Presuming you’ve done well and lived up to the good recommendations dispensed during March Nutrition Month, the upcoming fifth annual National Urban Health Conference is packed with additional information that will help you as you continue your pursuit of wellness and happiness.
From the opening session of the four-day conference, co-sponsored by the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, Emblem Health and the New York Amsterdam News, the business and professional service breakfast meeting “Demystifying the Health Exchange” is at the top of the agenda. For many of you still confused and baffled by this relatively new and seemingly complex process, help is on the way. This topic always attracts a large audience, so plan to RSVP at the number below and arrive early for seating.
This first day of activities begins Thursday, April 23 at Melba’s 125 on the third floor of the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building, 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. WBLS-FM, WHCR-FM and New York Christian Times are among the media partners.
Unraveling the intricacies of the health exchanges, whether hosted by the state or the federal government, is directly related to understanding the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, and this will open the two afternoon seminars in the building’s Art Gallery at 2 p.m until 3:30 p.m. This session is co-sponsored by Metro Plus and the office of Rep. Charles Rangel, with the New York Amsterdam News and WLIB-AM as media partners. Renowned experts in the field will explain how this historic initiative has already benefited in excess of 16 million Americans (with many millions more to come), most of who were previously without any health insurance. The new law has certainly given hope to and provided African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans and Caribbean-Americans who, more often, have higher rates of diabetes, heart disease and hypertension compared to the rest of the population, which has greater access to health care and insurance.
At the second seminar April 23, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., an important panel will focus on “Women’s Financial Health,” with a coterie of experts assembled to discuss short- and long-term financial and related family health decisions. Given the gravity of those decisions, it’s good to have Carver Bank and Capital One Bank as the co-sponsors with the New York Amsterdam News, New York Christian Times, WHCR-FM, WBLS-FM and the New York CARIB News as media partners.
The busy and informative day concludes with a Gala Health Awards Reception, sponsored by Harlem Hospital Center and the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, taking place at the classic and spacious Mural Pavilion at Harlem Hospital at 6:30 p.m. (This event is by invitation only). Among the honorees at the event will be Patricia Butts of “Go Red for Women”; Dr. Leon Merrick, Harlem’s well known “painless dentist”; Sandra Harris of Columbia University Medical Center; and Peggy Shepard of WE ACT for Environmental Justice with a posthumous award to be presented to the late Dorothy Payne Morehead, Harlem’s renowned health advocate.
Dr. Bob Lee, the popular radio personality and health specialist at WBLS-FM and WLIB-AM, will emcee the affair. Entertainment will be provided by ARC Gospel Choir. “What’s Eating Harlem,” the New York Amsterdam News, Harlem News Group, and WLIB-AM and WHCR-FM are the media partners for the gala.
Friday, April 24, attendees are offered, free of charge, a diverse menu of health advice, including exercise demonstrations and techniques, healthy eating and diet information as well as health insurance information at the Community Health Open House sponsored by Emblem Health Neighborhood Care Center, located at 215 W. 125th St., 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. WHCR-FM and Harlem News Group are the media partners for this free event.
Most of us, particularly our senior citizens, need to be aware of the usage, safety and latest developments on prescription drugs. A seminar beginning at noon in the Art Gallery of the State Office Building, sponsored by the Touro School of Pharmacy and CitiCare, features trusted custodians of this valuable information.
Saturday, April 25, a couple of options are available or you may want to attend both events, though they overlap, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For those ready to practice their movements and meditation, there is the eight annual Harlem Celebration of World Tai Chi and Qigong Day at St. Nicholas Park, W. 135th Street. Not too far away, the New York Black Nurses Association Health and Wellness Fair will take place at the Salvation Army Center at 540 Malcolm X Blvd. between 138th and 139th streets. Both events are free and the public is invited.
As its annual custom, the conference closes Sunday with a focus on “Our Spiritual Health.” The three spiritual health locations this year are in Brooklyn at Brooklyn Christian Center, 1061 Atlantic Ave. at 2 p.m.; in Harlem at Abyssinian Baptist Church, 132 West 138th St. at Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard at 11 a.m.; and at First Corinthian Baptist Church, West 116th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard at 11 a.m.
Sunday evening, especially for those who may have missed some of the four days of activity, there is a special one-hour Radio Health Conference that will be simulcast on WBLS-FM and WLIB-AM at 8 p.m.
Reserve space now. To RSVP for the seminars, call 212 862-7200 or go to www.harlemdiscover.com/urban health.