Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Jan. 10, 2008, edition 1 / Page 11
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Life-saving tests will be offered at free health fair BY TODD LUCK THE CHRONICLE The 9th annual "Share the Health" Fair will be held this Saturday with 1 50 Wake Forest University School of Medicine students and volunteers work ing to give the community free screenings, medical informa tion and referrals. The massive health fair will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m at Marketplace Mall on Peters Creek Parkway. The fair is planned and executed by the medical students themselves, who use the event as not only a community service project but also as a learning opportunity. J"he event allows the students to put their education to a very good use. All the tests ^d services that will be offered at the fair are free, and any and everyone is invited to take advantage of the event. However, it is main ly geared to the uninsured and others who are medically under-served, according to sec ond-year medical student John Adam Bonk, chair of the public relations committee for the fair. "People who either may suspect they have problems and are putting it off or simply , can't afford to have routine medical checkups done, this is a good opportunity to get them involved in their healthcare and help them realize they need to be a ceijfral player in their own health and take charge," said Bonk!. There will be screenings offered for HIV, lung function, hypertension, diabetes, choles terol, glaucoma, osteoporosis with results given confidential Jy on the spot. Presentations on many aliments, such as dia betes, are planned. Doctors from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center will also be on hand to discuss the results with attendees, help them formulate health plans and give referrals. Doctors will also come equipped with lots of information on, sickle cell anemia, heart disease, diabetes, Photo courtesy of WFUBMC The 2006 health fair drew a sizable crowd. Organizers are expecting the same Saturday. mental health, exercise and nutrition and childhood obesi ty Spanish transla tors will be available to make sure lan guage is not barrier for attendees. Health-related agencies and organi zations, including the American Heart Association, Downtown Health Plaza, the YMCA and Senior Services will be on hand with informa tion about their services and tips on how to obtain afford able insurance and health care 1 ^ Banker coverage. The fair will even feature snacks, raffle prizes and a large cnudren s area wun a magician, minia ture golf and gther attractions. Raffle prizes will include tickets to Wake Forest University men's basketball games, the Winstos Salem Symphony and ? one month memberships at the YMCA or 'YWUA . Second-year medical stu dent Sumeet Banker, one of the co-chairs of 4he fair, said that every year the fair helps to diagnose health problems that might otherwise go unnoticed. He said the fair has been a great place tor those who have even have the slightest con cern about their health. The fair is also a place where residents can get many of their medical questions answered by professionals. "It's important that people are aware of their own bodies and take control of their own life," said Banker. Banker said thfi fair has grown greatly over the last nine years - now drawing hun Bonk dreds of people from all over the county. "The first year they naa it, it was hosted by ... a couple1 medical students and (physician assis tant) students, and they put it on in the basement of a church. It has grown to the point that last year we had about 900 I * people come to Marketplace Mall within five hours, and this year we're extending it by one more hour to make it si*>?o we're expect ing over a thousand people to come," said Banker. Karen Blackburn is a sec ond-year medical student who will be participating in the fair for the first time this year. She will measure the height and weight of attendees to their cal culate their body mass index, which determines whether a person's weight is healthy. She said that after months of plan ning, she's very excited to be participating in the fair. She said she hopes to see a large turnout for the fair. "It's a great way to evaluate your health and see how you're doing," said Blackburn. Frezell from page A7 After her father died in 2004 due to complications from diabetes, Frezell set out to raise public awareness about the disease by biking 3,489 miles from the Golden Gate Bridge in California to ( Greensboro, North Carolina. While training, she presented educational programs about diabetes to elementary schools and community organizations and organized fitness chal lenges and other fundraising events in schools. In recogni tion ot t}?r efforts, FsfieU received the 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Diabetes Association. She also was named ,a top ten individual fundraiser in 2006 for a non profit organization in America. Truly tireless, Frezell also serves on the NCSA Staff Council and is a charter mem ber of the UNC Staff Assembly established by President* Erskine Bowles. She chairs the campus Wellness Committee as well as the Employee Wellness Committee. She is a member of STEWAC (State Teachers Employee Wellness Committee), which provides guidance and support in devel oping, implementing, and evaluating the State Health Plan's Wellness Campaign for all state employaes, teachers, and other special member groups. Depression from page A7 The fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) is a tool published by the American Psychiatric Association that assists clini cians in diagnosing mental ill nesses. The DSM-IV lists the following criteria for depres sion in children and adoles cents: - Sad or irritable mood (often manifests in aggressive behavior) nearly every day - Loss of interest in activi ties in which they used to find pleasure nearly every day - Having trouble thinking or concentrating nearly every day - Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate frit nearly every day ? - - Significant weight loss or weight gain (or the failure to ' *ed weight gains for - Insomnia (not sleeping) or hypersomnia (sleeping too much) nearly every day - Psychomotor agitation (restlessness) or retardation (slowness) nearly every day - Fatigue (loss of energy) nearly every day ? - Recurring thoughts of death or thinking about or attempting suicide At least five of these symp toms must be present during the same two- week period, and at least one symptom has to be depressed mood or loss of interest or pleapire in activities. According to SAMHSA, approximately 70 percent of children with Repression will relapse by the time they reach adulthood. What causes depression in children and adolescents? /There is no single answer as jo whbt causes childhood depression; a lot of factors undoubtedly come into play. These factors may include fam ily history or genetics, biologi cal factors, cognitive factors, and social and environmental factors. What treatment options are available? If your child is exhibiting the above named symptoms, it fs important to tqfce him or her to a mental health professional as soon as possible. Together, you and your child's doctor can decide what treatment option is best for your child. Pharmacotherapy (medication) may be an option, depending on the severity of your child's con dition. Other options that have been proven effective include psychotherapy, which could be at an individual level, a family / level, or both. Cognitive behav ioral" therapy, which teaches problem-solving techniques and cognitive restructuring (learning how to think in a less fatalistic manner), is frequently used. The medical team can help address actual and per ceived stressors that may be triggering depression. In summary, depression is a disease that can affect our chil dren. and it must be taken seri ously. If your child exhibits warning signs for depression, take him or her to a mental health professional as soon as possible. Remember: Knowledge is power! - Contribution by Jaimie Hunter, fyfPH For further information, questions or comments about this article, call toll-free 1-877 530-1824. Or, far more infor mation about the Maya Angelou Research Center on Minority ' Health, visit http:llwfkw.wfubmc .edu/minorit y health. From now through the end of January, the Angelou Research Center is offering a Target gift card to anyone who completes a brief survey providing feedback about the People's Clinic articles. Please call 1-877-530-1824 for more information. Carmon from pagt Al Leadership Council, an officer in the Diggs ElemenJary School PTA and a volunrfferab Reagan High School. She and her husband, Clifton, have a son and twin daughters. There are few barriers left in city government: In 2004, the city made Pat Norris its first black police chief. The city's fire chief, John Gist, is also an African American, as are the Cjty Secretary, Renee Henderson, Deputy City Manager Denvick Paige and Assistant City Manager Greg x Turner. Ironically, the attorney for F6rsyth County, Davida Martin, is also an African American woman. Martin a '.so made history when she was appointed. Davida Martin we BELIEVE ih YO U R F U T U R E I '? it I ' \ . ? li '' I I ? ? it I ' It ? .it nil ? : '?! ' .:???? P 1 ' it M ^ \ i- VVV TAVAT A r-.i 1 ? ' ? ?* n?f 1 ' vv moving forward
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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