STEUBENVILLE — Educating the public and raising awareness about health disparities in the community are among the goals of Minority Health Month.

Held every April, local activities will include four health-focused events, each of which is designed to present important information.

“When we look statistically, primarily at our African American population, there are disparities there, whether it be for cancers, cardiovascular issues or diabetes. We realize that those statistics show that either those populations aren’t able to connect to health care services or aren’t going to their doctor’s appointments for whatever reason, so we’re there to provide education and information and connect them to the services that are available to them,” explained Cynthia Lytle, community engagement director of Urban Mission Ministries, which is coordinating this year’s local activities through its neighborhood community development center.

It’s an issue that touches all segments of the community.

According to the American Cancer Society, Black women face a 38% higher mortality rate from breast cancer, largely because of later diagnosis and less access to high-quality treatment. And approximately one in six African American men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime, according to information from the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The incidence rate is 1.76 times higher, and the mortality rate is 2.14 times higher than for non-Hispanic white men. They also are more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age and with advanced disease.

“The idea is prevention,” said Lytle, who has been organizing the local events for 11 years. “It’s all about preventative care and making sure that our communities are equipped with the information they need.”

Four major events are planned during the month:

• The Men’s Breakfast and Health Fair, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 11 at Mount Carmel Community Baptist Church, 708 N. Fifth St. Open to men 20 and older, the free event will feature guest speakers, including Dr. Triston Smith of Trinity Health System, and displays from local health agencies.

• The Reset Experience: A Black Mental Health Summit, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 18 at Steubenville High School. Free and open to the public, the event will include a health and wellness fair, food, a guest panel, prizes, a DJ and reset sessions.

• Men’s free prostate screenings will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. April 28 at the Tony Teramana Cancer Center, 3204 Johnson Road. Registration is open for men 40 and older by calling Marsha Lewis at (740) 264-8207. The registration deadline is April 20.

• Woman’s mammogram screenings will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 29. Screenings will be conducted in the Tiffany Breast Care mobile unit, which will be at the Urban Mission, 311 N. Sixth St. Screenings will be available for women 40 and older, insured or uninsured, who are Ohio residents. Call (740) 283-2856 to register, with a deadline of April 15. For information, call Dr. Vanessa Palmer at (740) 283-2856. Included will be Sample Smart. Eat Balanced. Live Strong — A Demonstration Event, and MyPlate recipes inspired by ADA recommendations.

Activities throughout the month have seen steady growth, Lytle said.

“We have staple events, and then sometimes we introduce new events, and that creates a resurgence in the celebration,” she explained. “But with our mainstays, like the mammogram screenings and the prostate screenings, we continue to see consistent participation, and people are getting results from them.”

Each of the events by themselves is special, and they also help draw attention to the other activities.

“The men’s breakfast is important, because it serves as a precursor for the prostate screening,” Lytle said. “Health care providers will come in and offer prostate health information and prostate screening information. There will be guys in place at that event who will say, ‘All right, let’s get you signed up for that screening.'”

A target group this year is those who are between the ages of 25 and 48, she added.

“We’re realizing that those health disparities are increasing in the younger generation, as well,” Lytle said. “So, if we can get them in and educated now, they’ll be here a little bit longer.”

Getting the word out about the activities is critical, she added.

“Our minority churches, our local Black churches, play a big role in the success of these events, so we are partnering closely with the clergy and congregations,” Lytle said. “We target point persons in those congregations who serve as spokespersons to help us get the information out and encourage people to get signed up.”

Partners and sponsors for Minority Health Month include the Ohio Commission on Minority Health; the Tony Teramana Cancer Center and Trinity Health System; Ohio Valley Health Center and the Diversity Health Initiative; the Tiffany Breast Care Center of Mahoning County; Buckeye Health Plan; Mount Carmel Community Baptist Church; Vinson Mortuary LLC; Steubenville High School; NAMI of Greater Wheeling; CareSource; Legacy Lounge; and BossCEvents.