FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 12, 2006
“Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day” Sept. 19
COLUMBIA – South Carolinians are encouraged to participate in national “Take A Loved One to the Doctor Day” Sept. 19 by taking a loved one and themselves to a health care professional for a checkup, the state Department of Health and Environmental Control reported today.
“This day is specially targeted toward racial and ethnic minorities who bear the greatest burden of disease, disability and death because health disparities have persisted for far too long,” said Gardenia Ruff, director of DHEC’s Office of Minority Health. “The importance of healthy lifestyles and regular screenings should not be underestimated. To eliminate these health disparities, people need to take responsibility for their health and reach out to their communities to help meet their health needs.”
In the Columbia area, a free health fair with screenings will be held at the State Museum, 301 Gervais St., from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. A forum including a panel of local physicians will answer your health questions from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event is sponsored by 98.5 KISS FM.
Ruff said “Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day” is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Closing the Health Gap campaign aimed at educating African-Americans and other minorities about the health gap between these groups and the general population of the United States. Closing the Health Gap also offers tips on how to make lifestyle changes, including seeing a doctor on a regular basis. Through this effort, HHS has made eliminating health disparities a critical goal of Healthy People 2010.
Nationally syndicated radio personality Tom Joyner is serving as honorary chair of the day. Tom Joyner Morning Show listeners will be urged to pledge to take a loved one to the doctor and ask health professionals about specific health concerns.
Ruff said research has demonstrated that despite the gains made in life expectancy in the United States over the past century, gaps in health outcomes persist among ethnic groups. For example,
- Racial and ethnic minority infants in South Carolina are more than twice as likely to die before their first birthday as white babies.
- African-Americans account for 30 percent of the state’s population yet 74 percent of the HIV/AIDS cases recently diagnosed in South Carolina.
- Although the incidence of female breast cancer in S.C. is higher for whites, minority women, especially African-American women, are nearly twice as likely to die of the disease.
- According to the National Cancer Institute, Hispanic women have the highest incidence of cervical cancer, although African-American women are more likely to die of the disease.
- According to the American Diabetes Association, racial and ethnic minorities are more likely to develop, experience complications and die of diabetes than white persons.
For information about free or low-cost health care in your community, contact the South Carolina Primary Health Care Association at 1-800-438-3895. For more information on the Closing the Gap campaign and Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day, visit the Web site: http://www.scdhec.gov/health/minority/.
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For more information:
Briana Harper – (803) 898-3814
E-mail – harperbl@dhec.sc.gov
or
Clair Boatwright – (803) 898-4461
E-mail– boatwrc@dhec.sc.gov
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