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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (May 2, 2012)
Health Seattle Kidney Health Fest for African American families O n Saturday, June 2, Northwest Kidney Centers holds its 10th annual Kidney Health Fest for African American Families, featuring free health screenings, entertainment and healthy food samples made by local celebrity chefs. The free event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Van Asselt Elementary (formerly the African American Academy), 8311 Beacon Ave. S., in Seattle. This year’s theme is “Cel- ebrating 10 years toward kidney wellness: Mind, body and soul.” Participants can receive a free kidney health screening and private consultation with a doctor about the results. Diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity all contribute to the current epidemic of kidney disease, which can affect African Americans and other minority groups more than Caucasians. The morning includes a health education program hosted Disease prevention and treatment are the goals by Ron Sims, former King County executive and former deputy secretary, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Seattle celebrity chefs will serve a free tasting menu at lunch time, and the day also includes entertainment, music, exhibits, fitness demonstrations, an obstacle course and a chance to win prizes. As the mission of Northwest Kidney Centers includes community outreach, co-host churches include Damascus Baptist, First AME, Freedom Church of Seattle, Goodwill Missionary Baptist, Immaculate Conception, Liberation Ministries, Mt. Zion Baptist, New Beginnings Christian Fellowship, New Hope Missionary Baptist, Pentecostal Covenant Church, Southside Church of Christ, St. Mary’s, Tabernacle Missionary Baptist and Walker Chapel AME. Everyone is welcome to attend the Fest, which is com- pletely free! In the health screenings, Northwest Kidney Centers will provide three simple tests to assess a participant’s risk of kidney disease: Blood pressure check • Test for protein in a urine sample • Test for creatinine in a blood sample Washington Oral Health Foundation and Medical Teams International will do free dental screening and treatment for adults at the Fest. (Children will be referred to the free den- tal program that is operated out of the Boys & Girls Club.) Free mammograms and women’s health exams will be provided by African Americans Reach and Teach Health Ministry, the YWCA and Swedish Mobile Mammography. “Do your friends and family a favor, and bring them with you to the Fest,” said Dr. Bessie Young, a Seattle kidney specialist who has chaired the community organizing com- mittee since the Fest began. “We’ll have opportunities to learn and have fun for people of all ages. Kidney disease runs in families, but you can take action to make sure your family stays healthy.” One in seven American adults has kidney disease. In the African American community, the number increases four- fold. Although African Americans make up 12 percent of the U.S. population, 35 percent of individuals with kidney failure are African American. In addition, African American men are 10 to 14 times more likely to develop kidney fail- ure due to high blood pressure than Caucasian men in the same age group. Participants in the Kidney Health Fest will learn how to improve their lives to avoid kidney disease. This includes: • Treating high blood pressure and diabetes, two of the leading causes of kidney failure. • Reducing added salt and processed, packaged and fast food. • Eating healthy to avoid obesity. • Exercising at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week. • Naproxen, which can damage kidneys. For more information about the event, visit www.nwkid- ney.org/fest Page 8 The Portland and Seattle Skanner May 2, 2012
