PRESS RELEASE
A bit of ‘Red’ in Fort Greene:
Hanson Place Church raises awareness about Heart Disease in women.
Francine Conway-Jones, PhD
“Did you know that heart disease is still the No. 1 killer of women, taking the life of 1 in 3 women each year?. . .and claims the lives of over 433,000 American women each year (American Heart Association)?” The Hanson Place Seventh-day Adventist Church joined with the American Heart Association “Go Red for Women” initiative to host ‘Red Dress/Red Tie Sabbath’ and ‘Healthy Heart Symposium: An Ounce of Prevention.’ These programs were initiated when Dr. Daley, the director of the Health Ministries Department for the North Eastern Conference, issued the call to all area churches to help raise awareness about women’s heart health. Senior Pastor Melwyn Bob A. Mounter of the Hanson Place SDA Church supported two of the church’s departments, Health Ministries directed by Dr. Francine Conway-Jones and Women’s Ministries directed by Elder Elies Whitfield in responding to this challenge to raise awareness about this very important issue.
On February 5th and 6th, 2011 there was ‘red’ in Fort Green. Parishioners attended the worship service dressed in red. The women wore red dresses, hats and some sported a splash of red somewhere in their attire. Men supported this effort by wearing red ties. Not only was the sanctuary a beautiful sight, but the full cooperation of the worshippers was evidence that the awareness raising campaign which occurred during the weeks leading up to the event was successful. People listened to the promotions, skits, bulletin announcements and the like and responded with a resounding show of support that our community would join with the American Heart Association to make it our ‘mission’ to raise awareness that heart disease is the number one killer in women.
The symposium on February 6th, 2011 was designed to educate those attending about prevention of heart disease. Opening remarks from Council Member of District 35, Letitia James, Esq. was well received as she emphasize the role that stress plays in the daily lives of women, particularly women of color for whom the daily hassles and stressors can be disproportionate. In her remarks she emphasizes the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle which is consistent with the health message of the Seventh Day Adventist Churches. Our discussant, Dr. Milton Haynes who is a member of Hanson Place Church and Clinical Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University School of Medicine and Senior Attending Obstetrician-Gynecologist at Lenox Hill Hospital, reviewed some demographic information about the health disparities among minorities supporting Council member James’ passionate plea for women of color to reconsider their stressful lifestyles.
The panelist featured Hanson Place members including Dr. Rawle Philbert, Chairman of Dentistry/Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Program Director of the surgical residency training at Lincoln Hospital, and senior attending at St. Barnabas Hospital; Dr. Celeste Cox, Board Certified Doctor of Internal Medicine with a concentration on Preventive Health who is in private practice at Prime Care Medical, LLP and is an attending at Stanford Hospital, an affiliate of New York Presbyterian, Columbia University; Dr. Francine Conway-Jones, Associate Professor at Adelphi University, Chair of the Undergraduate Psychology Program and private clinical practice in Brooklyn, NY. Special invited guest, physical therapist Dr. Monica Charlotin serving at Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn New York was also a panelist. The Symposium was hosted by Hanson Place member, Dr. Samuel Jones, Chair of the Social Work Department at Long Island University who also has a private psychotherapy practice.
It became very evident that central to the prevention of cardiovascular disease was a lifestyle change guided by the Eight Laws of Health adopted by Seventh-day Adventists. For example, practicing the ‘Eight Laws of Health’ would include attention to Nutrition, Exercise, Self-control, Rest, and Water which are crucial to preventing and controlling the disease progression.
The panel presentations were followed by nutrition consultations headed by Theresa Brereton, Hanson Place member and dietitian and medical screenings coordinated by the director of our Nurses Corp. Joy Renaud, MSN. Screenings were a part of a year-long “Know your numbers” campaign being held at the Hanson Place Church to offer blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol screenings to the community as well as weigh and BMI assessments. The symposium was attended by over seventy individuals who also participated in the screenings and participants were screened with the assistance of the North Eastern Conference Medical Missionaries. Special activities for the children, ‘Jump Rope America,’ also an initiative of the American Heart Association were coordinated by Nicole Pieters, member of the Health Ministries Committee and Rhonda Cox, Director of Children’s Ministries.
Although the recognition of women’s heart health was marked by the events held this past weekend, the Hanson Place Church will join other Seventh-day Adventist Churches throughout the North East to continue the “Know your numbers” campaign and will continue to design programs aimed at supporting a healthy lifestyle among community members.
For more information about our programs email the Hanson Place Health Ministries Department at
health@hpsdachurch.org or visit Health Ministries at
www.hansonplace.org.
