Carolita Holmes, a junior majoring in nursing, takes the blood pressure of Tonja Spires, a sophomore nursing student.
A wide range of information, health screenings and evaluations were available Thursday at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s 2013 Black Heritage Month Health Fair.
Twelve healthcare representatives, including agencies and student organizations, set up booths in Morris University Center’s Goshen Lounge as part of SIUE’s Black Heritage Committee’s, “A Celebration of Health.” Also there to entertain the crowd was Sylvester “Sunshine” Lee and the East St. Louis Community Performance Ensemble.
“It’s important that African Americans become proactive about their health,” said Yasmyn Knight, a sophomore from the College of Arts and Sciences planning to enter the School of Pharmacy. “Also, early detection is a critical factor in health care.”
Some of the agencies and student organizations at the fair included: the East Side Health District in East St. Louis, the American Diabetes Association in St. Louis, Madison County Health Department in Wood River, SIUE School of Nursing, SIUE School of Dental Medicine, SIUE Pre-Optometry Association and SIUE Student National Pharmaceutical Association.
A health fair was first made part of SIUE’s Black Heritage Month in 2008 and has been an annual event ever since, said Steve Sperotto, committee advisor and director of the Kimmel Leadership Center. The Black Heritage Month Committee was motivated to host the fair because of the health concerns that Africans American face as a group, he said.
According to statistics, the leading causes of death among African Americans are heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes.
“Blacks should not only be concerned with diabetes,” said Danna Hammers, registered nurse and volunteer with the American Diabetes Association, “but also everything that can come with it or can lead to it like heart disease, kidney disease, heart attacks, strokes and neuropathy.”
Diet and exercise are key factors in helping to fight diabetes, said Hammers.
“I’m concerned about diabetes,” said Recie Wilson, a junior studying history and anthropology with a minor in black studies, who stopped to pick up pamphlets about the disease. “I have an uncle who was diagnosed with diabetes, and I want to be more aware about it for myself and others.”
As it relates to HIV statistics, African Americans are at a higher risk than whites. The prevalence rate for blacks is almost eight times higher than that of whites. A 2010 statistical study showed that about 1 in 4 of all new HIV infections were among those ages 13 to 24 and nearly 60 percent of those occur in African Americans.
The East Side Health District offered confidential HIV testing on the second floor of the MUC, said Tremayne Coleman, director. A total of 10 people were tested and received results within 20 minutes. The East Side Health District was one of several agencies at the fair that supplied sexual health information.
“It’s important to know the right information before you make a mistake with sex,” said India Khan, a sophomore majoring in dance. “That’s better than trying to figure out how to fix an issue afterwards.”
Black Heritage Month: “Embracing the Dream: Rebuilding Our Community” will continue Tuesday, Feb. 19. “Stepping in Our Roots” is scheduled from noon-1 p.m. in the MUC Goshen Lounge. A history of “stepping,” an exhibition on “stepping” and a “stepping” dance lesson will be provided.