What is Diversity & Prevention?
Diversity & Prevention is a community-based initiative focused on reducing health inequalities by making preventive healthcare accessible, relevant, and culturally sensitive.
Rather than expecting individuals to engage with traditional healthcare systems, we bring prevention directly into trusted community spaces including religious and cultural centres where people already gather, connect, and feel at home.
This approach allows us to reach populations that are often underserved by conventional prevention programmes and to engage them in a meaningful and sustainable way.
Why this matters
Health inequalities remain one of the biggest challenges in modern healthcare.
People with a migration background are disproportionately affected by cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other lifestyle-related conditions — often at a younger age and with worse outcomes.
At the same time, existing prevention programmes frequently fail to reach these groups due to language barriers, limited health literacy, and lack of trust in formal healthcare systems.
Effective prevention requires a different approach: one that is inclusive, accessible, and rooted in trust. Community spaces — such as mosques and cultural centres — offer exactly that environment.
What we do
- Organise community-based health days in trusted environments (e.g. places of worship)
- Provide accessible education on lifestyle, nutrition, mental health, and cardiovascular prevention
- Facilitate open dialogue between healthcare professionals and community members
- Increase awareness through practical, non-diagnostic health insights
- Co-create solutions together with participants to ensure cultural relevance and impact
Scientific foundation
Diversity & Prevention is developed by the TARGet research group at Amsterdam UMC, combining clinical expertise with community-based research.
The approach is built on years of experience in inclusive prevention research, co-creation with communities, and participatory and culturally sensitive methodologies.
By integrating real-world insights with scientific expertise, the programme creates a bridge between healthcare, research, and society.
Impact
For individuals
Greater awareness of health risks and practical steps toward healthier lifestyles.
For families
Breaking intergenerational patterns of unhealthy habits and stress.
For communities
Stronger social cohesion and increased openness around health and wellbeing.
For healthcare
Improved reach of preventive care and reduced long-term disease burden.
Other work from TARGet.
Genetic Insights into Aortic Disease (GEN-TAAD)
Understanding genetic risk to predict and prevent life-threatening aortic disease.
Learn more →
After the Storm
Understanding the silent, often invisible experience of recovery beyond survival.
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SUKH Healing Garden
Nature-inspired environments for recovery, wellbeing, and resilience.
Learn more →