Raising Awareness about Infant Mortality

In order to raise awareness about infant mortality with an emphasis on the African American community, the Office of Minority Health (OMH) has launched a new campaign, A Healthy Baby Begins with You, as part of the National Partnership for Action to End Health Disparities.

OMH is asking for community and faith-based organizations, city and state health departments, and private sector partners to set-up and host events in the most affected communities. In return, OMH has partnered with Behind the Bench, the National Basketball Wives Association, to connect sponsors with a local spokesperson. Additionally, OMH will organize the local event, provide all the supporting printed and electronic materials and incentives for attendees, help promote the outreach to African American women of childbearing age, pitch stories to local and national media, and more.

For more information about the campaign or how your organization can become a sponsor, call 1-800-444-6472, or email iestrada@omhrc.gov

Great American Smokeout - November 15, 2007

November 15, 2007, marks the American Cancer Society's 31st annual Great American Smokeout, an event designed to encourage cigarette smokers to quit smoking for at least 1 day so that they might quit permanently.

Information on the Great American Smokeout is available at http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ped/ped_10_4.asp or by telephone: 800-227-2345. Advice on how to quit smoking is available at http://www.smokefree.gov

SIDS Risk Reduction Continuing Education Program Emphasizes Important Role of Nurses in Health Care

The National Institutes of Health has created a continuing education program designed to help nurses communicate the risk factors for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) to parents and child caregivers. Nurses are a key information resource for new parents and often spend the most time with families in the hospital following the birth of a child.

The Continuing Education Program on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Risk Reduction was developed by the NIH’s National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) in collaboration with national nursing and health organizations. The program reviews the most current research findings and theories about SIDS and provides nurses with practical approaches to communication about SIDS in a multi-cultural environment.

"Nurses who care for infants and families in the hospital are in a unique position to educate parents and influence health and safety practices," said Duane Alexander, M.D., director of the NICHD, the NIH institute distributing the program materials.

Nurses can order a hard copy or download an electronic version of the continuing education booklet through the NICHD’s Web site, at http://www.nichd.nih.gov/sidsnursesce/, or by calling 1-800-370-2943. For more information, visit the Institute’s Web site at http://www.nichd.nih.gov/.

For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

INFLUENZA VACCINE CLINICAL TRIAL

The EVMS Department of Pediatrics – Clinical Research Unit is conducting an influenza vaccine clinical trial in children 6 through 35 months of age. Influenza (flu) is a very contagious disease that affects many people throughout the world each year. The symptoms, which include fever, muscle pain, sore throat, cough, and weakness, last from several days to a week or more. Young children, the elderly, and people with chronic health problems run a higher risk of complications than do healthy young adults. Children in this study will receive licensed flu vaccine.

Parents of children in good health, ages 6 through 35 months, who want additional information or want to enroll their children should contact Nancy DeJaeger, RN at 668-6415.

The Eastern Virginia Medical School Institutional Review Board has approved this announcement.

IRB #07-10-FB-0236

Save-the-Date...The Inhalant Abuse Prevention Awareness Institute

Did you know the past thirty-day use of inhalants for Virginia eighth graders is double the national average? Learn about inhalants and how to address this issue in your community by attending the Inhalant Abuse Prevention Awareness Institute. For more information go to www.rmhonline.com

American College of CHEST Physicians and The CHEST Foundation offer FREE handouts

Concerned over studies demonstrating that between 20% and 68% of patients prescribed aerosol devices did not use them correctly enough to benefit from their use, several of the ACCP NetWorks collaborated to produce these handouts. Also available in English and Spanish on the ACCP Web site at www.chestnet.org/ patients/guides/inhaledDevices.php, the handouts can be downloaded and printed by health- care providers and patients.

It is our hope that these materials will help your patients breathe easier. To receive a free packet of the Spanish version handouts, e-mail your request to Spanishmaterials@chestnet.org with your complete mailing address. A limited supply is available.

Attend Luncheon - Delegate Melanie Rapp to Speak

EAT, MEET AND LEARN
Members of the GVPCCC have expressed concern over their seeming inability to get the message, across to the legislators, concerning their need for legislative support with regard to issues that are affecting their clients.

Melanie Rapp, Member of the House of Delegates for the Ninety-Sixth District, has agreed to speak at a luncheon at which she will address the issue of contacting and getting across your message to legislators. She will speak about the best ways and the best times to make contact with state legislators in order to speak with them about your needs for the support of or introduction of specific legislation. She will speak about the use of e-mail, direct mail, telephoning, visiting at the local office or the Richmond Office, visiting the legislators while in session and out of session and the like. It should be a most beneficial presentation with Delegate Rapp speaking about matters which will be of benefit to us in our advocacy role.

Melanie Rapp was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates to represent the 96th District in a special election in December of 2000, filling the vacancy created when her predecessor, Jo Ann Davis, was elected to Congress. Delegate Rapp was re-elected to full two-year terms in 2001, 2003 and 2005. She currently serves on the House Education, General Laws, and Privileges and Elections Committees. She also serves as a Deputy Whip for the House Republican Caucus and serves as a sub-committee chairman of the Teachers and Administrative Action Committee and the Housing Affordability and Real Estate Policy.

The Luncheon
Wednesday, November 14
12:00 - 1:30pm
Auditorium A of the MIH Conference Center

We need your response on or before Wednesday, November 7. Please call 886-6025 if you plan to attend. Thank you.