DrumBeats Magazine
Directories
Diversity by Region
By Makeisha Lee, Health and Nutrition Consultant
www.CleanseFormula.com and www.GuideToCleansing.com
All around us we hear about how the toxins in the environment are affecting the general population’s health all over the world. In fact in the UK, a study was conducted by the Environmental Pressure Group that measured the amount of chemical toxins found to be in the blood of it’s participants.
Chemical substances ranging from pesticides, fire retardants, and DDT; which has been associated with cancers and nervous and immune system disorders were present. While light is being shed on the matter of pollutants in that area. Pollution in the African American community is not being addressed appropriately.
We need to be aware of the increased risk within our community in respects to pollution so as to lessen the damaging effects in our lives and our offspring. According to the Washington based Black Leadership forum, 68% of blacks live within 30 miles of a coal fired power plant as compared to 56% whites. 30 miles is the distance within where people experience maximum effects from smokestack emissions.
Nationwide 71% blacks live in areas that do not meet federal air and pollution standards as compared to only 58% whites. There seems to be no rush to make it compliant either. Stricter testing should be enforced to assist in the detection and prevention of these harmful substances.
Another key factor as to why blacks are harmed more is that blacks are more likely to work in asbestos, textile, coal and silica mining industries. This is where they have over exposure to occupational respiratory ailments and these hazardous materials that contribute to chronic lung diseases. This explains the higher death rate from asthma in blacks, being as high as 38.7% per one million deaths as compared to 14.2% per one million deaths in whites.
People having contaminated blood is proof that that it is time for the government to address this pollution issue aggressively. It is absolutely vital that we get stricter laws on pollution in our areas to stop this ongoing contamination in everyday life. This is for the sake of our health, our children and future generations.
However, we should not wait until the government steps in. We can take immediate action to protect and fortify ourselves by cleansing our bodies now, thus providing our bodies with full ammunition to fight off its lingering effects from excessive build up pf toxins. Don’t wait for disease to manifest before we decide to place adequate protection on ourselves and our loved ones!
Makeisha Lee is a health and nutrition consultant. For more information about cleansing and detoxifying your body, contact her at 614-595-1425 or makeisha@cleanseformula.com or learn more at www.CleanseFormula.com
To download the African American Guide To Cleansing, visit:
www.GuideToCleansing.com
To download the African American Guide To Weight Loss, visit:
www.NoMoreFadDiets.com
Chapel Hill, NC (BlackNews.com 3/31/06) - The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Stanford University are actively recruiting African American adults for a study of the self-management of arthritis, gout, and chronic joint pain.
The study is designed to learn whether a Tool Kit sent through the mail is effective in helping people with arthritis manage their disease and live a better life. The Tool Kit contains The Arthritis Helpbook, tip sheets, an exercise workbook, a self-assessment tool, and CDs.
Participants can study materials at home at their own pace. The materials are free and participants may keep them.
To evaluate the effectiveness of the Tool Kits, participants will be asked to complete several questionnaires. All postage is paid by the study and there is no cost to participate.
To enroll, call The University of North Carolina toll-free at 1-877-668-0682. Sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice
Nashville, TN (3/3/06 BlackNews.com) - Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, nationally renowned educator, clinician and researcher in women's reproductive health, is the new senior vice president for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine at Meharry Medical College. Montgomery Rice's appointment was announced by Dr. John E. Maupin Jr., Meharry president, at a campus-wide meeting on Feb. 24.
Amid enthusiastic applause from students, faculty and staff as the announcement was made, Maupin said, "Valerie Montgomery Rice is the best leader for the School of Medicine at this important time in the College's history. As we continue providing excellent health professions, education and training and high quality patient care, we are enhancing our research efforts with a focus on ending the health disparities that exist for people of color and the disadvantaged. Dr. Montgomery Rice's proven expertise and leadership in these areas greatly benefit our efforts."
Maupin added that a national search to fill the position was not conducted after consultation with the College's chief faculty governing bodies, the Faculty Senate and the Faculty Council, and the Meharry Board of Trustees. "I conferred with the trustees and the faculty leadership, who all said virtually the same thing: Dr. Montgomery Rice is exactly who Meharry needs leading the School of Medicine," he said. "The fact that she is already serving on our faculty helps us make this transition as seamless as possible."
