Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / April 30, 1987, edition 1 / Page 14
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Black r AIDS Special To The Post The National Assoc, of Black Americans There are two AIDS epidemics in America today, amongst whites, AIDS was largely a disease or gay men, but hilly half of blacks and other minority people with AIDS are heterosexual. In minority communities this epidemic has breached its original boundaries. A black woman is 11 times more likely than a white woman to contact AIDS. as iar aa civil rights is con cerned, unless we can interrupt the high rate of transmission of this disease "we may be looking at the grim specter of xero popula tion growth for blacks not only in this country, but on this planet as we know it now." Dr. Beny Primm, a black in Harlem who runs the Urban Re source Program that treats intra venous drug users (IVDU), states, Tm going to lose 5,000 peopls in Manhattan and Brooklyn." These numbers are "awesome" and the victims are going to be minorities predominantly. Denial is one of our major concerns, it is this mechanism that is at work in our community. "People know it's there, but they don't realize they are at risk. And they exclude themselves." A color bund message has its merits, and no one wants to start talking numbers and percentages, blacks and other minori ties have always carried a dispro portionate share of the blame for this country's ills. But sending out s color blind" message has its own dangers, because no one is asking about the quality of care for black and minority patients, where are they going to get the $8,000 to $10,000 each year to buy the medicine they will need? How are the hospitals with mostly white administrators and medical personnel going to respond to an increaaing number of minority AIDS patients? Dr. Rudolph E. Jackson of the Morehouse College of Medicine says, "There's no'question in my mind that black people should be told that they are at greater risk." it is late, but there is still time and the black leadership, like Paul Revere must ride back to their communities, ride back to their homes, to their churches, their or ganizations and, yes, to their hus bands, brothers, sisters, lovers, friends and children and sound the alarm. For if you don't, they will become at risk because of our laxity. Call the CDC in Atlanta and you’ll bo told "there is no subsec tion of the AIDS program, that deals with minority issues. We’re not parochial here." No blacks or Hispanic* works full time on AIDS at the CDC. AIDS is a subject that has been swept under the rug in our com munity. We cannot, and we must not allow it to remain there. We must not be concerned with the Russians who have proclaimed that AIDS is spread by "foreigners of African descent" or the United Kingdom's pronouncement that AIDS is spread by people from certain areas of the world. 'Ihe black leadership in America must rally to address this most ur gent of issues to confront black Americans since the days of slav ery and Jim Crow. Area Churches To Hold Blood Screenings During May many Charlotte area churches will be holding blood pressure screenings for their congregations as encouraged by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Heart Association, said David Dowdy, MD, chairperson of the associa tion s Hypertension Subcommit tee. Cervical Cancer High Among Non-Whites - State Health Director Dr. Donald H. Levine announced recently that $69,000 in state funds will be awarded to 23 local health departments to help deter mine the reasons why a higher rate of non-white women are dy ing from cervical cancer. "There were 779 women in this state who died from cervical can cer from 1981 to 1985. About 43 percent of them were non-white," •aid Devine. "That’s high when you consider that only 25 percent of this state's female population is non-white." Dr. Georjean Stoodt, chief of the Adult Health Services, said that the funds would be used by the 23 local health departments to help deternr^ine the reasons far, and to plan solutions to this dispropor tionately higher rate among non white women. "If we can better; understand the causes—possible lack of regular checkups, failure to get diagnosis or treatment, transportation