This shows the Student Success Center at Winston-Salem State University.
WSSU building receives 10
engineering awards during 2015
SPECIAL TO THE
CHRONICLE
Winston-Salem State
University's Student
Success Center at Hill Hall
building was the recent
recipient of an engineering
excellence honor, marking
the facility's 10th engineer
ing award during 2015.
The American Council
of Engineering Companies
of North Carolina has
awarded Clark Nexsen, the
designer of building, the
2016 Grand Award for
Engineering Excellence.
The Student Success
Center at Hill Hall building
became a Leadership in
Energy and Environmental
Design gold certified
building in 2015.
LEED is an internation
ally recognized green
building certification sys
tem, providing third-party
verification that a building
or community was
designed and built using
strategies aimed at improv
ing performance across all
the metrics that matter
most: energy savings,
water efficiency,
C02 emissions reduction,
improved indoor environ
mental quality, and stew
ardship of resources and
sensitivity to their impacts.
Previously known as
Hill Hall, the facility was
originally designed as a
science building in 1964,
which sat in the heart of ?
WSSU's campus, vacant
for seven years.
WSSU decided to reno
vate the existing 31,873
square-feet of usable space
into a vibrant, attractive
academic success center.
w THE PEOPLE'S CLINIC
^ ^ * -W ?
Saving Babies: Learning
How to Prevent Birth Defects
BY MAYA ANGELOU CENTER
FOR HEALTH EQUITY
January is National
Bi.th Defects Prevention
Month, sponsored by the
National Birth Defects
Prevention Network. Did
you know that 1 out of
every 33 babies born in the
United States are bom with
a birth defect? That adds
up to about 120,000 babies
every year! On average,
23,000 of those babies will
die each year as a result. In
North Carolina/that num
ber is close to 900 babies
every year that die from
birth defects, and African
American babies are 2.5
times more likely to die
than non-Hispanic whites.
Although the infant
mortality (death of a baby
before its first birthday)
rate has steadily declined in
recent decades, the rate in
North Carolina over the
last few years has remained
largely the same. Birth
defects are the leading
cause of death in infants
and children less than one
year of age. Fortunately,
there are many things we
can do to help prevent and
treat birth defects so that
children can live full and
happy lives.
What is a birth
defect?
A birth defect is an
abnormal condition that
occurs either before or dur
ing birth. Birth defects can
range from very mild, such
as an extra finger or toe, to
very serious like a heart
defect, which can cause
many physical, mental and
medical issues. We know
that some birth defects are
caused by genetics, like
Down's Syndrome, and
some can be caused by
drugs, chemicals or medi
cines. However, the causes
of many birth defects are
not known, but scientists
are working to discover
why they occur .so that we
can work further to prevent
them.
It's also important to
know you and your part
ner's medical history and
family medical history,
since some birth defects are
related to current medical
conditions you may have or
genetics. Genetic counsel
ing is available if you
and/or your partner have a
concern about possible
family medical conditions.
The risk of some birth
defects also increases with
increased maternal age;
certain tests are usually rec
otpmended for pregnant
women aged 35 and over to
test for birth defects.
What can be done to
prevent birth defects?
If a woman is of child
bearing age it is essential
that she takes precaution to
prevent birth defects, even
if not planning a pregnan
cy, by taking 400 micro
grams of folic acid every
day. According to ? the
March of Dimes, folic acid
is B vitamin that every cell
in your body needs for nor
mal growth and develop
ment. Taking folic acid
before and during pregnan
cy can help reduce a baby's
risk for birth defects of the
brain and spine called neu
ral tube defects (NTDs).
The neural tube is the part
of a developing baby that
becomes the brain and
spinal cord.
Did you know that
almost half of all preg
nancies are unplanned?
Taking folic acid every day
as part of a healthy lifestyle
can help give your baby the
best start. Many birth
defects develop very early
during pregnancy, so it is
important to maintain your
own health to give yourself
the best chance at having a
healthy pregnancy.
Some important
things to maintain youf
health are:
?Avoid alcqhol, tobac
co and abusing mugs (pre
scription and illicit)
?Wash hands often to
prevent illness
?Maintain good health
by seeing a healthcare pro
fessional regularly; talk to
your healthcare provider
about any medications you
use and any medical prob
lems you have .Eat ? a
healthy diet
?Maintain a healthy
weight and active lifestyle
Taking 400mcg of folic
acid every day
?Make sure immuniza
tions are up to date (includ
ing yearly flu vaccine)
?If a woman is preg
nant, she should also do the
following:
?Get early and compre
hensive prenatal care ?
