MCC-Penn Valley hosted a health fair in February to address the top health concerns of African Americans—diabetes and HIV among them. The Campus Activities Board and Penn Valley Admissions collaborated to organize the event.
“We tried our best to get all those areas covered,” said Gerald Palmer, academic advisor at Penn Valley. “The goal is to give our students correct information about their health.”
Organizations like Komen for the Cure and Heart to Heart International provided information about volunteering. Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center, a local general practice clinic, provided diabetes screenings.
While some students talked with representatives and waited in line for diabetes screenings, Penn Valley student Donna Rowland huddled at the information table of the Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care.
“I was checking out what they had, and I wanted to get info on the Hospice House,” said Rowland.
Students were able to find out which common health issues could affect them most, and Rowland might well be concerned. According to Karlease Bradford, Director of Cultural Health Initiatives at the American Heart Association, African Americans and women are especially vulnerable to heart disease.
“African Americans in the United States have the highest prevalence of high blood pressure in the world,” said Bradford. “ Heart disease is the number one killer of women over the age of 20.”
The collection of health organizations did not address all of the top concerns for African Americans, but for those trying to improve their overall heart health, Rowland offers some advice.
“You really want to know your numbers [blood pressure and cholesterol for example],” Rowland said, “and talk with your doctor so you can learn how to keep them in the correct range.”
Students wanting more information about heart health should visit Health.org. To get involved in a health services organization, contact Heart to Heart International in Olathe, Kansas at 913-764-5200.
March 1, 2010
Campus