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This unique health event will offer a separate track for medicalprofessionals and another for community leaders, pastors, and business owners.The symposium and health conference are included in the activities associatedwith the Houston Juneteenth Multicultural Health Festival presented byUnitedHealth Group that kicks off June 21 at Discovery Green Park from noon to6 p.m.
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Both tracks will take place simultaneously at the Four Seasons Hotel. Thetrack for medical officials will run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The track forcommunity leaders is scheduled for 9.m. to noon.
The Houston Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Symposium will focus on earlydetection, diagnosis, complications, organ donation and transplantation. Thistrack will offer continuing medical education credits for primary carephysicians, nurse practitioners and other health officials.
The State of Health Minority Conference, the track for business andcommunity leaders, will focus on diabetes, high blood pressure, HIV/AIDS,leading diseases affecting many minorities. During the conference, thesebusiness and community leaders will receive a resource guide that includes alist of available clinics and programs designed to help uninsured orunderinsured Houstonians.
Dr. Wadi Suki, a professor at Baylor College of Medicine, is the chairmanfor the health conference.
Minority health conference and CKD symposium manager Dorcas Ukpe said theevent's purpose is to improve the health outlook for the high percentage ofAfrican American and Hispanics who are uninsured or underinsured in Houston.Statistics show that about 82 percent of African Americans and 87 percent ofHispanics living in Houston do not have health insurance.
"People will be screened during the festival and they'll need to knowwhere they go from there. The goal of the conference is to help bridge thatgap," said Ukpe. "It's the reason why we combined the festival with screeningand education. These diseases are prevalent in the minority community. Withearly diagnoses and intervention, people can get on the transplant listearlier, and hopefully live longer and more productive lives."
For additional information and media downloads regarding the event visithttp://www.houstonhealthfestival.org/press.html
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jaa St. Julien, St. Julien Creative Group
713-965-7084 | 713-481-2671 | [email protected] 10 leading illnesses among African Americans and other ethnic groups: 1. Heart Disease 6. Infant mortality (SIDS) 2. Cancer 7. High Blood Pressure (hypertension) 3. Stroke 8. HIV/AIDS 4. Diabetes 9. Chronic respiratory disease (emphysema, bronchitis, asthma) 5. Obesity 10. Kidney disease
SOURCE Houston Juneteenth Multicultural Health Festival