?Ask your employer
about any substance that
might be harmful to a
developing baby
??Eat a healthy diet and
maintain an active lifestyle,
as you are able and is rec
ommended by your doctor
?Take a prenatal vita
min every day, and other
vitamins/medications if
prescribed by your doctor
?Get flu vaccine, and
other vaccines as recom
mended by your doctor.
For more detailed infor
mation on healthy'
lifestyles, pregnancy, baby
and many other resources,
visit the March of Dimes
website at www.mar
chofdimes.com.
It is essential to
remember that it is not
only women who have a
role to play in preventing
birth defects!
Men should also be liv
ing healthy lifestyles and
know their own and their
family's medical history to
help reduce the risk of birth
defects in their children.
We should all educate our
selves about birth defects
prevention so that we can
educate our communities
and support our young
families! Fortunately,
advances in preventive
medicine, such as vaccines,
better prenatal care for
mothers and babies, and
genetic counseling have
developed new ways of
preventing and treating
birth defects.
How can I find out
more?
If you are planning on
becoming pregnant or are
pregnant, you can talk to
your healthcare provider or
your local health depart
ment about howto plan for
a healthy pregnancy. For
more information on birth
defects contact the Centers
for Disease Control and
Prevention at 1-800-CDC
Info or visit
www.cdc .gov/birthdefects
or www.cdc.gov/pregnan
cy. For information on
national and local efforts
for birth defects preven
tion, contact the National
Birth Defects Prevention
Network at
http://www.nbdpn .org/inde
x.php.
BufcfaNEWhome!
Interest rates are still
Inaati
BOW!
Cdlflfod/EmaN demerit today!
336.9953544
Clement t com
Mortgage payments
are less than rental
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Close when your
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flsisrpsid ohrrtng
costs!
30-45 day closings!
CLASSIFIEDS
CONSTRUCTION
HELP WANTED
Local Construction Company has
immediate need for 4 individuals.
We specialize in Building Retaining
Walls. Contact Jim at 336-575-2022
EOE
v
w
Winsinn-Sail-in
The City of Winston-Salem
is looking to fill the position for
Administrative Assistant/Intake
Specialist (Human Relations)
Please visit: www.cityofws.org
for job description and
application process.
Oil
WiiisluihSalt'm
The City of Winston-Salem
is looking to fill the position for
Vfaintenance Worker (Property/
Facility Mgmt)
Please visit: www.cityofws.org
for job description and
application process.
(Ill
WinslMhSali'm
The City of Winston-Saiem
is looking to fill the position for
Equipment Operator/Medium (DOT)
Please visit: www.cityofws.org
for job description and
application process.
Oil
YtfnslofhSak'm
The City of Winston-Salem
is looking to fill the position for
Equipment Maintenance Technician
(Property/Facility Mgmt)
Please visit: www.cityofws.org
for job description and
application process.
(Ill
VWnstnnSahin
The City of Winston-Salem
is looking to fill the position for
Equipment Operator/Medium
(Utilities)
Please visit: www.cityofws.org
for job description and
(Si
WinslnihSali'm
The City of Winston-Salem
Js looking to fill the position for
Tour Guide (Historic Bethabara)
Please visit: wwwcityofws.org
for job description and
application process.
l?l
" WinstnnSalcm
The City of Winston-Salem
is looking to fill the position for
Sr. Recreation Leader (Cricket's Nest)
Please visit: wwwcityofws.org
for job description and
application process.
i5)
VViiislnnSHlrm
The City of Winston-Salem
is looking to fill the position for
Engineering Technician (Utilities)
Please visit: wwwiityofws.org
for job description and
application process.
1
ASSEMBLY
TERRACE
APARTMENTS
A Community for
62 and older is ,
now taking
applications. Con
veniently located j
in Winston Salem
with Handicap
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and Rental
Assistance
available. Call for
an appointment at
336-759-9798.
Office hours are
from 8am -
4:30pm Monday
thru Friday. TDD
Relay 1-800-735
2962 Equal
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Professionally
Managed By
Community
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Towergate
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Quiet, peaceful and
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Please call
922-4041 for
information
Bethabara
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Apartments
Located on
Bethabara
Road at the corner
of Silas Creek
extension near
Wake Forest.
One bedroom
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washer-dryer
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Please call
922-3141 for
information