Nevada Minority Health & Equity Coalition

The Nevada Minority Health & Equity Coalition (NMHEC) strongly believes that we are as healthy as our most vulnerable. Healthy communities set the foundation for good health and opportunities to thrive. However, this does not occur in all communities, particularly among our disadvantaged and often underserved populations, which often have disproportionate rates of illness, disability, and death. According to the 2019 Nevada Minority Health Report, Nevada’s population in 2017 was comprised of a white majority, with the rest of the population comprising: 29.0% Hispanic, 9.4% Asian/Pacific Islander (API), 8.7% Black, and 1.2% American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN). In 2017, chronic diseases represented six of the top ten leading causes of death in Nevada. Because of their pervasive nature, chronic disease, particularly within vulnerable populations, can exacerbate disparities. National data indicate that residents in predominantly minority communities “continue to have lower socioeconomic status, greater barriers to health-care access, and greater risk for and burden of disease compared to the rest of the population.” Social determinants, including social conditions and psychosocial factors, have proven to be powerful mediators to achieving good health and well-being. Including all aspects of where we live, work and play which includes our neighborhoods, education, health and health care, economic stability, and social and community factors.