"I am pleased and honored to receive this appointment," Montgomery Rice said. "Meharry has a strong history of providing education and training to health professionals who are committed to medically underserved communities. We are building upon that tradition today in the School of Medicine, working to provide exceptional leadership in the national efforts to advance scientific understanding of ethnic-based health disparities; address disparities in the quality and type of care provided to minorities; and ensure greater diversity in the health professions workforce."
ABOUT DR. VALERIE MONTGOMERY RICE
Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice has served as chair and professor of Meharry's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and executive director of Meharry's Center for Women's Health since 2003. During her tenure, she has overseen efforts to create the Center for Women's Health, which provides subspecialty patient care in urogynecology, reproductive endocrinology and infertility, gynecologic oncology and high-risk obstetrics.
Under her leadership, the Center launched the Women's Cancer Research Laboratory in 2005, and the Center for Women's Health Research, scheduled to open this fall as the first of its kind devoted solely to addressing diseases that disproportionately affect women of color. In 2004, she re-established Meharry's residency training program in obstetrics and gynecology, which closed in the early 1990's due to low patient volume. Today, there are six resident physicians receiving training in the program; six more will be added by 2007.
Montgomery Rice is known throughout the U.S. as one of the newly emerging voices in the expanding field of reproductive endocrinology and as a noted lecturer in the area of menopause. She has participated in national campaigns in support of low-dose hormonal applications and has served as the principal investigator on numerous clinical trials of low-dose birth control pills and hormonal replacement therapies. She has extensive expertise in female infertility and gynecologic reproductive endocrinology including repetitive pregnancy loss, premenstrual syndrome, endometriosis and menopause.
Montgomery Rice currently serves on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Advisory Committee for Reproductive Health Drugs and is a reviewer for several journals including Fertility Sterility, Obstetrics and Gynecology, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Menopause. Her most recent awards include the National Institutes of Health Supplemental Research Award and the Joy McCann Endowed Professor Award, of which she was the first Meharry Medical College recipient.
She is a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive endocrinology and infertility. She is a member of numerous professional organizations including the American Medical Association, National Medical Association; American Medical Women's Association and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.
Prior to her appointment at Meharry, Montgomery Rice served as associate professor of medicine and director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
She earned her medical degree from Harvard Medical School and bachelor's degree in chemistry from Georgia Institute of Technology. She completed her internship and residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Emory University School of Medicine and affiliated hospitals in Atlanta and served a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Hutzel Hospital in Detroit.
Montgomery Rice succeeds Dr. PonJola Coney, who held the position since 2002 and will remain on faculty in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
ABOUT MEHARRY MEDICAL COLLEGE
Meharry Medical College is the nation's largest private, independent historically black institution dedicated solely to educating health science professionals. The College is particularly well known for its uniquely nurturing, highly effective educational programs; preeminence in health disparities research; culturally sensitive, evidence-based health services; and significant contribution to the diversity of the nation's health professions workforce. Black Issues in Higher Education's ranking of institutions annually lists Meharry as a leading national educator of African Americans with M.D. and D.D.S. degrees and Ph.D. degrees in the biomedical sciences.
KangooNYC.com Puts the Fun into Fitness and Weight Loss During Heart Health Month Events with Sister to Sister in New York and Shoppers at New Jersey's Largest Retail Outlet Mall
Ericka Simmons, president of Epic Sculpt, the official distributor of Kangoo Jumps through KangooNYC.com
Kangoo Jumps put the fun into fitness.
Ericka Simmons, official distributor of Kangoo Jumps through KangooNYC.com, with Bruce Blanke, Managing Partner of The Athlete's Foot at Woodbridge Center, Woodbridge, NJ, the first retailer in the United States to carry Kangoo Jumps.
New York, NY (BlackNews.com) (2/10/06) - KangooNYC.com, the official regional Internet distribution site for Kangoo Jumps, the world's lowest-impact aerobic fitness shoe, is launching in the New York Metropolitan area with two "Have Fun Getting Fit" events during national heart month.
Feb. 17 - Sister to Sister National Woman's Heart Health Fair, Manhattan
KangooNYC.com puts the fun into fitness on Feb. 17, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., as part of the Sister to Sister National Woman's Heart Health Fair at the Madison Square Garden Expo Center in Manhattan with a special appearance by Jason Mellars, a master trainer and international fitness presenter from London. Mellars is director of education and training for Kangoo Jumps' "Train Smarter" programs and will illustrate how KangooJumps can put "fun" into maintaining a healthy heart and losing weight.
