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Health initiative comes to Dallas County
Published Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Several different arguments are passed around as to how to solve Alabama’s problem with obesity.
Dallas County’s role includes joining the Alabama Strategic Alliance for Health Program.
The program funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concentrates on three problem areas for this region — diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol.
A federal grant of $3.9 million will support the five-year program. Dallas County would act as one of three mentor areas to a 21-county region that stretches from Pickens to Geneva. Perry and Sumter counties are the other mentor communities.
“Seventy-five percent of the population in our Black Belt counties are overweight or obese,” said Ashvin Parikh, assistant area administrator for the Dallas County Department of Public Health. “We want to tackle that problem with this. We have 40,000 people with hypertension, and around 14,000 people with diabetes.”
The program will manifest in stages. During the first year, a committee of people in the community will recommend priorities for the initiative. Parikh said schools, elected officials, hospitals and work sites will be asked to contribute information.
During the second year, mentor communities can begin starting programs. In years 3-5, mentor communities will share information and teach the remaining 18 counties how to implement programs.
This alliance is part of a national initiative called Building a Healthier Nation-Strategic Alliance for Health.
The three counties in Alabama are among 12 nationwide that were picked for the program.
“I know everybody’s struggling with the economy, but this is such a positive thing for Dallas County,” said Stacey Adams, community coordinator for the Dallas County Health Department. “We’re working to form a consortium here in the county … and then our first year we’re going to actually use that consortium to complete a community assessment; and then from that assessment have an action plan to implement in the communities.”
Dallas County alone lags behind in several major health categories in the state. In addition to heart-related illnesses, there are higher percentages of people who don’t eat five fruits/vegetables per day and who do not get a moderate amount of exercise daily.
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Comments
Posted by renigade (anonymous) on February 3, 2009 at 9:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In my travels around the blackbelt I have discovered that a large number of people suffer from a disease commonly referred to as "Pigga Eataga Galatos". The symptoms of this disease are easily identifiable - Most prevalently seen in your local Walmarts, McDonalds, Fried chicken joints, and other fast food restaurants. An individual affected by this disease is normally grossly overweight, slow moving with little or no energy, dragging about with no apparent purpose. The diseases described in the above article are generally caused by "Pigga Eataga Galatos". When the current economic conditions dictate that everyone work for food to survive, perhaps this dreadful disease now plagueing the blackbelt will disappear. On your next visit to one of the above establishments, look around and you will be able to easily identify those infected with this dreadful disease "Pigga Eataga Galatos". Hopefully if you are reading this article, you are not suffering from this disease. However, If you are, suffering from this dreadful desease please consider a change in life style it might make your world a better place to live.
Posted by MintJulep (anonymous) on February 4, 2009 at 11:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
LOL, renigade, I've seen some of the people you are describing. They should invest in a treadmill, it works! I lost 22 pounds by using one so if I can do it, almost anyone can.
MJ
Posted by mccrary36703 (anonymous) on February 4, 2009 at 3:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think the best way to loose weight is by fasting. It worked for me. Only eat between the hours of 6pm and 12am. After 12am don't eat until 6pm that day. Drink water or juice. If you must take med- eat crackers. Your stomach will cramp and hurt, also you may get a headach. That's good let all that happen to you while you are fasting for the lord. If you vomit that's fine just keep drinking water you can't get sick from water. Don't give up. Try this for one month and somebody will see the results other than you. Trust me it will work.
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