Black Family Health Seminar Introduction

1. Black Family Health Seminar Introduction NAD/IAD Health Summitt-2009 Presented by Byron E. Conner MD

2. Purpose of This Course • Improve the health of the Black family • Reduce health disparities • Enhance the ministry of the church

3. What are racial and ethnic disparities in health? • “Health disparities are the differences in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and burden of diseases and other adverse conditions that exist among population groups in the United States.” Source: National Institutes of Health • Groups affected: African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian/Pacific Islanders, American Indians/Alaska Natives

4. Most Important Health Issues In The African American Community • Health Disparities: Greater morbidity and mortality for multiple conditions • Lower life expectancy: for African Americans • Excess deaths: Deaths that would not occur if the mortality rate was the same as White Americans (may be as much as 83,000 deaths each year)

5. Some Compelling Reasons To Do Health Ministry • We have a mandate from the Scriptures and from the Spirit of Prophecy to do this • Churches can have a large impact on reducing health disparities, as our health care system has failed to do this • The Adventist lifestyle has been proven to improve the length and quality of life • Regional churches are often located in our near inner city and impoverished communities

6. The Biblical Mandate • “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness , and all manner of disease among the people.” Matthew 4:23 • “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

7. The Biblical Mandate • “And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?” John 5: 5&6 • “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherd.” Matthew 9:36

8. A Prophetic Mandate “I saw that it was a sacred duty to attend to our health, and arouse others to their duty.” (The Great Visions of Ellen G. White, Page 93) “I was again shown that the health reform is one branch of the great work which is to fit a people for the coming of the Lord. It is as closely connected with the third angel’s message as the hand is with the body.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, Page 69

9. The Spirit of Prophecy Mandate “When properly conducted, the health work is an entering wedge, making way for other truths to reach the heart.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, Page 73

10. True Remedies “Pure air. sunlight, abstemiousness, rest, exercise, proper diet, the use of water, trust in divine power—these are the true remedies” The Ministry of Healing, Page 127 NUTRUTION EXERCISE WATER SUNLIGHT TEMPERANCE AIR REST TRUST IN GOD The Spirit of Prophecy Mandate

11. Ten Areas of Counsel From Ellen G. White • Care of health is a religious duty • The cause of disease is a violation of health laws • Avoiding the negative impact of intemperance • Vegetarianism • Control of appetite • Natural remedies in healing • Control of the mind • Personal cleanliness • Environmental concerns • Health education by the church

12. The Historical Mandate • 1985 report of the Secretary’s Task Force on Black and Minority Health: 60,000 excess deaths occur each year in minority populations • Healthy People 2010, stated the elimination of health disparities as one of the nation’s most important goals • In 2002, the Institute of Medicine reported that racial biases and differences in the quality of health plans were related to the fact that minorities receive worse health care

13. The Historical Mandate Report from the American Journal of Public Health, December 2004: • 83,570 excess deaths each year could be prevented if the Black-White mortality gap were eliminated • Eliminating the mortality gap would save more lives than production of new drugs, diagnostic tests, and surgical procedures

14. The Challenges Before us

15. Leading Causes of Death in America 1) Cardiovascular Diseases 2) Cancer 3) Stroke 4) Chronic lower respiratory diseases 5) Accidents 6) Diabetes 7) Influenza and Pneumonia 8) Alzheimer's Disease 9) Kidney Disease 10) Septicemia

16. LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH for BLACK MEN ARE DISEASES THAT CAN BE IMPACTED • Heart Disease • Cancer • Unintentional Injuries • Stroke • AIDS • Homicide • Diabetes • Pneumonia, Influenza What does your future hold?

17. LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH for BLACK WOMEN ARE DISEASES THAT CAN BE IMPACTED • Heart Disease • Cancer • Stroke • Diabetes • Unintentional Injuries • AIDS • Pneumonia, Influenza • Homicide There are alternatives to early mortality.

18. Life Expectancy Comparisons • In general life expectancy for the White population exceeds that of the African American population by 5.3 years • Life expectancy for African American females is 76.1 years and 80.5 years for White females • Life expectancy for African American males is 69 years, and is 75.3 years for White males

19. Infant mortality rate more than twice the rate for White infants Heart disease death rate 29% higher, stroke rate 40% higher Prevalence of hypertension is among the highest in the world Obesity and physical inactivity are a major cause of illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers Twice as likely to have diabetes Death rate from all cancers 30% higher. Prostate cancer death rate twice as high, women 30% more likely to die of breast cancer Homicide rate 6 times higher Males have 8 times the AIDS rate and 9 times as likely to die. Females 25 times the AIDS rate and 22 times likely to die African American Morbidity and Mortality

20. Institute of Medicine Report: 3/20/02 • A look at racial disparities nationwide in health care among people with health insurance • Reviewed more than 100 studies conducted over the previous decade • Concluded that racial biases and differences in the quality of health plans are reasons why minorities may receive worse care

21. Health Care Disparities African Americans even when insured, are less likely to receive the following: • High tech intervention therapy for CAD and stroke • Full options for treatment of prostate, breast and colon cancer • Adequate prenatal care • Cutting edge drugs for HIV infection • Prescription drugs, such as more effective antibiotics and analgesics

22. Economic Disparities • In 1974 black families had an income 63% of a typical white family but in 2004 it was 58% • From 1974 to 2004: the income of Black men has decreased, that of White men has remained fairly stable, but White women have had a five-fold increase in salary • Poverty rate for Blacks 24.9%, and for Whites 8.9% in 2005 • In 2005 19.6% of Blacks had no health insurance and 11.3% of whites did not have health insurance

23. Environmental Risk Factors • Increased exposure to toxic waste, air pollution, higher concentration of crime, poorer maintained buildings, and exposure to lead paint • Increase exposure to crime and violence • Excess fast food outlets • Higher prices for health foods such as fruits and vegetable, with processed foods being cheaper and more abundant • Less neighborhood safety for outdoor exercise and recreation, fewer gyms/fitness facilities

24. Choose To Live Helping Others To Live Longer and Better And Serve Your Church And Your Community

25. Live Longer And Better “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings…” Malachi 4:2