The 5th Annual Black Men’s Health Day Aims to Save Black Men

The Agency for African American Men’s Health issued a press release on August 1 announcing that the 5th annual Black Men’s Health Day will probably be held on the Morehouse College campus on September 14, 2024.

According to this event, it’s free geared toward encouraging black men to take part in on-site screening tests which measure various basic vital signs similar to blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, HIV/STD/STI status, prostate cancer and more.

Keith Dobbins, coordinator of the African American Male Wellness Agency in Atlanta, told the editorial team that the goal of the event is to save the lives of black men.

“We do this every year to save the lives of black men,” Dobbins said. “When you save a black man’s life, you save his family. When you save his family, you save the community. And that’s what we’re all about, making a huge difference through black men’s health.”

According to a press release, Greg Clay, executive director of the City of Atlanta’s Office of Mayoral Voter Services, will function honorary chair of the event. Clay expressed his excitement, saying, “I am incredibly excited to lead this annual effort here in Atlanta as we work to impact health disparities, as well as other issues, in my role with the city on a daily basis,” Clay said. “This proactive movement is a true representation of Atlanta’s collaborative effort to address some of the greatest challenges facing Black men in our community.”

Kenny R. Hampton, president of the African American Male Wellness Agency, said in a press release that he hopes to start a movement that may provide black men with equal access to health care and empowerment.

“Black Men’s Wellness Day in Atlanta is more than just an event—it’s a movement toward health equity and empowerment for African-American men,” Hampton said. “By addressing the health disparities that disproportionately affect our community, we not only improve the lives of individuals, but we also strengthen families and communities. Our mission is to provide the tools and resources necessary to help Black men live healthier, longer lives, and this event is key to making that vision a reality.”

Event sponsors include Johnson & Johnson, CareSource, Genentech, Kaiser Permanente, Kroger Delivery, Care Access and Inside Edge Consulting.

According to the discharge, since 2004, the group led by Hampton has organized or hosted a 5-kilometer walk and run in greater than 15 cities, which it uses as an awareness campaign to shine a light-weight on the health disparities that Black men face specifically. For the past 20 years, the organization has been dedicated to saving the lives of Black men, closing health disparities and helping Black men survive preventable diseases.