Newspaper Page Text
10A
JUNE 17,1999
empes infection on the rise among young blacks
By Ytasha Womack
Spécial to the YINPA
New studies show that African
erica collegiate women are at
g erriskfor contractinggential
erpes.
3;' the April edition of the Jour
nal of the National Medical Asso
cidtion (NMA), of the 96 Black
college females in the study, 30
petcent tested ; sitive for herpes
simplex virus-type 2 (HSV-2).
Accordingtothe study, ahistory
of sexually transmitted disease
was a predictor of the HSV-2 infec
titx. Ofthose that tested positive,
53:percent of the women had a
history of STDs, compared to the
21 that did not.
However, the number of life
time partners, once deemed a
prime indicator, was not a high
risk factor. One thired of those
who tested positive only had one
(;Zongressional Black Caucus asks Clinton
to end racial disparities in U.S. dietary guidelines
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Recently, the Congressional
Black Caucus sent a strong letter
to President Clinton, drawing long
overdue attention to the racial dis
parities in federal nutrition policy.
The letter comes at a time when
the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for
Americans, which form the basis
for all federal nutrition programs,
are being revised by a committee
chosen by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) and the De
partment of Health and Human
Services (DHHS).
The letter states: “Of particular
concern are the differences in the
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Living
lifetime partner.
“Behavior strategies focused on
decreasing the number of sexual
partners are not likely to be suffi
cient in preventing the spread of
HSV-2 infection among young Af
rican American women,” the re
port stated. “The development and
use of alternative approaches to
prevent the spread of HSV-2
among young African Americans
should be considered.”
The Center for Disease Control
and Prevention estimates that
500,000 new cases of herpes are
reported each year. Figures on
the percentage of African Ameri
cans with some as high as 45
percent.
According to health profession
als, many gential herpes outbreaks
show no visible symptoms, lead
ing women to believe they are free
of the illness.
“A lot of college women may not
prevalence of lactose intolerance,
and the gaping disparities in dis
ease prevalence — especially for
hypertension, diabetes, stroke,
obesity and prostate cancer — be
tween people of color and Cauca
sians.”
Lactose intolerance (the inability
to digest the milk sugar lactose)
affects 70 percent of African Ameri
cans, 90 percentof Asian Americans,
74 percent of Native Americans and
53 percent of Mexican Americans.
More worrisome are the disparities
in diet-related diseases. Prostate
cancerisalarmingly commonamong
African Americans; 145.8 per 100,000,
even know,” said Lisa Young, cer
tified nurse practitioner for Chi
cago State University’s (CSU)
Wellness and Health Center.
“Sometimes women have lesions
inside the vagina and cervix and
don’t know it.” Moreover, gential
herpes is contagious both during
outbreaks and just days before,
when no symptoms are evident.
“There are so many people that
are walking around with it and
don’t know it,” Young said. “I
think it’s a lot more prevalent
than we think it is.”
Brian Reid, a student HIV/STD
Peer Education leader at CSU,
said he is bombarded with ques
tions on herpes by fellow students.
“Students are very receptive,”
Reid said. “Once they get the in
formation they really understand
the gravity of the situation.”
Currently, the National Asso
ciation for the Equal Opportu
compared to 107.3 per 100,000 Cau
casians. Diabetes, hypertensionand
heartdiseasearealsocommonamong
minorities. Stronger dietary recom
mendations could reduce the toll of
these serious conditions.
According to Congresswoman
Christian-Christensen, “Nutrition
plays an important part in good
preventive health and health
lifestyles. Inlight of what we know
about disparities in African Ameri
cans and dietary implications in
the diseases that we suffer from, it
is important that the U.S. Dietary
Guidelines for Americans reflect
these differences to ensure more
nity (NAFEO) works with His
torically Black Colleges and
Universities to train students to
be HIV/STD peer leaders on their
campuses.
College health centers are also
filled with HIV/STD information.
However, Reid said, “They’d
rather ask their friend.”
The NMA study recommends
the development and use of vagi
nal micro bides or herpes vac
cine as an effective approach to
halt the epidemic.
There is no cure for genital
herpes, but there are medica
tions to reduce symptoms and
outbreaks.
Theillnessis not really deadly,
however, it can cause complica
tions for babies born to infected
mothers. Women who want to
check for genital herpes should
consult a physician. ‘
accuratedietary recommendations
for all Americans.”
“We applaud the Congressional
Black Caucus for taking the initia
tive to address this important is
sue, recognizing the disproportion
ate toll chronic disease takes on
people of color,” states Neal D.
Barnard, M.D., president of the
Physicians Committee for Respon
sible Medicine (PCRM).
The PCRM, a non-profit organi
zation foundedin 1985 andbasedin
Washington, D.C., promotes pre
ventive medicine and higher stan
dards in research.
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Blind Augustan receives new dogj
ROCHESTER, Mich.
There’s a new team in Augusta.
They are undefeated and setting
newstandardson adailybasis. The
players are local resident Willie
Jones and his best friend, constant
companion and eyes to the world, a
leader dog named Chase.
Jones has completed the 25-day,
live-in training program at Roches
ter, Michigan-based Leader Dogs
forthe Blind. The non-profit school
trainsadultdogs tobringincreased
safety and independent mobility to
visually impaired persons from all
over the world. Leader dog in
structors go to great lengths to
match students with dogs that fit
their personality, needs and
lifestyle. Jones and Chase were
paired together by the school’s pro
fessional instructors after an ex
tensive evaluation.
By the use of verbal commands,
handsignalsand a special harness,
Chase will guide Jones around
town. He will be able to enjoy
activities that sighted people take
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Wi, | *Over2oyrs in practice
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P B | " Most health plans accepted
b §!| *New patients welcome
Elijah Lightfoot Jr., M.D.
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P W HOMIS 5
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5 bat. 9 am.- 1 p-m. (Alternate) -
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L 102% ysfialker Boulevard
R OFE pee S 5 F o pin i
R, 2 el *
“es(7o6) 738-8879
2525 Washington Road, Suite P
Augusta, Georgia 30904
706.733.0791
' Under contract with the State of Georgia,
Department of Human Resources
Division of Family and Children Services
-
for granted, including boarding a
bus, shopping in a mall or just
crossing the street. od
Leader Dogs for the Blind was,;
established 60 years ago by three ;.
Detroit area Lions Club members.;
Sincethen,theprogrmnhastrainedi‘ i
and graduated over 11,000 leader ~
dogs, and is available to the 40,000 it
men and women worldwide who
lose their sight each year. 14
Thestudents, 18 yearsofageand
older, receive the program’s ser- ;
vices completely free of charge, B
although the actual cost to the,
school averagesmorethan $17,000.,.
for each graduating team. Leader,, 4
dogsarefunded solely by donations. b
from Lions and Lioness Clubmem- ;
bers and individuals, foundations \
and corporations dedicated tocom-. A
munity service. i
Formoreinformation, call Leader i
Dogsforthe Blind at(248)651-9011 , .
or toll-free at (888) 777-5332. Ac-, .
cess the leader dog web page at_;
www.leaderdog.org or forward e-, v
mail to Idftb@ix.netcom.com.