By D. Kevin McNeirSpecial to The AFRO Brutal cases of domestic violence in the Black community have rocked the nation in recent weeks, highlighting a need to understand the root cause of intimate partner violence and how to prevent it. On April 1, Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen, of Coral Springs, Fla.was found dead in […]
Category: Health
Posted inHealth
A call to action to help fight kidney failure in at-risk communities: American Kidney Fund urges people to be APOL1 Aware
April 28 marks AMKD Awareness Day, highlighting the urgent need for communities—especially those of African ancestry—to understand their risk for APOL1-mediated kidney disease.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Wow!’ Eye surgery marathon restores sight for some South Africans
By Michelle GumedeThe Associated Press TSAKANE, South Africa (AP) — Gladys Khoza had missed being able to see her family. Not because they couldn’t visit, but because the 84-year-old had vision problems. Now that has changed. Khoza is one of 133 people whose sight was restored during a “marathon” of free cataract surgeries conducted by […]
Posted in!Front Page Baltimore News
Baltimore Police Department launches neurodivergent individuals database, expands tools to support safer interactions
By Baltimore Police Department In recognition of World Autism Acceptance Month and World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) is proud to launch a new initiative designed to better support neurodivergent individuals and enhance safe, effective interactions with law enforcement. BPD’s Community Partnerships Unit is introducing a Neurodivergent Individuals Database, […]
Posted inHealth
Questions to ask your doctor after 60
Medical experts stress that adults over 60—especially Black patients facing long-standing health disparities—should actively prepare for doctor visits by writing down questions, reviewing medications and bringing a trusted advocate when possible. Regular screenings, including cancer, vision, hearing and bone density tests, along with open discussions about prescriptions and symptoms, are key to maintaining health and catching potential issues early.
Posted inHealth
Black women in rural areas grapple with stark decline in obstetric care
Black women in rural communities are increasingly at risk as obstetric services decline due to hospital closures and reduced Medicaid funding. Limited access to specialists, long travel distances and policy changes are worsening maternal health outcomes, with Black mothers already facing disproportionately high mortality rates. Lawmakers are proposing legislation to expand Medicaid support, while doulas and community-based care providers are stepping in to help fill critical gaps.
Posted inAfro Briefs
Najee Seabrooks: Still teaching young people how to live three years later!
By Zayid Muhammad They were not only wearing their famous orange and black gear on this day. Some had on that gear especially made to honor their fallen friend and colleague, that red and black gear, his smiling face on the front, and a quote of his on the back that bespoke his vibrant personality […]
Posted inHealth
Menopause and the power of becoming: advocates, doctors push for more inclusive conversations
By Victoria MejicanosAFRO Staff Writervmejicanos@afro.com Menopause is clinically defined as “12 consecutive months without a menstrual period,” according to Dr. Ngozi Wexler, an OB-GYN and chief medical officer at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center. But advocates like Omisade Burney-Scott, founder of The Black Girls’ Guide to Surviving Menopause, say the transition carries a deeper significance. While […]
Posted inMental Health
Experts weigh in on online racism’s impact on mental health
Black young adults face racism both in real life and online, leading many to turn to digital mental health tools. Experts stress the need for clinicians to recognize and address online racial stress in treatment.
Posted inHealth
CIAA Health and Mental Wellness Summit highlights fibroids and endometriosis in Black women
While fans cheered on student-athletes at the CIAA Tournament, a quieter but urgent conversation unfolded off the court. Women’s health leaders and advocates gathered to spotlight fibroids and endometriosis, conditions that disproportionately affect Black women and are often underdiagnosed or dismissed.
Posted inHealth
Alpha Eta Phi: The sorority changing life for women with multiple sclerosis
Four women living with multiple sclerosis (MS) found each other through a sorority for women with chronic illnesses — and realized there was no space built specifically for women with MS to connect, heal and thrive. So they created their own, founding Alpha Eta Phi in 2021 as the first and only non-collegiate sorority dedicated to women navigating life with the disease.
Posted inHealth
Community views on organ donation
Word In Black’s national survey of over 1,500 Black Americans reveals that medical mistrust, family concerns, and experiences with the healthcare system shape decisions about organ donation, highlighting the need for culturally responsive outreach, policy, and care.