A free virtual fair in support of heart health awareness in Detroit’s Black community on tap January 9.
Black Health Matters will host The Close the Gap Community Health Challenge, a free, virtual health fair geared toward raising awareness of heart health in the Black community. The virtual event will take place on January 9, and will feature healthcare professionals from several of Detroit’s top medical centers, looking at educating and empowering the community to take ownership of their health, according to a press release. Before COVID-19 impacting the Black community, it has been widely known that in the United States, Black people have experienced poor health outcomes, in all facets of health, for many years. Black women and men have the highest chance of being obese and they also lead the country in having diabetes and high blood pressure. Blacks have a 30% higher chance of dying from heart disease when compared to whites, the release added. These results reflect the increased risk of having pre-existing health conditions and the lack of access to preventative health care.
Combating the epidemic of poor health outcomes requires engagement at the community level from all parties; health care providers and the residents themselves. This is why Black Health Matters, with sponsorship from Boston Scientific, has created The Close the Gap Community Health Challenge to bring health, wellness, nutrition, and fitness professionals, along with community advocates, local chapters of the Divine Nine fraternities and sororities.
The virtual, interactive health fair is to encourage the Detroit community to be more proactive about their health especially during the pandemic.
“Black Health Matters is pleased to work with Boston Scientific to create the ultimate educational program on heart disease and healthy living, available at no cost, for the residents of Detroit,” said Roslyn Y. Daniels, publisher of Black Health Matters. “This health fair is anchored by some of the best, local healthcare providers and community stakeholders are the foundation on which this event is built. This program is free and open to the public so that thousands can benefit in accessing critical health information, empowering them to effectively ‘close the gap’ on health inequities the black community often faces.”
The Close the Gap Community Health Challenge:
The Summit will focus on engaging the Black community on the facts and findings on heart health issues. It will feature 22 event speakers, including physicians from these leading Detroit health systems:
• Detroit Medical Center
• Beaumont Medical Center
• Henry Ford Health System
• Wayne Health
• Ascension
• McClaren Medical Group
Topics covered include: Know the Signs of a Having a Heart Attack, COVID-19, Heart Disease, Healthy Heart Workout, Mental Health, Clinical Trials, Exercise & Nutrition, Hypertension, Weight Loss, Long Term Effects of Heart Disease, Diabetes, Healthy Cooking and Advocating for Your Health.
To make the virtual event more engaging, attendees will be able to download materials and network with peers, interact with health enthusiasts, advocacy groups, and vendors.
Registrants will also be able to accumulate points and win prizes for being active on the platform by visiting exhibitors, engaging in chats, watching panels, and other ways. The top 25 most active attendees will win specified prizes based on their placement.
The Close the Gap Community Health Challenge will be held on January 9, 2021, from 10 AM to 5 PM.
For more information and to register for the Community Health Challenge Health Fair, go to www.bhmclosethegap.vfairs.com
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