Governor Stein Proclaims Minority Health Month

Minority Health Month

2026

By The Governor Of The State Of North Carolina

A Proclamation

Whereas, April is recognized nationally as Minority Health Month, a time to raise awareness about health disparities and to promote actions that improve the health and well-being of every community across the state; and 

Whereas, North Carolina is one of the most diverse states in the Southeast, home to more than 11 million residents, including growing Black, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, Asian, immigrant, and multilingual communities whose cultures, labor, and leadership are vital to the social, cultural, and economic strength of our state; and 

Whereas, data from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Disparities Analysis Report document persistent inequities in health outcomes, including higher rates of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, maternal and infant mortality, mental health challenges, and premature death among racial and ethnic minority populations compared to statewide averages; and 

Whereas, many of these disparities are driven by social, economic, environmental, and structural factors – including access to high-quality health care, safe and affordable housing, nutritious food, reliable transportation, high-quality education, clean environments, and equitable economic opportunity – that shape health long before individuals enter the health care system; and 

Whereas, North Carolina is home to eight state-recognized American Indian tribes and four Urban Indian Organizations whose communities continue to experience unique health inequities while contributing rich cultural, historical, and civic leadership across the state; and 

Whereas, advancing health equity requires sustained collaboration among state and local government, health care systems, community-based organizations, tribal and faith leaders, educators, and residents to ensure that all North Carolinians have a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health; and 

Whereas, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, through the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities, works in partnership with communities across the state to increase awareness, strengthen prevention efforts, expand access to services, and support solutions that improve health outcomes;

Now, Therefore, I, Josh Stein, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim April 2026 as “Minority Health Month” in North Carolina and commend its observance to all residents.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina at the Capitol in Raleigh this seventeenth day of March in the year of our Lord two thousand and twenty-sixth and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fiftieth.