dancing, giveaways and healthy food.
This is the event's second year, and it is being presented by Asantewa Anyabwile, president of the LaBelle Neighbors Who Care, in partnership with the Jefferson County General Health District.
Although speakers and demonstrations will have a set time, Lytle said, individuals can visit the tables at any time during the fair.
For information, individuals can call (740) 325-4610. Vendors should contact (740) 283-8530, extension 1624, or email info@jchealth.com.
While Minority Health Month places emphasis on minority participation, all of the events are open to anyone who wants to participate, Lytle noted.
The events were organized by the Urban Mission's Neighborhood Community Development Center, the nonprofit's community development branch. The focus of each event was determined through input from an advisory committee, which assesses needs in the community, Lytle said.
Lytle said the Urban Mission's annual events are only possible through local partnerships and funding through the Ohio Commission on Minority Health. Based in Columbus, the commission presents the mission with funding each grant year for a list of approved activities.
"We're grateful for (the commission's) relentless work and efforts to promote and encourage education and preventative care," Lytle said. "They really lead the way for us, and we do our best to follow on a local level."
Information about the events can be found on the Urban Mission's Facebook page or website, urbanmission.org. Individuals can call the office at (740) 282-8010 and ask to speak with Lytle.
Statistics show disparities between health outcomes for minority individuals and their counterparts, Lytle said, adding that she's grateful for local health experts who are helping to shine a light on that issue.
"The numbers do not lie, and what they tell us is we've got a long road ahead of us," Lytle said. "We've made progress through programming and Minority Health Month activities, but there's still more work that needs to be done.
"The realization is that the health care providers are here, and the education is here and the tools are here, but the minority community has to take advantage of them. And we're here, ready and willing to come beside them on their health journey. ... I encourage people to participate (at our events.) Come out and bring a family member or friend."