health


THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE


September 8-14, 2010 Page C-7 Support anti-poverty programs


By Greg Mathis Over the years, many, if


not most, Republicans have gone on record protesting fed- eral funding of many social programs designed to help Americans in need. With the country hit hard by recession, the need for these types of programs have increased and conservative politicians and pundits alike have made their displeasure known.


Thankfully, President


Obama sits on the right side of this debate and has advocated for and signed into law legis- lation that increases these public support programs.


If you were lucky enough


THE GREATER WAYNE COUNTY Chapter, The Links, Inc., presents the Barbara Ann Karma- nos Cancer Institute with a $75,000 check in support of breast and cervical cancer screenings for underserved local women. From left are Nick Karmanos, vice president of Development, Kar- manos; Gina Coleman, co-chair, 2010 Pink Ball; Karmanos President and CEO Gerold Bepler, M.D., Ph.D.; Denise Hill, manager of Patient Services, Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Pro- gram; Ellen Hill Zeringue, president, Greater Wayne County Chapter; Shirley Kaigler, treasurer, Greater Wayne County Chapter, and Dr. Tonya Corbin, vice president, Greater Wayne County Chapter.


Karmanos Cancer Institute receives $75,000 gift from The Links for breast and cervical cancer screening


The Barbara Ann Karmanos


Cancer Institute in Detroit re- cently received a generous $75,000 gift from the Great- er Wayne County Chapter (GWCC), The Links, Inc.


The funds will provide


breast and cervical cancer screening for 250 underserved women in the Detroit area through the Wayne County Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (BCCCP), ad- ministered through the Kar- manos Cancer Institute.


“This wonderful donation


from the GWCC, The Links will benefit uninsured or un- derinsured women who can not afford a mammogram or pap smear,” said Karmanos President and Chief Execu- tive Officer Gerold Bepler, M.D., Ph.D. ”Cancer is often cured if caught early. By pro- viding these vitally important health screenings, lives will be saved.”


According to GWCC, The


Links President Ellen Hill Zeringue, vice president of marketing, Detroit Tigers, “It is a tragedy that so many Detroit-area women die from late diagnosed breast and cer- vical cancer. These women could be our grandmothers, mother, sisters, daughters and friends.


“As part of our ‘Healthy


Women...Empowered Commu- nities’ initiative, the members of the Greater Wayne County Chapter, The Links, Inc. are pleased to provide access to life saving health care screen- ings to local women who lack the financial resources for medical services.”


Hill Zeringue said that the


funds were raised earlier this year at The Pink Ball, the chapter’s inaugural signature event, honoring James Bless-


man, M.D., MPH, medical di- rector, City of Detroit; and Danialle Karmanos, founder and creator, The Danialle Kar- manos Work It Out Program. “Our organization has a long and proud tradition of sup- porting health-related initia- tives in our community. This includes supporting the work of the Karmanos Cancer In- stitute dating back to when it was known as the Michigan Cancer Foundation.”


The National Breast and


Cervical Cancer Early Detec- tion Program was created by Congress in 1992. In Michi- gan, since its inception, the BCCCP has provided nearly 60,000 free screenings and potentially curative breast cancer treatment to nearly 700 women, age 40 – 64, at least 250 percent below the poverty level and are uninsured or un- derinsured.


Dr. Bepler said that every


year the need for breast and cervical screenings exceeds the amount of funding provid- ed by the State of Michigan.


“We have been told that


funding for this program will be reduced by 15 to 20 per- cent for fiscal year 2011. The Links’ timing could not have been better. Their generous gift clearly fills a funding gap,” he said.


He added, “More impor-


tantly, we will help more local women receive health screen- ings, follow-up care and treat- ment that potentially will save their lives, thanks to the GWCC, The Links, Inc.”


Founded in 1946, is one of


the oldest and largest volun- teer service organizations of women committed to enrich- ing, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic sur- vival of African Americans and


persons of African ancestry. The Links, Inc. has a mem- bership of more than 12,000 professional women of color serving in 274 chapters in 42 states, the District of Colum- bia, and the Bahamas. Through its philanthropic arm, The Links Foundation, Incorporat- ed, the organization has con- tributed more than $25 mil- lion to charitable causes since its founding. During this bien- nium, Links contributed 1.2 million documented service hours assisting communities throughout the United States, Africa and other developing countries.


Located in Midtown De-


troit, Michigan, the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer In- stitute is one of 40 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. Caring for nearly 6,000 new patients annually on a budget of $216 million, conducting more than 700 cancer-specific scien- tific investigation programs and clinical trials, Karmanos is among the nation’s best cancer centers.


