Pitt’s Center for Minority Health Honors National Minority Health Month With Day-Long Community Celebration on April 12
UPMC Media RelationsApril 7, 2008
PITTSBURGH , April 7, 2008 — Improving the health status of racial and ethnic minorities who experience premature illness and death from cancer, diabetes and heart disease, and a number of other diseases is a major concern in today’s public health and medical care environment. The Center for Minority Health (CMH) at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health (GSPH) is a leader in the national effort to eliminate these disparities.
To mark National Minority Health Month, CMH and its Health Disparities Working Groups will present a day-long community event from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, April 12, to promote healthy behaviors among African-Americans, Hispanics and other minority populations. The event is free and open to the public and will take place at the Kingsley Association, 6453 Frankstown Ave., East Liberty.
Activities will include health risk assessments, oral health screenings, HIV/AIDS awareness, workshops and health information and the world-famous Double Dutch Divas from New York City. The Allegheny County Health Department also will be on hand to supply free immunizations from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., to adolescents between the ages of 11 and 18 for meningitis and whooping cough.
The activities focus on seven major health priority areas identified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, including: cancer screening and management, infant mortality, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, immunization and mental health.
“This year, we are extremely pleased to present our second annual Town Hall Meeting at the event, where we will view and discuss segments of Unnatural Causes, a four-part PBS video series that shows there is much more to our health than bad habits, health care or unlucky genes,” said Stephen Thomas, Ph.D., Philip Hallen Professor of Community Health and Social Justice at GSPH and director of the CMH.
“The range of activities and services we offer at this annual event attract people of every age group. Inviting entire families to participate allows us to communicate important health-related messages to a large number of people who need the information not only to change personal lifestyle behaviors but also to improve the health of the entire family,” added Dr. Thomas.
Former Pittsburgh Steeler, the Honorable Dwayne Woodruff is the honorary chairperson for the 2008 National Minority Health Month activities.
CMH was established in 1994 with a grant form the Richard King Mellon Foundation. CMH is committed to taking a lead role in the nation’s prevention agenda to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities as described in Healthy People 2010, a Department of Health and Human Services Initiative.
Details about National Minority Health Month can be viewed on the CMH Web site at http://www.cmh.pitt.edu. The phone number for CMH is 412-624-5665.
Link to original article »
