Health

A Word In Black panel featuring health experts and community leaders recently explored community-based solutions to combat the disproportionately high rate of maternal mortality among Black women caused by systemic inequalities.

The Environmental Protection Agency is rolling back Biden-era diesel emission standards to save truckers billions of dollars, a move public health advocates warn will disproportionately increase toxic pollution in Black communities located near freight corridors.

Health officials are advising consumers to exercise caution and follow strict food safety practices as cases of cyclosporiasis related to a multi-state outbreak continue to rise across the United States.

The ban on Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood and similar clinics has expired, allowing millions of low-income individuals to resume routine healthcare services, but individual states must still decide to allow the clinics to be reimbursed.

Kyra Wagner, a rising senior at Spelman College, was awarded the JED Foundation's 2026 Student Voice of Mental Health Award for her commitment to helping Black youth struggling with mental health issues, inspired by her own family's experience during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cyclosporiasis is a parasitic infection that causes weeks of debilitating diarrhea, cramps and bloating, and is difficult to trace back to a single source due to the parasite's ability to exchange DNA, making it difficult to track with genetic testing.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law last July, has significantly curtailed access to healthcare and food assistance for millions of low-income Americans, with Black communities disproportionately affected. The legislation, which enacted trillions in cuts to Medicaid and food assistance budgets, has led to a 4.6 million decrease in Medicaid and CHIP enrollment and over 4 million fewer SNAP participants, intensifying existing systemic inequities.

To prevent food-borne illness during the Fourth of July holiday, people should use an internal thermometer to ensure meat is cooked to the correct temperature, refrigerate perishable items within one hour if the temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and wash their hands after handling raw meat.

Extreme heat can be fatal, and those most vulnerable include low-income, Black, and Latino communities, as well as outdoor workers, with over 21,000 heat-related deaths in the US between 1999 and 2023, often due to lack of air conditioning and outdoor work.

New federal student loan limits could make it difficult for many graduate students, especially those from low-income households and minorities, to finance their education and pursue careers in healthcare.