Mellars will be appearing on Stage 2 at 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Ericka Simmons, a certified fitness instructor and the official distributor of Kangoo Jumps in the United States, also will participate in low-impact aerobic fitness sessions throughout the day.
Simmons discovered Kangoo Jumps while on the road to recovery from major knee surgery, "Kangoo Jumps got me running again," says Simmons. "My experiences inspired me to bring Kangoo into the lives of those who not only want a great workout and healthy lifestyle, but also to those individuals whose fitness routines may be hampered by various injuries."
Co-chairs for the Sister-to-Sister event are Dayle Haddon, model; Donna Hanover, author, TV host and actress; Deborah Roberts, news anchor, 20/20, ABC; and Tanika Ray, correspondent on Extra. Irene Pollin, founder and president of Sister to Sister: Everyone Has a Heart Foundation will preside over opening ceremonies at 10:30 a.m. More than 3,000 visitors are expected to attend the event. Attendees can:
* Have fun with fitness by trying on a pair of Kangoo Jumps.
* Get free heart disease screenings with immediate results.
* Learn from nationally known experts and celebrities about women and heart disease.
* Pick up heart-healthy tips from chefs and fitness trainers.
* Visit interactive exhibits, get tips from beauty experts, and more.
* Find out how to reduce your risk factors for women's heart disease.
Sister to Sister events will be taking place in 14 cities throughout the country. National corporate sponsors of the event include Sanofi Aventis; Kellogg's; Tropicana; Quaker; America Online; Discovery Health Channel; Woman's Day; and The Wall Street Journal. Government partners include National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute; the Office on Woman's health; Office of Research on Women's Health; and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
To register for this free event, visit www.womansheartday.org and click on the New York event. Proceed to pre-registration section.
Feb. 18 - Jersey Gardens and KangooNYC.com Team Up for Heart Fitness
Join us on Feb. 18 at Jersey Gardens Outlet Mall, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., for a tribute to National Heart Month with KangooNYC.com. Shoppers are invited to participate in an open aerobics class with Kangoo Jumps' internationally renowned master fitness trainer Jason Mellars.
Wear comfortable clothes, bring your sense of fun, and a bottle of water to be a part of the fitness event of the season. U-Kangoo it with Kangoo! The event takes place on the lower level center court.
A fitness course will demonstrate Kangoo Jumps being used in a number of fun fitness activities - from aerobics to jumping rope. 15-minute work out sessions with Mellars will take place at 12:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Jersey Gardens, www.jerseygardens.com, located at 651 Kapkowski Road, Elizabeth, N.J., is the largest retail outlet mall in New Jersey. In addition to fun health and fitness activities, the mall's retailers will offer a number of Presidents' Day discount specials.
Kangoo Jumps, a techno fitness shoe with a shock absorption rate of up to 80%, and popular among runners and athletes in training, and in the rehabilitation of various injuries, are now available to the mass consumer market through KangooNYC.com
Ericka Simmons, Entrepreneur with Roots in New Jersey and Harlem
KangooNYC.com is the official New York City Kangoo footgear and product distribution web site represented by Epic Sculpt, a fitness and sporting goods product distribution company founded by Simmons based in Cranford, N.J.
Simmons, a graduate of Columbia College at Columbia University, grew up in Scotch Plains, N.J., and Wellesley, MA., is managing partner of Epic Sculpt, and a young entrepreneur with business interests in New York, Philadelphia and New Jersey. She maintains residences in New York City and in Middlesex County, N.J.
For more information or product photos, visit:
www.harringtoncom.com
L-R Exercise physiologist Bob Greene, former Miss Universe Alicia Machado, Former Bachelorette Trista Rehn Sutter and fitness expert Donna Richardson line up to walk with local McDonald's customers in Los Angeles, CA as part of the national kickoff of the McDonald's Go Active! American Challenge with Bob Greene.
Sacramento, CA - (4/27/04) The National African American Tobacco Education Network (NAATEN), other national ethnic tobacco education networks, and the Health Education Council today announce their efforts to halt KOOL cigarette's plan to market their new flavored cigarettes and thematically packaged products to black youth and the urban hip-hop culture, with the backdrop of a national Hip-Hop DJ Competition.
