Efforts by Local Groups, National Organizations Target HIV, Diabetes, Other Health Issues Affecting Minorities
The following highlights efforts by local communities and national organizations to address health issues among minorities.
- Hillsborough, N.C.: Melvin Jones, owner of Kutz And Fades Unlimited Barbershop, in partnership with the Orange County North Carolina Health Department is offering HIV tests to customers, the Charlotte News and Observer reports. Jones received certification as an HIV and peer educator in the county's Project Courage HIV prevention program three years ago (Arounnarath, Charlotte News And Observer, 2/16).
- Guilford County, N.C.: The not-for-profit group Growing Beyond Obstacles, with a grant from the North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund, is sponsoring a wellness project that seeks to have at least 3,000 black residents in Guilford County tested for diabetes over the next three months, the Greensboro News-Record reports. The project -- "Slamming Diabetes," which is targeting local black church congregations -- will award a $4,000 cash prize to the church with the largest number of participants to be tested during the campaign (McLaughlin, Greensboro News-Record, 2/18).
- Institute of Minority Health Education and Research: The institute has received a $50,000 grant from the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, which will go toward hiring additional staff to manage an accounting department and enable the organization to begin billing for its services, the Wichita Eagle reports. The institute, which collects data on Hispanic health for research purposes, also offers no-cost health services to Hispanics, such as screenings and awareness classes (Woods, Wichita Eagle, 2/17).
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National Alliance for Hispanic Health: The alliance has created a no-cost English-Spanish booklet on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder that seeks to educate parents on the condition, their rights and public school policies on educating a child with a disability (St. Paul Pioneer Press, 2/14).
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New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene: New York City, in honor of Black History Month, reasserted its commitment to reducing racial health disparities. In 2003, the city established district health offices in largely Hispanic and black communities to work with faith-based organizations, neighborhood businesses and physicians, and community leaders on health-related issues (DOHMH release, 2/20).
- Novartis/National Basketball Retired Players Association: Novartis and the association have launched, "Shooting For Healthy BP," a national hypertension educational campaign targeting blacks. Former National Basketball Association players Dominique Wilkins, Darryl Dawkins and Spencer Haywood will travel to 15 cities across the nation to share their experiences with hypertension to encourage others to seek treatment and manage the condition (Black News, 2/16).