THIS ISSUE AVAILABLE ONLINE WITH EXPANDED INFORMATION AND PHOTOS AT:
http://www.hhs.gov/news/newsletter/weekly
IN THIS ISSUE:
1) President Bush and Secretary Thompson attend the 2nd National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast
2) HHS Kicks off National Women's Health Week
3) Surgeon General Discussed the Importance of Mental Health in Warwick, RI
4) Personal Health
5) Secretary Thompson's public schedule:
President Bush and Secretary Thompson attend the 2nd National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast
President Bush has been invited to lead the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, May 15 at the Capitol Hilton in Washington, D.C. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) will also be featured speakers at the event. Nueva Esperanza, which has become one of the foremost voices for Hispanic Americans in the nation, is hosting the breakfast under the leadership of Rev. Luis Cortes, the founder and President.
Following the breakfast, HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson will do a joint press conference with Rev. Cortes to announce Pacto de Esperanza (Pledge of Hope), the first national HIV/AIDS education initiative targeted towards the hispanic faith community.
Nueva Esperanza is the largest faith-based community development corporation based in Pennsylvania. Their resources are targeted at empowering Hispanic communities to use the programs and better their lives through job training, education, housing and economic development projects.
All events will take place at the Capitol Hilton, located at 1001 16th Street, N.W. Thursday, May 15 from 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. All the events are open press. For updates and additional information, please visit the Web site: http://www.esperanza.us/ or you may contact Kirsten Fedewa at (703) 684-3339 or Peggy Ellis at (703) 739-4582.
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HHS Kicks off National Women's Health Week
Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson is kicking off the first-ever National Women's Check-Up Day on May 12, the day following Mother's Day. Created by the HHS, National Women's Check-up Day is a time for women to visit a health care professional for preventive screenings. A simple yearly check-up can help identify risk factors for many diseases and detect some diseases early enough to make successful treatment more likely. More than 700 community health centers, hospitals, and other health care providers nationwide are joining the department's efforts. This effort complements and supports HHS' efforts to promote preventive services for women and furthers President Bush's long-range initiative to expand access to health care for people without health insurance.
The National Women's Health Week will begin Mother's Day, Sunday May 11, and will continue through May 17. The Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health (OWH), is sponsoring a national effort by an alliance of organizations to raise awareness about manageable steps women can take to improve their health. The week focuses on the importance of incorporating simple preventive and positive health behaviors into everyday life.
The National Women's Health Week has inspired over 300 events and proclamations celebrating women's health across the country. Examples of events range from nutrition workshops and health fairs to drive-thru health screenings and more. Women can visit local health care centers, churches, community centers, and schools to take part in these festivities.
Women who contact the National Women's Health Information Center, a Web site and telephone referral center maintained by HHS, will be offered a prevention package and assisted in identifying a healthcare provider for check-ups. More information is available by calling the information hotline toll-free at (800)994-WOMAN (9662), TDD: 1(888) 220-5446, or by visiting http://www.4woman.gov/whw/.
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Surgeon General Discussed the Importance of Mental Health in Warwick, RI
U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona spoke to the Mental Health Association of Rhode Island and the Allied Advocacy Group for Collaborative Care on Friday, May 9 in Warwick, Rhode Island. The nation's doctor spoke on the importance of mental health and wellness to a community that is still experiencing the terrible loss from the club fire on February 21 where nearly 100 people lost their lives.
"The message I am working hard to get out to all Americans is that we must be as vigilant about our mental and emotional health as we are about our physical health and safety." Surgeon General Carmona said.
Dr. Carmona commended city and state officials for building an efficient "infrastructure of preparedness" with funding granted to the region in order to set up an emergency response system from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration last year.
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Personal Health
Here is some information to disparage the myth that nuts are fattening and you shouldn't eat them if you want to lose weight:
Fact: Although high in calories and fat, most (but not all) types of nuts have low amounts of saturated fat. Saturated fat is the kind of fat that can lead to high blood cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart disease.
Nuts are a good source of protein and fiber, and they do not have any cholesterol. In small amounts, nuts can be part of a healthy weight-loss program. (A 1-ounce serving of mixed nuts, which is about 1/3 cup, has 170 calories.)
This information is provided by the National Institutes of Health.
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Secretary Tommy G. Thompson's public schedule:
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Last updated May 12, 2003
United States Department of Health and Human Services
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