[Durham INC] County Invites Citizens to Join the Care-A-Van of Health

[RW Pickle]

Press Release from Durham County.
RWP
27 Beverly

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For Immediate Release
Dawn Dudley                                                               
       Phone: 560-0008
 E-mail: ddudley at co.durham.nc.us

Durham County Invites Citizens to Join the Care-A-Van of Health

Durham, N.C. – January kicked off Durham County Public Health’s Care-A-Van
of Health, a three-month diabetes awareness and prevention campaign.  A
Care-a-Van of Health includes a series of community-based courses to
educate Durham’s citizens on the importance of fitness and healthy eating
to prevent diabetes.

“Diabetes is a serious disease, but many times, related complications are
preventable,” said Willa Robinson Allen, a program manager for Durham
County Public Health.  “Knowing the warning signs, maintaining a healthy
diet, weight management and staying active are all ways to prevent
complications from diabetes and other chronic conditions.”

Diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death in Durham.  Created in
response to the rise in diabetes in Durham, Public Health’s Care-A-Van of
Health provides awareness, promotes the importance of early detection and
identifies resources to encourage Durham residents to take diabetes
seriously.  Diabetes awareness can help citizens to avoid major
complications such as kidney failure and amputations.

Care-A-Van of Health was created in November 2008 through Project Direct,
the largest community-based intervention for diabetes ever funded to date,
grant funding.   In collaboration with CAARE, Inc., Union Baptist Church,
Orange Grove Baptist Church and Southside Church of Christ, Durham County
Public Health has created the following classes for citizens interested in
diabetes prevention:

Fitness Leader Training held on Saturday, February 21 at Union Baptist
Church, located at 904 N. Roxboro Street in Durham.  Participants will
learn how to lead exercise classes at their respective churches.

Spice of Life Cooking Demonstration held on Saturday, February 28 at
Orange Grove Missionary Baptist Church, located at 505 East End Avenue in
Durham.  Participants will learn about seasoning with herbs and spices to
reduce the use of salt and how to prepare healthy meals.

The Care-A-Van of Health will end in March with a diabetes forum.

For more information about classes offered by the Care-A-Van of Health,
contact Jannah Bierens, public health educator for Durham County Public
Health, at 919-560-7767 or via email at jbierens at ph.co.durham.nc.us. 
Visit http://careavanofhealth.tripod.com for more information about
Care-A-Van of Health.