June 18, 2013
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Task Forces

                              

               Health and Wellness Task Force
                                                Willie Kweku Davis Jr., Ph.D.

Task Force goals for 2006 involved on-going efforts to develop collaborative relationships with organizations that address issues of HIV/AIDS and other chronic diseases, promote the Take Your Loved One for a Checkup Campaign, continue health screening at the committee booth during the National Conference, provide Medicare Prescription Drug Program information and education to our efforts in local chapters, and continue collaboration with other organizations to provide health information to NABSW chapters.

The Health and Wellness Task Force was very busy during 2006. Accomplishments for the year included:

  • On January 1, 2006, Medicare initiated plans to help pay for prescription drugs. The Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit, referred to as Medicare Part D, offers the opportunity for people who are eligible for Medicare to save on their prescription drug costs. Unlike Medicare Parts A and B, Part D prescription drug plans are offered by private insurance companies throughout the country. Individuals are able to choose a plan that works best for them. A comparison of Medicare Prescription Drug Plan benefits is available at www.medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.
  • Michigan is working with the Surgeon General's Health Disparity Program and submitted testimony for ther Minority Health bill passed by the Michigan legislature and signed into Office in January 2007. 
  • The Flint (Michigan) Chapter has set up a national telephone tree for the annual Take Your Loved One for a Checkup Day campaign. This is an ongoing campaign that was originally created and sponsored by sponsored by the Office of Minority Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. More information is available from the Flint Chapter.
  • We have made contact with Healthpower for Minorities. They have a website that offers a links to a number of health-related health sites. Visit their site at www.Healthpowerforminorities.org.
  • To facilitate the development of national and international goals by NABSW and other Black organizations, the All Around the African World Museum has opened a Washington DC office.
  • Developed Health messages for National Newsletter
  • The committee was represented at a CDC coalition meeting convened in Atlanta to Stop tuberculosis in the African American Community. NABSW is part of the coalition that has also developed a listserv, http://www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/listserv/tb_aa.asp, for those interested in the topic. A full report will be made available in 2007.

Linkage was established with Health and Human Services Office of Minority health on the Katrina Disaster. 

Task Force planning for 2007 includes the symposium for the National Conference in Detroit that will focus on HIV/AIDS. The symposium will be entitled, Socio-Economic Impact of the Worldwide Epidemic of HIV/AIDS. Plans are to also provide HIV-AIDS testing during the conference at our health booth in the exhibit area. In 2007, the task force will continue to develop relationships with groups to impact or implement policy to reduce the disparity gap in health outcomes between Whites and Blacks as identified in Healthy People 2010, and to examine health models to link Mental Health and Public Health.