prob lems, or some other reasons--then, we can more effectively help re duce North Carolina's rate," ex plained Stoodt. "Deaths from cer vical cancer are nearly 100 per cent preventable." Sn« noted that the counties re ceiving the funds were selected based on the rate of non-white women who died from cervical cancer and the number and per centage of non-white females cur rently residing in the counties. Each county will receive $3,000. Counties receiving the funds sre: Anson, Bertie, Durham, Edge combe, Granville, Greene, Guil ford, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Jones, Lsnoir, Martin, Mecklen burg, Northampton, Pamlico, Pas quotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Rich mond, Sampson, Scotland and, Washington. Stoodt pointed out that there are factors that put some women at a higher risk for cervical cancer such as family history; multiple sex partners; some types of genital infections; cigarette smoking and others. "Cervical cancer is (airly easy to detect," Stoodt said. "In fact, ab normal changes on the pap smear can be found before cancer devel ops, and proper treatment can pre vent these changes from progress ing to cancer. She noted that physicians and health officials generally recom mend that women should get pap smears annually once they are sexually active or as advised by their physician. Pap emears are available through persona) physicians and most local health departments. Stoodt said that in addition to the cervical cancer project, the agency's Cancer Control Program would be examining activities that can help lower the rates of other forme at cancer. Jake a peek at bm/LL THE NEW & EXCITING FEATURES THE CHARLOTTE POST OFFERS During April, the Heart Associa K*v. Brooks tion, under the leadership of David Dowdy, Carol Pray, RN, and the Rev. Burrell Brooks has held a blood pressure moni toring work-, shop to train in terested church members in taking blood pressures. The church members will return to their churches to hold screenings during May. The Heart Associa tion will also supply education lit erature for use during the screen ings. Dr. Dowdy said that high blood | pressure, also called hypertension, is a pecuhar disease because it usu ally does not have any symptoms and the only way to detect it is by having a blood pressure check during a medical examination. "A person can look and feel terrific and still have high blood pressure. And that's where the risk lies, be cause uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack, and heart or kidney fail ure," he explains. In fact, the lack of understand ing of tho consequences of high blood pressure is one of the major reasons why people don't think of it as a serious disease." OTHER MISUNDERSTAND INGS For most ailments, people are in ’ the habit of getting "cured" ifthey are taking proper medicines. Un fortunately, a majority of high blood pressure cases cannot be “cured," they can only be' con trolled. If patients discontinue medication because their blood pressure is beck to Aormal. it is likely to go up again, adds Dr. Dowdy. The reduction of uncon trolled high blood pressure and as sociated risk factors is one of the major programs of the AHA, who encourages area churches to hold screenings during May to alert their congregations to this disease. Arthritis: Coping With Pain Lto you feel that you could man age your arthritis if it weren’t for the unrelenting pain? Learning to cope with chronic (long lasting) pain may be the toughest pftt of living with arthritis. Your arthritis and your pain vary from time to time. A neigh bor with the same kind of arthritis may feel a different kind of pain. Everyone’s arthritis pain is differ ent. There are no easy answers or magic solutions for reliving arthri tis pain. What may be very helpfal The Arthritis Foundation offers a booklet entitled "Coping With Pain." You probably won't need to .try all the suggested Ways to con .trol pain, but through trial and er ror, we hope that you will discover some ways that will work for you. For your free copy of "Coping With Pain," call Arthritis Answer line, toll-free, at 1-800-422-1492. SENIOR CITIZENS ATTENTION: 55 & older MEDICAL TRAINING PROGRAM AT NO COST TO YOlitt The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Senior