NAATEN denounces Brown & Williamson's targeting young hip-hoppers by sponsoring the competition, packaging their products using various images of hip-hop culture, and developing a new line of flavored cigarettes featuring "Caribbean Chill" and "Midnight Berry". "B&W's packaging is a blatant exploitation of symbols, aesthetic, and events held in high esteem by African American youth. It's strategic targeting of youth, is a clear violation of the spirit of the master settlement agreement," said Ayanna Kiburi, NAATEN Director. In 1998, the tobacco industry arrived at the master settlement agreement (MSA) which prohibits the marketing of tobacco products to youth by the industry.
The hip-hop themed cigarette packs are placed heavily in small grocery stores and convenience stores, especially in urban areas, and studies have shown that 75% of adolescents shop at convenience stores at least once a week, and they are more likely than adults to be impacted and influenced by in-store promotions. Since tobacco use among adult African American and Latinos has declined in the last several years, B&W is desperately seeking "early adopters", so they continue to target the most vulnerable...our kids.
NAATEN, the Health Education Council, professional associations, educational institutions, civic and religious groups are demanding that B&W suspend their sponsorship of the DJ Competition and remove their hip-hop-themed packs and flavored cigarettes from the market targeting our kids. "This is a cunning and truly unconscionable ploy on the part of B&W to sidestep the spirit of the master settlement agreement, and yet again shamelessly appeal to our youth. It ought to be illegal," stated Bishop S.C. Carthen of the Black Clergy for Substance Abuse Prevention, one of the many organizations that is up in arms over this attempt to prematurely kill our kids.
For media inquiries, call or contact Ayanna Kiburi at 916-556-3344, or NAATEN (www.healthedcouncil.org).
[distributed through BlackPR.com/BlackNews.com]
HEALTHY SKIN MONTH AT WARM SPIRIT FEATURING ESSENTIAL CLARITY! - New Products Help African-Americans Take Care of Their Skin
African-American Female Celebrities Get Relaxed, Natural and Personal During The Pantene Total You Tour - Nine-City Nationwide Tour for Women of Color to Entertain and Enlighten the Mind, Body and Spirit
What's Keeping You From Being Fit and Fabulous in '04? - 7 Comebacks To Common Excuses
U Share Prescription Drug Discount Card Expected To Be One Of The Most Comprehensive Offerings Available Under New Medicare-Approved Discount Drug Card Program
Visiting Nurse Association of America Says Discount Card Will Make "a meaningful difference" To Patients
U Share Prescription Drug Discount Card Expected To Be One Of The Most Comprehensive Offerings Available Under New Medicare-Approved Discount Drug Card Program - Visiting Nurse Association of America Says Discount Card Will Make "a meaningful difference" To Patients
New York, NY - (4/22/04) In a major expansion of its commitment to improving health and access to healthcare for low-income Medicare beneficiaries, Pfizer Inc today announced its Share Card will become part of a coalition of leading healthcare organizations to participate in a Medicare-approved drug discount card.
This coalition will offer Medicare beneficiaries immediate assistance in obtaining prescription medicines through the Medicare-approved drug discount card program made available through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ("CMS"). UnitedHealth Group will sponsor and manage the new coalition's drug discount card.
This new card program, known as the U Share Prescription Drug Discount Card ("U Share Card"), will integrate the expertise and pharmacy network access of UnitedHealth Group with the prescription drug savings model of the Pfizer for Living Share CardTM, as well as prescription drug savings available through other participating pharmaceutical companies and retail pharmacies. The result is the creation of a single card that could provide one of the most comprehensive drug discount card programs currently approved by CMS.
"We are pleased to be working with UnitedHealth Group, the nation's leading health and well-being company, to provide meaningful and innovative prescription drug savings to Medicare beneficiaries in need of assistance," said Pfizer Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Hank McKinnell. "Our experience with the Pfizer for Living Share CardTM has shown us that choice, convenience, and simplicity are key attributes of an effective drug benefit card for Medicare beneficiaries."
The Pfizer Share Card program, launched in January 2002, provides qualified low-income Medicare beneficiaries with access to up to a 30-day supply of any Pfizer prescription medicine for a flat fee of $15 per prescription. To date, over half a million seniors have enrolled in the program and have filled nearly five million prescriptions.
