FORMER DALLAS COWBOY RAYFIELD
WRIGHT,
HALL OF FAMER ABNER HAYNES, SR. & CITY COUNCILMAN
ED OAKLEY SUPPORT HEALTHY HEART CAMPAIGN IN DALLAS
Foundation Launches Healthy Heart Campaign to Tackle
Disparities
Dallas, TX (February 24, 2005)
- To tackle cardiovascular disease disparities in
Dallas, National Minority Health Month Foundation (NMHMF),
in cooperation with Dallas City Councilman Ed Oakley,
the Heroes of Football and the American Heart
Association, today launched the Healthy Heart
campaign, a data-driven initiative, at a press
conference at Parkland Health & Hospital's Bluitt-Flowers
Health Center. Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is the
sponsor of the groundbreaking effort.
"With February being American Heart Month, it is
appropriate to kick off this evidence-based campaign
now," said Dr. Gary Puckrein, Executive Director,
NMHMF. "Working in collaboration with local
government, community organizations and industry in
Dallas, we hope to turn the red zip codes into green,
healthy zip codes by identifying individuals who are
at highest risk and strategically implementing
interventions."
The Healthy Heart campaign will target specific zip
codes in Dallas where cardiovascular disease
disparities are significantly higher than the national
average in an effort to eliminate the disproportionate
burden of premature death and preventable illness.
Small grants will also be available to local
organizations to enhance programming and increase
success.
"I applaud this collaborative effort by the National
Health Month Foundation in their work with the Dallas
community," said State Senator Royce West. "Their goal
is to decrease the prevalence of cardiovascular
disease, one of leading causes of mortality among
residents and within the broader community. I
anticipate and am eager to work with the Foundation in
their campaign to promote a healthier Dallas."
Local and national stakeholders gathered at the press
conference to discuss the need to localize
interventions in order to bridge the health gap. Among
the community leaders who spoke were: Dallas City
Councilman Ed Oakley, District 3; Shawna Nesbitt,
M.D., Director, The Hypertension Clinic, UT
Southwestern Medical Center; Leonard Berry, M.D.,
Bluitt-Flowers Health Center, Parkland Hospital
Systems; Cecilia McKay, Executive Director, Dallas
Concilio; and Pam Carter, City of Dallas Diabetes
Awareness Program & American Heart Association's
African American Task Force Chair.
Members of the Heroes of Football, an organization of
former football players giving back to their
community, spoke out about addressing this chronic
illness at the event. These Heroes include former
Kansas City Chiefs player and football hall of famer
Abner Haynes, Sr., Chairman and founder of the
Football Heroes; former Dallas Cowboys players
Rayfield Wright and Mel Renfro; James Mannis, former
TCU and Baltimore Colts player; Lemuel Stinson, former
Chicago Bears player; Hurles Scales, former St. Louis
Cardinals player; Julius Turner; Darrell Simpson; and
Roy Cassell.
- MORE -
"Due to a number of heredity and lifestyle factors,
heart disease and stroke disproportionately affect
African Americans and Latinos/Hispanics," said Manuel
Cruz, M.D., American Heart Association, Dallas
Division Board Member. "In partnership with the
National Minority Health Month Foundation, the Healthy
Heart campaign will enable the American Heart
Association to help African Americans and
Latinos/Hispanics understand their risk factors for
cardiovascular disease and make healthy lifestyle
decisions."
At the end of March, coalition partners will begin
facilitating 7-10 small screening events at community
sites in targeted zip codes identified as health
disparity zones - contiguous ZIP codes characterized
by a disproportionate prevalence of diseases and
conditions that can be linked to higher death rates,
greater hospitalization rates and cost. The goal is to
collect and analyze health statistics, and ultimately
disseminate results to the stakeholders on the ground.
At the screenings, residents will receive educational
materials and those at risk will be directed to
Parkland Health & Hospital and other health care
facilities for treatment and follow up.
To support this initiative, Paradigm International and
Dallas Concilio have coordinated with the Foundation
to launch the Pathways to a Healthy Heart Walking
Program in targeted zip codes. This 12-week program
will provide pedometers and personal goals that can be
achieved alone or as a part of a walking group to
offset the affects of cardiovascular disease. It
allows participants to improve their own personal
health while also improving the overall health of the
community. The program will be available in English
and Spanish and will target African Americans and
Latinos/Hispanics. Joyce Green of Paradigm
International and the Dallas Concilio will provide
on-site coordination for the walking program.
At the press event today, Bluitt-Flowers Health Center
helped to launch this unprecedented campaign by
conducting screenings and distributing pedometers to
all those in attendance.
The Dallas Healthy Heart initiative is an ongoing
effort designed to mobilize local government, health
care advocates and leaders, physicians, medical
centers, faith-based and community organizations, and
industry to promote cardiovascular disease awareness,
prevention, and treatment. Coalition partners include
State Senator Royce West, American Heart Association,
Parkland Health & Hospital, Dallas Concilio, City of
Dallas Diabetes Awareness, Dallas Urban League,
American Diabetes Association, and Dallas Parks &
Recreation.
For more information, please contact Cleve Mesidor at
(202) 223-7560 or via email at cmesidor@americanvisions.com.
Dallas Healthy Heart coordinator Katrina McGhee Drake
can be reached at (972) 228-2484.
National Minority Health Month Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that promotes the building of coalitions and evidence-based solutions towards the elimination of health disparities.