Center is sponsoring a 3 week Health Care Training Program for those 55 & Older and residents of Mecklenburg County. We are seeking men & women who are carc ing . reliable, and Interested In employment in the medical.field. Untfcrms'will be pro- * • vlded for qualified students. Classes begin May 11, 1987 Gall Barbara Barrett at 334-3056 Community Spirit Pipper Byrum and Willie Stephen are promoting community spirit for Sunday for Seniors on May 3. The goals of this event are to raise funds for the Senior Center and to focus on the contributions of ®"£r A"*^T*S*!i** one- two, or three mile walk starting at 2 PM In Marshall Park is for all ages. The Senior Center In uptown Charlotte and its two satellite locations serve thousands of older adults from 21 zip codes. Willie S*ephe£ '* pro°ram ®***>tant, and board member Pipper Byrum chMrs th© walk. Republic Bank Joins many local business firms In sponsoring Sunday for Seniors. “Republic shows community spirit,“ says Pipper “and I feel that we aa Individuals and businesses have an obligation to give something back to our community." Fifteen veers ago when the first office of Republic Bank opened on Kings Drive, Willie was one of the first customers. She says, “I n1®pub,k: •» open on Saturday and during the week until 6 PM. I think Republic Is marvelous, especially the people." ./ * ' • ‘ Mfnbf FtXC Republic BANK AND TRU0T COMPANY We do things differently. We care. •The Charlotte Area Dia betes Support Group, spon sored by Diabetes Services of Community Health -Services, will meet on Monday, May 11, 7:30 p m, at St. Andrews United Methodist Church, 1900 Emery wood Dr. For more information, please call 375-0172. •The Tar Hell Chapter of the United Scleroderma Foundation will have an At tic Sale - Fund Raiser on Sat urday, May 2, 8 am. - 3 pm. at tha Community Health Service Building, 1401 East Seventh St. For more infor mation , call 375-0172. •For adults over the age of 18, Community Health Ser vices, 1401 East Seventh St., will offer free blood pressure checks every Wednesday from 12 noon - 2 p.m. An ap pointment is necessary. Call 375-0172 to schedule an ap pointment. •"Your Health Is In Your Hands," is a four-part work shop to be offered by Commu nity Health Services during the month of May. The work shop will be led by Donna Fields, RN and will be held from noon until 1 p.m. in the Community Health Services Boardroom on successive Mon days beginning May 4 and tun ning through May 25. A regis tration fee of $5 for the entire session includes a light lunch. This is one of a series of special events planned during the month of May which is Senior Citizens Month. THE CHARLOTTE POST CALL 376-0496__ ,: Swing into Spring With The Post; CHARLOTTE'S PREMIERE COMEDY CLUB Saving Pkatf'» Pfraa A Sub* Mani ford NEW SHOW HMIS TUES-THUR & SUN at 8:30 •! «l*$*Tot«JO» HiOO ; CALL SSMAfF for ’j USE OUR 7 FOR 1 „ ...MR and injoy FftOFESSIMtt COMIDY FOR LESS THAN THI COST OF A MOVII Hi MS. SHIRLEY HEMPHILL - (THE ZANY WAITRESS ON THE, TV SHOW “WHAT'S HAPPENING") MAY 26-SI . •* JHB COUPON WUff5 2 THI SH0W5 0N°«ID*TJ, SUNDAY -5/14|/» ONLY GOOD HOME COOKING BrcakfasfLunch* Dinner WANT A^ ASK FOR Aj CHICKEN SANDWICH. SECOND WARD HAM 9t EGG-.-.YORK ROAD BOLOGNA SANDWICH — -.-.BROOKLYN FISH SANDWICH . QUEEN CITY CLASSIC HOT DOG.*...*.-----.. * || rjIINN CHEESE BURGER.—...PLATO PRICE PORK CHOP SANDWICH.HYDE PARK We’re Doing Our Part To Keep Black History Alive By Naming Our Menu Items After Our Black Neighborhoods ***** ***^^ m EGG SANDWICH. GRADY COLE LIVER MUSH...WEST BLVD FATBACK SANDWICH.GRIER TOWN SARDINES & EGO.-.NORTH CHARLOTTE FISH PLATE.... CHICKEN PLATE'****"NORTHWOOD ESTATES BAKED SWEET POTATO .-.. SAMBO LINK SAUSAGE.SOUTH SIDE GRILLED CHEESE-*".."...*--BLACK PANTHER CHITTERLING PLATE . SOUL SISTER ham sandwich.beatties ford Rt> CUP OF-COFFEE." BLACK BEAUTY PANCAKE!...*.HIDDEN VALLEY UNCLE TOM fltfeftAL : : IHANflES EACH PA7J FujlCouw Home Cooked Med (Meat. 2 VCB.. Cortdrari, ciup ofji^ xugKASEiSfiS’ROAlf® B°” 391-9631 OPEN MONDAY^URDAY^ASSr* 10 P.M. I
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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April 30, 1987, edition 1
14
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