Health Equity for “MENA” Communities

MENA HEALTH EQUITY

Background on Health Equity and MENA Community Exclusion

Under Directive 15, data on the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) population was included within the “White” racial category
However, this categorization has led to the exclusion of MENA communities from specific health data and programs. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued Statistical Policy Directive Number 15 (Directive 15) in 1977 establishing Federal standards for the collection of data on race and ethnicity. Not having a “MENA” category has hindered the development of programs to address the health needs of Arab Americans and Middle Eastern and North African poeple.

Over the years

MENA has not been separated from the White racial category, despite all the updates the OMB made on Directive 15 to authorize data collection on additional racial and ethnic groups.

As a result

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has combined health data on White and MENA populations into one statistical category, this erases health data on Arab American and other MENA communities.

LET’S ADDRESS THIS!

The Health Equity and MENA Community Inclusion Act of 2023 (H.R.2730) was introduced in Congress. This act aims to amend the Public Health Service Act to include Middle Easterners and North Africans in the statutory definition of a “racial and ethnic” group. By doing so, it seeks to ensure that MENA communities are recognized and accounted for in health data collection and program development.

To improve health equity and eliminate health disparities among racial and ethnic minority populations, including MENA communities, the Office of Minority Health (OMH) plays a crucial role. OMH is responsible for developing health policies and programs that will help eliminate disparities and improve the health of minority populations. Their strategic framework guides the planning, implementation, and evaluation of efforts to achieve better results in minority health improvements and health disparities reductions

IN CONCLUSION

The current categorization of the MENA population within the “White” racial category has led to the exclusion of MENA communities from specific health data and programs. Efforts are being made, such as the Health Equity and MENA Community Inclusion Act of 2023, to address this issue and ensure that MENA communities are recognized and accounted for in health data collection and program development. The Office of Minority Health plays a crucial role in improving health equity and eliminating health disparities among racial and ethnic minority populations, including MENA communities.