The AAECF Health and Wellness Division:

Addressing African American Health Disparities

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A Message from Dr. Zarif

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According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, African American adults are 60% more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to have been diagnosed with diabetes by a physician, 20% more likely to die from heart disease, 40% more likely to have high blood pressure, 50% more likely to have a stroke, and have the highest mortality rate of any racial and ethnic group for all cancers combined and for most major cancers.

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These health disparities are a result of systemic racism and unfair disadvantages against the Black community, including a lack of access to medical coverage and medical care, poorer treatment within the medical system, lack of representation in clinical trials, lack of medical career opportunities for minorities and a resulting lack of diversity among health care providers, biased federal nutrition policy, and a lack of resources, opportunity, and access to healthy food.

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Sincerely, 

Dr. Farid Zarif