Through the commitment


of 1,000 staff, including nearly 300 physicians and research- ers on faculty at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, and supported by thousands of volunteer and financial donors, Karmanos strives to prevent, detect and eradicate all forms of cancer.


Its long-term partnership


with the WSU School of Medi- cine enhances the collabora- tion of critical research and academics related to cancer care.


For more information call


1-800-KARMANOS or go to www.karmanos.org.


Quality. Affordability. Peace of Mind.


Nobody is more concerned about the health of the people of our community than Total Heath Care. We’re from Detroit. We grew up here. For over 35 years we have been one of Michigan’s most affordable plans. With more than 900 primary care physicians and over 450 locations in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties, nobody cares more.


Our wellness programs including Healthy Children, Women’s Health, Cardiovascular and Respiratory Disease Management, are all at no cost to you.


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to not have suffered a layoff or home loss during this reces- sion, it’s easy to overlook just how many have fallen victim to the decline in the economy. According to USA Today, gov- ernment funded programs de- signed to reduce poverty have grown during the recession; such programs now one in six Americans – a record. Experts


Judge Greg Mathis


predict those numbers will continue to grow. Currently, close to 10 million Americans receive unemployment ben- efits, while the Medicaid rolls have grown 17 percent since the recession began. That number, too, will rise as the new health care law is predict- ed to add another 16 million recipients to the list in the next few years. The number who receive food stamps has


grown over the last couple of years as well, nearly 40 mil- lion Americans – a 50 percent increase since the start of the recession – currently receive food stamp benefits.


These numbers are sober-


ing. It’s easy for Republicans and others to talk about ‘small government’ and cry that anti-poverty spending jeopar- dizes the future health of our economy. The reality is that our present economy is in shambles and we have no real idea of when it will rebound. Americans are suffering and it is the government’s duty to provide for its people until the economy gets to a point where they can then provide for themselves.


We are entering a critical


mid-term election period and many offices across the coun- try are up for grabs. As a voter, you can support anti-poverty programs by supporting those lawmakers who not only agree that government should pro- vide economic safety nets, but fight to make sure that it does.


Free health program in Redford to The National Kidney Foun-


dation of Michigan (NKFM) is hosting a free health work- shop in Redford from Sept. 23 to Oct. 28 to help people manage long-term health con- ditions. The Personal Action Toward Health (PATH) class will meet on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Pres- byterian Village of Redford on 25330 W. Six Mile Road.


The PATH workshop pro-


vides information and skills to adults with chronic health conditions such as arthritis, heart disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, bronchi- tis, asthma and depression. Workshops are run by trained leaders who hold informal, small group discussions and provide easy-to-understand course materials. Facilitators explain ways to reduce pain and stress, cope with fatigue, use medications wisely, and benefit from exercise.


Participants also learn


about self-help devices that can enhance daily activities. They are encouraged to prac- tice these skills by making weekly action plans and help- ing each other to achieve their goals.


The PATH program is suited


help residents manage disease for both the newly diagnosed as well as those seeking more aggressive management. It has been proven in studies to reduce symptoms and physi- cian visits as well as increase self-management abilities and communication with doctors.


Registration for the PATH


workshop is necessary and space is limited. To register, or for more information, con- tact the National Kidney Foun- dation of Michigan at (734) 222-9800 or contact Vern Kuehn at (313) 541-6424.


Free exercise, fitness program for seniors


St. Joseph Mercy Oakland


(SJMO) still has places avail- able for its free Senior Fit ex- ercise program for adults age 55 and up.


Senior Fit is aimed at im-


proving stamina, lowering blood pressure and decreas- ing the risk of osteoporosis among senior adults. The program also focuses on ex- ercise, which helps maintain strong bones, control body fat, reduce stress and improve an individual’s sense of well- being.


An initiative of SJMO’s


Community Programs Depart- ment, Senior Fit offers free, one-hour exercise programs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the following loca- tions:


• Apostolic Church 3655 N. Squirrel Rd. Auburn Hills 9:30-10:30 a.m.


• St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church 69 S. Astor Pontiac 11 a.m.-noon


• St Anastasia Roman Catholic Church 4571 John R Rd. Troy 1-2 p.m.


The fall session begins


Sept. 13. You must register to participate in the free ses- sions.


To register or for informa-


tion, call Julie Esparsa, Senior Fit program coordinator, at (248) 858-2545.


TOTALLY THERE FOR YOU


1.800.826.2862 TotalHealthCareOnline.com


Total Health Care is a state-licensed, nonprofit corporation.


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