The U Share Card will offer significant savings to all eligible Medicare beneficiaries, but will provide much greater assistance for low-income beneficiaries. All beneficiaries enrolled in this new drug discount card, regardless of their income, will receive a discount on all branded and generic prescription drugs included in the new Medicare-approved drug discount card program. There is no formulary.
The interim Medicare-Approved Drug Discount Card program is the first phase in the implementation of an outpatient drug benefit for Medicare beneficiaries. This program is part of the Medicare Modernization Act passed by Congress late last year, which will result in a government-funded prescription drug benefit for all 40 million Medicare beneficiaries in 2006.
"The U Share Prescription Drug Discount Card is designed to pool resources, insights, and capabilities to offer outstanding savings for Medicare beneficiaries and contribute to the success of the Medicare-approved drug discount card program" said Pat Kelly, president, Pfizer U.S. Pharmaceuticals. "Through this collaboration we will provide Medicare beneficiaries with a new and broader discount card program. We invite companies or organizations committed to quality healthcare delivery to join the U Share coalition and help us make a difference for Medicare beneficiaries now."
The U Share Card envisions a broad coalition of companies aligned around the common goals of providing Medicare beneficiaries with access to prescription drugs and preserving the integrity of the patient-physician and patient-pharmacist relationships that are at the heart of the U.S. healthcare delivery system.
"Our members provide home health care to nearly 4 million people per year, many of whom are low-income Medicare beneficiaries with no prescription drug coverage. We have seen first-hand how pharmaceutical assistance programs can make a meaningful difference in our patients' quality of life," said Carolyn Markey, president and chief executive officer of the Visiting Nurses Association of America. "We will work hard to educate and enroll our patients into Medicare-approved drug discount cards like the U Share Prescription Drug Discount Card."
CMS announced its approval of the U Share Card on March 25, 2004. The U Share Card will be available to eligible Medicare beneficiaries across the country in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Enrollment will begin in May, with discounts and savings available in June.
Pfizer Inc is a research-based global pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets innovative medicines for humans and animals.
UnitedHealth Group (www.unitedhealthgroup.com) is a diversified health and well-being company that provides a broad spectrum of resources and services to help people improve their health and well-being through all stages of life. United HealthCare Insurance Company is a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH).
Forest Harper, Vice President of Pfizer Share Card Program, is available for interviews. He joined Pfizer in 1982 after serving 8 years as a Captain in the U.S. Military; 82nd Airborne Division. Forest has leadership responsibilities for the management, operations and as spokesperson of the Pfizer Share Card Program.
[distributed through BlackPR.com/BlackNews.com]
Denver, CO - (3/17/04). When Natasha Dobson became frustrated with the lack of health and beauty information available for African-American females she established N'Deeo Beauty. N'Deeo Beauty designs health and beauty handbooks for African-American females of all ages. The "Our Bodies" handbook is one of the first handbooks to be published by N'Deeo Beauty and is a must-have for every African-American female that wants to lose weight, gain weight, or just tone up for their own personal body type..
Within the first pages of "Our Bodies" you automatically feel a connection to the words. As an African-American woman reading the handbook, you instinctively know that the information relates directly to you. The handbook illustrates how phenomenal our bodies are and goes to great lengths to show you how to properly take care of your body. The thorough explanations dismiss the unrealistic media images that the African-American female body is flawed. Natasha states that, "Eating and exercising in your middle ground is maintainable for life. Physically, the middle ground means being just the right size where you are comfortable, healthy, and at an appropriate weight based on your body composition. Mentally, the middle ground means feeling confident in your body because you are doing the right things to be healthy, regardless of how you are perceived".
You can feel Natasha's passion in "Our Bodies" through her commitment and drive to put the most in-depth, credible information into one comprehensive source. Not only does she give you complete detail to change your body shape, the truth about carbohydrates, eating and exercising according to body type, but she speaks of the origin of soul food, how your body uses food, calming cravings and impulses, and so much more. This handbook solidifies the idea of controlling your body to get to your middle ground.
Here are a couple of testimonials from people who have read "Our Bodies":
I have found the Our Bodies handbook to very informative. I'm a fitness fanatic and really enjoyed creating a personal eating and exercise plan. The knowledge shared about losing body fat and gaining lean muscle is invaluable. Depending on a person's goals whether it is to lose weight, gain weight, or simply tone-up, this handbook is a must.
