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Health Committee Chair, Beverly Tatum |
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The National Health Division of the NAACP directs us to fight for equality and social justice in health. The NAACP believes that good health and access to adequate health care is the foundation for community stability and success. The strength of any minority group is dependent on the physical and mental well being of its members. African Americans and other minorities are disproportionately represented in higher incidences of disease. These differences are generally based on disparities in economics, education, and other social conditions, and behavioral factors such as lifestyle and health practices. Therefore, we encouraged involvement in the Health Committee. This year our focus will be as listed below as it represents the expertise of the Health Committee.
HIV/STDS/AIDS. The rates of infection among African-American community are at epidemic proportions. Today, one in 50 Black men and one in 160 Black women are living with HIV. AIDS is the number one cause of death for Black men and women between 25 and 44. Black people are 13 percent of the US population but we are 46 percent of all AIDS cases and 49 percent of AIDS deaths. The NAACP has developed three videos on HIV/AIDS and can be loaned for HIV/AIDS education. They are House on Fire - about the AIDS epidemic and how it affects African Americans; Sister's Keeper - AIDS and black women; Coming to Life - AIDS and Substance Abuse. Cardiovascular Disease. Compared with whites, African-Americans develops high blood pressure at an earlier age, and it is more severe at any decade of life resulting in a 1.5 times greater rate of heart disease death and a 1.8 times greater rate of fatal stroke. Schedule presentation for your organization. Cancer. For African-Americans, cancer is the second leading cause of death. Learn how to protect and detect breast and prostate cancer through The American Cancer Society African American Cancer Initiative. Weight Reduction. Improving Your Health through Nutrition. The Weight-Control Information Network (WIN) provides information on weight control, and obesity. The Health Committee is interested in providing information and resources on this subject to interested organizations. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Reduce the incidences of SIDS through increased community awareness, the risk of SIDS can be reduced for our generation and future generations. Become a SIDS educator for your church or organization. Violence Prevention. Preventing sexual coercion of teenage girls by older partners. A video and presentation on this subject may be requested. Needs Assessment/Survey of African American Community in Alexandria. This is an essential tool in program planning for African Americans in the City of Alexandria.
CHANGE YOUR MIND - CHANGE THE FATAL STATISTICS
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