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For more information contact: For immediate release New West Virginia Office Addresses Minority Health The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources is addressing the disparities in health status and access to quality medical care for racial and ethnic minority populations with the development of the West Virginia Office of Minority Health. The purpose of this Office is to serve as a resource to community organizations, health care providers, and government agencies in efforts to decrease death and illness in minority populations. The WVOMH works closely with the federal Office of Minority Health within the Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Rural Health Policy within the Health Resources and Services Administration. An advisory council for the office has been established and is chaired by Charleston cardiologist Dr. Ronald McCowan. Dr. McCowan has a personal and professional interest in minority health care issues. A disproportionate rate of West Virginia’s minority populations suffer from health disparities associated with heart disease and stroke, diabetes, cancer, HIV and chronic kidney disease. “Cultural competence could go a long way in shortening the gap in health disparities,” said Charlene Hickman, manager of the West Virginia Office of Minority Health. “Cultural competence embraces principles of equal access and non-discriminatory practices in service delivery, and organizations must develop, adopt and incorporate cultural knowledge into policy making, infrastructure and practice in order to close these gaps.” For more information on the West Virginia Office of Minority Health contact Charlene Hickman, manager, at (304)558-0644, or by email at charlenehickman@wvdhhr.org. – 30 – |