M. Stewart - Denver, Colorado
I had to explain to a couple of ladies that I work with what you did for me, as far as the break down for the lifetime diet....All the formulas and everything are explained in the book to do for yourself.
S. McCullough - Denver, Colorado
On behalf of the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated we would like to thank you for the handbook samples. They are very insightful and we plan on implementing them in our programs. Again thank you.
J. Johnson - Florence, Alabama
Buy "Our Bodies" for yourself or as a gift for a friend or family member. Visit www.ndeeobeauty.com to read two full chapters and to purchase the book.
To schedule an interview with Natasha Dobson please call her office directly at (303) 617-4829 or send an email to info@ndeeobeauty
distributed through BlackPR.com/BlackNews.com]
Indian Head, MD - (2/18/04). K. Morris and Company, (www.kmorrisandco.com) a business consulting company announces free self esteem and self image seminars to churches and organizations from February 2, 2004 to December 31, 2004.
The self esteem and self image seminar, which is free to youth in churches and youth organizations, is based upon the new book by Kisha M. Morris titled, "Self Esteem & Self Image: A Guide to a New You". "Self Esteem & Self Image: A Guide to a New You" teaches how to deal with daily stresses one situation at a time. This teaching tool helps its readers to start a daily journal and build self esteem through writing. Included is a survey which lets the reader rate how they feel about their life, their workplace and even home environment. "If we focus more on our inner self than our outer self, then we will be able to live happier, more positive and productive lives," says Mrs. Morris, president and founder of K. Morris and Company.
The mission of the company is to empower and educate youth boys and girls to serve as activists promoting positive self esteem, self image, literacy and the arts. Under K. Morris & Company, they have started a non profit organization, Just Us, Inc., that will offer mentoring and tutoring to youth in the community, local churches and youth organizations. "We want to start a mentoring and literary arts after-school program in the community to build positive self awareness, communication and writing skills. We need our churches to serve as hosts to foster positive communication and self awareness in their communities."
About K. Morris and Company
K. Morris and Company provides quality and cost effective business solutions including marketing, public relations, grants funding, and publishing in the school system, colleges, corporations, small businesses, and non profit organizations. They offer business consulting and offer training in communications, writing, and software applications. K. Morris and Company seminars include: Savvy Marketing Ideas for your Target Audience, Reach Beyond Your Potential, Building Self Esteem Through Writing, Unleashing Your Imagination, Effectively Speaking, Self Esteem & Self Image: A Guide to a New You and many more.
For more information and to schedule a free seminar in your community, please contact Kisha M. Morris at 1 (301) 743-2322 or reach her at kmorrisandco@msn.com to schedule an interview.
distributed through BlackPR.com/BlackNews.com
African American Organ Donors Improve Survival Rates for Black Recipients
Kidney Transplant Gives Second Chance to Husband and Father of Two
(Richmond, Virginia) -- (4/6/04) While more than 12 percent of the U.S. population is African American, 35 percent of patients waiting for kidney transplants are Black, says the Coalition on Donation, a not-for-profit alliance dedicated to increasing the number of organ and tissue donors. This staggering percentage may be attributed, in part, to the escalating number of African Americans with conditions that can lead to the need for an organ transplant, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. Despite this rapidly growing need, there remains a critical shortage of African American organ donors.
To raise awareness about this public health crisis, the Coalition is releasing powerful, new radio and print public service advertisements (PSAs) that urge African Americans to become organ and tissue donors. Debuting in April -- Donate Life Month -- the ads feature Derrick Floyd, a 39-year-old kidney transplant recipient and father of two, who recently celebrated 14 years of marriage.
“Since the transplant, there’re so many things I can do…walk my dog, go to the park with my family. Having a new kidney has given me another chance at life,” Floyd said. “I can never forget that I’m alive today because someone, at some point said -- I’m going to become an organ donor.”
In addition to these PSAs, the campaign includes:
Statistically, African Americans have the best chance of being matched for a kidney transplant if the donor is also Black. Due to tissue matching, kidney transplants are most successful when the donor and recipient share similar ethnic backgrounds. So, for many Black patients awaiting kidneys, the lack of available organs means longer waiting periods on transplant lists and, in too many instances, years spent at dialysis centers.
“I realize that the Black community is inundated with important health messages,” says Tina Evans Caines, Chair of the Coalition’s National African American Campaign. “The good news is that with organ and tissue donation, you have the power to save lives. But, once you make the decision to donate -- tell your family so they’ll know your wishes. If you need ideas on how to talk to your family, visit www.donatelife.net.”
