Across the city, health- care organizations have focused efforts on preventing and treating issues that affect the black community.
“A larger proportion of the population in African-American communities are disadvantaged economically,” says Reba Williams, M.D., senior director, NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation and member of the American Diabetes Association. “They have much less access to appropriate health care.”
These programs are all focused on helping the black community:
* CANCER
African-Americans have the highest death rate of any ethnic group for cancer, according to the Office of Minority Health, part of the US Department of Health and Human Services.
The Breast Examination Center of Harlem, an outreach program of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center offers mammograms, pap smears and health services at no cost to uninsured, eligible women in the Harlem community. For information call 212-531-8000.
The Partnership for Cancer Research, Training and Community Outreach is a collaboration between Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and The City College of New York to reduce cancer in minority populations. Cancer prevention and screening are areas that demand attention, with a specific focus on colorectal cancer.
“We identified colorectal cancer as an issue because the incidence for this cancer is much higher in the Harlem and upper Manhattan communities than elsewhere in the city, and the rates of colonoscopy are much lower,” said Dr. Carol Brown, a gynecologic oncologist and director of the office of diversity programs at Memorial Sloan-Kettering.
For more information, contact Jeralyn Cortez-Weir at 646-888-0082 or log on to ccnymskccpartnership.org.
* DIABETES
“Diabetes is at epidemic proportions,” says Dr. Williams, noting that type 2 diabetes in African American youth is on the rise. “Many people with diabetes believe it is a death sentence. It’s not, it can be controlled. Prevention is very important.”
The American Diabetes Association’s “Live Empowered” workshops and culturally sensitive materials create awareness, highlight risk factors and promote healthy lifestyles. “Project Power,” an ADA faith-based initiative, trains church staff to reach families and community members on the importance of fitness, healthy eating, and seeing the doctor regularly.
“Choose to Live” targets African American women between the ages of 35 and 55, teaching the importance of understanding the relationship between diabetes and heart disease.
Call 1-800-diabetes or go to diabetes.org for more information.
* HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
African-Americans are 1½ times as likely as non-Hispanic whites to have high blood pressure, and are more likely to have their blood pressure uncontrolled, according to the Office of Minority Health.
“As a result, they are at greater risk for stroke, heart attacks, heart failure and end-stage renal disease,” says Dr. Carla Boutin-Foster, associate professor of medicine and director of the Comprehensive Center for Excellence in Health Disparities Research and Community Engagement at Weill Cornell Medical College. Boutin-Foster and colleagues from NYU are heading a study that includes visits to black churches and barber shops to screen for high blood pressure, and teach about the importance of sticking to any prescribed medication regime.
“We share knowledge,” Boutin-Foster says. “We say, ‘This is important, let’s see what I can share with you to motivate you’.”
To have Boutin-Foster come to your community, call 718-541-1402.
* HEART DISEASE/STROKE
African-American adults are more likely to be diagnosed with coronary heart disease, and African American men are 30 percent more likely to die from heart disease than non-Hispanic white men, according to the Office of Minority Health.
Stroke, the third-leading killer of African-Americans, strikes black adults 1.7 times more than whites, and African American males are 70 percent more likely to die from a stroke than their white adult counterparts.
“The risk factors for heart disease and stroke are primarily the same,” says June McKenley, director of the American Heart Association’s “Power to End Stroke” initiative in New York City. The association’s Go Red Sundays and Go Red Saturdays also provide heart health information at black churches in the city.
“We ask people at the church to wear something red,” says McKenley. The AHA also does outreach to Delta Sigma Theta sororities, groups for African American career women.
Go to heart.org for information.
* HIV/AIDS
Although African-Americans make up only 13 percent of the US population, they accounted for 49 percent of HIV/AIDS cases in 2007.
“The disparity is outrageous,” says Francisco Roque, director of community health for the Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC.org).
Why the disparity? “It’s complicated,” Roque says. “But you don’t have a health clinic on every corner.”
GMHC has a number of outreach programs to help stem HIV/AIDS in the black community. It recently launched the church-based First Ladies Care to provide HIV/AIDS information. “The church is absolutely important, it’s a gathering place where people look for leadership,” Roque says. Call 800-243-7692 or go to GMHC.org for more information.
Monday Feb. 7 is also National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Go to blackaidsday.org for information.