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WIU Observing Minority Health Month in April

March 20, 2017

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MACOMB, IL - Western Illinois University will observe Minority Health Month in April with the theme, "Crisis and Opportunity: Advocating through Community Collaboration."

The month will provide opportunities for the WIU and Macomb communities to participate in activities and educational programming focused on increasing awareness of health-related concerns and the impact on various minority populations.

Minority Health Month is recognized annually, at the national level, by the Office of Minority Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Minority Health Month began 102 years ago, originally proposed by Dr. Booker T. Washington as "National Negro Health Week." According to the Office of Minority Health, the initiative grew into a month-long program to advance health equity across the country, on behalf of all racial and ethnic minorities.

Programs planned include presentations, panel discussions, a documentary screening and food sampling. All programs are open free to the public.

Some of the activities planned include:

• Tuesday, April 4, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., University Union Grand Ballroom - Kickoff with a health fair, featuring health screenings and informational tables on various topics.

• Wednesday, April 5, 4 p.m., Stipes Hall, 121 - Spiritual health panel discussion.

• Thursday, April 6, 8:30 a.m.-noon and 1-3:30 p.m., Beu Health Center - Free STI testing, "Get Yourself Tested" – registration is required and limited to the first 116 students. Registration can be completed at beuonline.wiu.edu.

- 8:30 a.m.-noon and 1-3:30 p.m., University Union - Free HIV testing - registration is required and can be completed at beuonline.wiu.edu.

- 6:30 p.m. - Documentary screening, Moran Hall, 101B – "Sick Around the World."

• Thursday, April 13, 4:30 p.m., University Union Cardinal Oak Room - "DEEP: Diabetes Education and Evaluation Program" - Presented by MAD - Millennials against Diabetes.

• Friday, April 14, 3 p.m., University Union Board Room - "Let Go of the Chimney" - Presented by WIU graduate students Olufunke Fadahunsi, Nneka Ibeh and Uyiosa Chukwuka.

- 3:30 p.m., University Union Fox Room - "Promoting a Healthy Diet for Healthy Living" - Presented by WIU graduate students Stephen Ayosanmi, Chukwuebuka Ogwo, Oladoja Olajide and Toyin Solomon.

• Saturday, April 15, 5 p.m., University Union Lincoln Room - "Reducing Stress for the Mind, Body and Soul" - Presented by WIU graduate students Anaiah Buckner, Alyssa Bienemann and Staci Shank.

• Tuesday, April 19, noon, University Union Heritage Room - Cultural Café – Saudi Arabia - Presentation by Saudi students and a free lunch.

• Tuesday, April 25, 5:30 p.m., University Union Lincoln Room - Keynote speaker, Executive Director of the Office of Population Science and Policy at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine Sameer Vohra will deliver "Building Community Coalitions to Address Health Disparities."

• Tuesday, April 25, 12:30 p.m., Multicultural Center - Cultural Connections – Sport and Physical Activity.

• Wednesday, April 26, Noon-12:50 p.m., Morgan Hall, 322 - "Maternal Mortality in Nigeria: The Urban-Rural Divide" - Sociology graduate student Adenike Fantola will discuss her research. This event is sponsored by the WIU Department of Sociology and Anthropology.

The Minority Health Month Committee is chaired by WIU Department of Health Sciences and Social Work Chair Lorette Oden.

For more information on Minority Health Month, visit: wiu.edu/minorityhealth.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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