The Coalition on Donation’s outreach to the Black community has been endorsed by some of the nation’s leading African American organizations, specifically the National Medical Association, National Urban League, NAACP, National Newspaper Publishers Association and Congressional Black Caucus Healthcare Braintrust.
Founded in 1992, The Coalition on Donation is a not-for-profit alliance of national organizations and local coalitions across the U.S., dedicated to inspiring all people to Donate Life through organ and tissue donation. Its vision is an organ or tissue transplant for everyone in need.
To learn more about how to Donate Life or request a free copy of the brochure You Have the Power to Donate Life, visit www.donatelife.net or call 1-866-LETS-GIVE (1-866-538-7748).
 Dr. Anthony Griffin |
|
Victorville, CA - (3/17/04) World-renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Anthony Griffin, star of ABC's hit TV series Extreme Makeover will appear as a special celebrity guest in Victorville as part of an anti-drug campaign event scheduled for Sat. March 20, 2004.
Dr. Griffin is proud to endorse the Say It Loud, I Need No Drugs prevention campaign and is pleased that any prominence he has may be useful in helping kids here think twice about taking drugs.
Help us proclaim this day as The High Desert Communities No Drugs America Day 2004. The billboard dedication service is Saturday, March 20 at Grady Trammel Park at 17184 Stoddard Wells Rd in Victorville at 11am and is sponsored by the non-profit organization, No Drugs America, Inc.
The media campaign Say It Loud, I Need No Drugs is their effort to help prevent drug abuse before it starts by using this message as a personal affirmation.
Besides his work on Extreme Makeover, Dr. Griffin is a regular on the E! Entertainment Channel and has made recent appearances on the Discovery Channel, National Geographic, The Learning Channel and more. He has also been interviewed for Time Magazine and Essence among others. He is well known for his campaign for the Ethnic Makeover which encourages African Americans and other ethnic skin types who opt for plastic surgery to retain their natural ethnic beauty and identity.
Dr. Griffin is especially interested in this program as it is aimed at youth. He also travels with the volunteer organization Operation Smile which brings free medical and dental care to children worldwide in areas ravaged by war, strife or poverty.
Contact: Nadine Jolson, Jolson Creative
(310) 614-3214 nadine@jolsoncreative.com
[distributed through BlackPR.com/BlackNews.com]
Glaucoma Advocate Judge Mablean Ephriam of Fox-TV's Divorce Court To Host Consumer Education Seminar
Judge Mablean Ephriam has joined forces with TRAVATAN® Eye Drops Project Focus to promote greater awareness of glaucoma risks among African-Americans and to encourage early detection and treatment of the disease. Judge Ephriam is scheduled to host a Consumer Education Seminar on Glaucoma awareness during the launch of the 2004 TRAVATAN® Eye Drops Project Focus Program at the annual CIAA Tournament in Raleigh, North Carolina on Saturday, February 28th at 12 Noon.
New York, NY - (2/20/04). TRAVATAN® Eye Drops Project Focus, the nationwide, multi-city urban outreach initiative that promotes awareness of glaucoma through free screenings, national and local advertising, distribution of educational materials and Consumer Education Seminars, will launch its 2004 program at the upcoming Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Tournament in Raleigh, North Carolina (February 23-29). Joining in the launch will be Judge Mablean Ephriam, star of the popular syndicated television show, Divorce Court, which airs on Fox-TV. Judge Ephriam has joined forces with TRAVATAN® Eye Drops Project Focus to promote greater awareness of glaucoma risks among African-Americans and to encourage early detection and treatment of the disease.
"I hadn't realized that African-Americans are six to eight times more likely to develop glaucoma than the general population," said Judge Ephriam, responding to the high-risk factor in the African-American community. "When I learned that half of all African-American adults in the United States with glaucoma don't know they have it, I became very interested in helping people learn about the disease, and its risk factors."
The CIAA Tournament, which is the largest and oldest basketball tournament in the country, featuring historically Black colleges and universities, will provide an opportunity to offer free glaucoma screenings to the more than 91,000 visitors scheduled to attend. "If we screen just a portion of those attending and are able to identify people at risk, we will consider the program to be a success," said Rubin Spann, U.S. Associate Product Manager - Glaucoma Products, Alcon Laboratories, Inc.
