The Quick Version
- Our Health, Our Wellness is a national Black Health Matters campaign built around the conditions that hit Black communities hardest.
- It covers heart health, kidney disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, mental health, and vaccinations, with resources in English and Spanish.
- Because much medical research underrepresents Black patients, a community-centered, culturally relevant campaign matters.
- Practical move: know four numbers (blood pressure, A1C, cholesterol, kidney function) and book one screening this month.
The conditions that shorten Black lives the most — heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, certain cancers — are largely preventable or manageable when caught early. A national campaign called Our Health, Our Wellness (OHOW) was built around exactly that idea, and it is designed for our communities specifically. Here is what it covers and how to put it to work for you and your family.
What Our Health, Our Wellness is
OHOW is a national health campaign powered by the Black Health Matters Foundation. Launched in spring 2026, it focuses on prevention, early intervention, and getting real resources into under-resourced communities — through health fairs, webinars, screenings, and culturally relevant health information. Materials are available in both English and Spanish, and the hub lives at ourhealthourwellness.com.
The conditions it targets
The campaign concentrates on the areas where the gaps are widest:
- Heart health — including high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes
- Chronic kidney disease
- Cancer — prevention, screening, and newer treatment options
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Mental health
- Vaccinations
Why a Black-centered campaign matters
These are not random picks. Black Americans carry a heavier burden from high blood pressure, kidney disease, and diabetes, and often develop them earlier. Part of the problem is that a lot of medical research was built on populations that don’t look like us, so “standard” guidance doesn’t always fit — from how blood pressure shows up to how some medications are metabolized. A campaign built around Black communities, using information and messengers people trust, is how that gap starts to close. The practical takeaway: prevention and early screening are the highest-leverage moves you can make for your own health.
How to actually use it
- Start at the hub. Visit ourhealthourwellness.com for screenings, educational events, and plain-language guides you can share with family.
- Know your numbers. Blood pressure, blood sugar (A1C), cholesterol, and kidney function (a simple eGFR blood test). Ask your doctor for these by name at your next visit.
- Bring someone with you. Health moves through families and community. Pull a parent, partner, or friend into a screening or a webinar — accountability doubles follow-through.
- Ask better questions. “Given my history, what should I be screened for, and how often?” is a question that changes outcomes.
The bottom line
You don’t need to wait for a health fair to come to your city. Knowing four numbers and booking one screening this month is the kind of small, repeatable action that adds years. For more on wellness and community care, explore our Health section.
This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Talk with a qualified healthcare provider about your personal health and screening schedule.
