BREAST CANCER INITIATIVE
Chair(s): Carthenia Jefferson
EACH ONE, TEACH ONE: TRAIN THE TRAINER BREAST CANCER AWARENESS PROGRAM
African American women although not diagnosed with a higher incidence of cancer die at a higher rate. The BBNA proposes to: 1) provide culturally appropriate breast cancer and health awareness education, to encourage African American women in the Black Belt (South Western Corner of Alabama) affiliate area and Jefferson County, Alabama to have early detection and screening, i.e. mammograms (once a year if over the age of 40), clinical breast exams 2) form collaborative partnerships whereby the partners will assist with providing: a) culturally appropriate breast cancer educational material, b) breast cancer screening services, i.e. mammograms, clinical breast exams, 3) provide survivor support services to breast cancer survivors and their families. BBNA will utilize these measures in efforts to decrease the disparity of the incidence of deaths from breast cancer among African American women in the Black Belt affiliate area and Jefferson County, Alabama.
DIABETES INITIATIVE
Chair(s): Mary Williamson
“SURVIVE AND THRIVE WITH FIVE: A DIABETES EDUCATION & PREVENTION PROGRAM”
BBNA proposes to encourage INCREASING CONSUMPTION OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES ON A BUDGET (COST EFFECTIVE DIABETES PREVENTION-WE CAN’T AFFORD DIABETES). Sponsored by a Preventive Health Action Team Grant from the National Black Nurses Association, Inc. (NBNA).
OBESITY INITIATIVE
Chair(s): Deborah Thedford-Zimmerman and Majeedah Workneh
“TEN POUNDS, TEN WEEKS, TEN WAYS”
Alabama ranks 2nd in the nation for obesity. The BBNA proposes to change the behavior of the membership by embracing the challenge of curtailing obesity and becoming role models for the clients of whom they treat. Chapter members will walk at least three times per week; they will attend yoga classes; and adapt for their use unique healthy recipes. Sponsored by a Grant from the National Black Nurses Association, Inc. (NBNA).
SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYSDROME (SIDS) INITIATIVE
Chair(s): Valencia Vann and Andretta Griffin-Maxwell
EACH ONE TEACH ONE: BACK TO SLEEP
The BBNA proposes to (1) assist in conducting a research study, (2) teach friends and family, and (3) do Community Outreach to teach persons in the community how to placed infants when they are sleep in an effort to reduce SIDS. Freda Centor, RN, MSN at UAB Women & Infant Center states: “In 1992, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a recommendation that infants be placed on their backs to sleep in order to reduce the incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). This recommendation has saved the lives of many babies, and the infant deaths attributed to SIDS have been reduced overall by half. Despite this great success, a disproportionate number of African American infants continue to die. African American babies are more than twice as likely to die from SIDS as Caucasian babies. Recent health literature suggests that the discrepancy may be due to a lack of knowledge about the life saving recommendations and/or a lack of compliance with the recommendations.