Last year, TRAVATAN® Eye Drops Project Focus traveled to major U.S. cities and offered screenings at community centers, churches and major cultural events. Several thousand people were screened with more than 15% of them actually being identified as high-risk prospect for glaucoma. This year, TRAVATAN® Eye Drops Project Focus will participate in ten large-scale screening events throughout the country. In addition, numerous Consumer Education Seminars will also be conducted in underserved areas of the country.
TRAVATAN® Eye Drops Project Focus is a community service of Alcon, Inc., the maker of TRAVATAN® Ophthalmic Solution. Alcon, Inc. (NYSE:ACL) is the global leader in the research, development, manufacturing and marketing of ophthalmic products, including prescription drugs, surgical instruments and accessory products, intraocular lenses and contact lens care solutions.
Alcon has partnered with Footsteps' New York-based multicultural Healthcare Division to manage the TRAVATAN® Eye Drops Project Focus community outreach initiative.
distributed through BlackPR.com/BlackNews.com
What's Keeping You From Being Fit and Fabulous in '04?
7 Comebacks To Common Excuses
"I'm too tired." "I don't have time." "I can't find a babysitter." Sound familiar?
As we ease into Spring, sistas have a few challenges when it comes to health and fitness. Right now, nearly 70 percent of African American women are overweight or obese. And a recent survey by the American Council on Exercise (ACE) found that 92 percent of Black women do not work out regularly. It's time to make a change and get serious about improving your health. So, when you hear yourself making those same, old, tired excuses, keep these comebacks in mind:
I'm too tired.
You won't be afterwards. Regular physical activity not only helps you feel great, but will energize you. It may be hard to stick to the routine at first, but once you begin to exercise regularly, you'll realize the pros far outweigh your initial reasons for not being active.
I'm too busy.
What's more important than your health? If time is a factor, try doing 10 minutes of physical activity three times a day, or planning activities that get your family moving like a softball game, biking or a walk through the zoo. Finding time for activity today may also help you avoid diseases tomorrow, like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and some forms of cancer.
I just don't feel like it.
Call a friend. If you don't like to exercise alone, bring friends together to walk, jog, or bike; take a class together at a nearby community or fitness center. If you still can't convince a buddy to join you, try taking a class like dance or yoga.
I don't like the way healthy foods taste.
Spice 'em up. While fried foods and fatty meats may taste good, they put too much saturated fat into your diet if you eat them often or in large amounts. Add a little flavor to healthier foods by using herbs, spices, lemon, lime or vinegar. For baked potatoes, add salsa, low-fat sour cream or garlic for a different twist and for the old standard-collard greens-cook with onions, garlic, chicken broth or smoked turkey, turkey bacon or turkey ham.
I work long days and often have to eat after 8 p.m.
Strive for balance. It's how much you eat during the whole day and how much exercise you get that determines if you gain or lose weight. Most women need to eat about 1,600 calories per day, with no more than 30 percent - about 480 calories - from total fat. Balance your meals throughout the day. If you have a high fat or high-calorie breakfast or lunch, make sure you eat a low-fat dinner.
I'm always on the go and often have to eat fast foods.
Choose wisely. With a little know-how, fast food can be a part of a healthy weight-loss program. Choose salads and grilled foods instead of fried foods, which are high in fat and calories, and only use high-fat, high-calorie toppings in small amounts. Don't supersize! If you do order fried foods like french fries, try to split an order with a friend or order a smaller portion.
My hair will be ruined.
Find a style that works. If you don't exercise because it will ruin your hairstyle, consider wearing a natural style that holds up to frequent shampoos, like braids, twists or locks. If natural isn't your thing, try a short haircut that's easy to wash and wear or a style that you can pull back with a headband or scrunchie. Whatever you do, don't let you hair keep you from a fitness program.
Sisters Together: Move More, Eat Better is a program that encourages Black women to maintain healthier lifestyles by becoming more active and eating healthy foods. For more health tips, you may order free copies of Sisters Together publications by visiting www.niddk.nih.gov/health/nutrit/nutrit.htm or calling 1-877-946-4627.
(distributed through BlackPR.com/BlackNews.com)
| About Us | News and Articles | Shopping | DVC Business Network | Communities | FAQs | Yellow Pages | Advertising | Site Map | Home |
|
