International

PETWORTH PRINTING

Your Quality Printers

301 Kennedy Street, NW n Washington, DC 202-291-6565 PRINTING & DESIGN

Color / Black & White Printing

n Booklets n Brochures n Business Cards n Banners n Canvas Bags n Color Copies n Contracts & Vouchers n Church Fans n Fax & Scan n Programs n Postcards n Promotional Products n Posters & Signs n Tithe Envelopes n Tickets & Flyers n T-Shirts n Mugs & Glassware n Notary

10% OFF

BOOKLETS AND T-SHIRTS

*NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY*

SEE OUR ONLINE STORE: www.QualityPrintersDC.com

Traditional Help Buttons

At Home In the Car On a Walk On Vacation At the Park Shopping

A Help Button Should Go Where You Go!

To be truly independent your personal emergency device needs to work on the go.

Order Now & Receive a FREE Lockbox! 1-800-681-0667

Service availability and access/coverage on the AT&T network is not available everywhere and at all times. Current GPS location may not always be available in every situation.

Satellite Internet That is Unlimited With No Hard Data Limits!2

25 Mbps Download Speed

25mbps download and 3mbps upload1 No Hard Data Limits2 Wi-Fi Built-In

Connect your wireless devices at home

Call For Special O ers In Your Area

Pricing varies by region

CALL TODAY - LIMITED SPECIAL OFFERS IN YOUR AREA! 1-855-973-9254

HughesNet is a registered trademark of Hughes Network Systems, LLC, an EchoStar Company. 2 If you exceed your monthly plan data, you will experience reduced data speeds until the start of your next billing period. Reduced speeds will typically be in the range of 1 – 3 Mbps and may cause Web sites to load more slowly or a ect the performance of certain activities, such as video streaming or large downloads/uploads. africa now COMPILED BY OSWALD T. BROWN

Summit Embraces Ending Political Violence in Central African Republic

The end of the arms embargo on the government of the Central African Republic (CAR) may be one of the keys to resolving the conflict in the country – a conclusion drawn at the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, which met Friday, Jan. 29, in Luanda.

Angolan President João Lourenço presided over the summit, which reiterated the regional support by neighboring countries for President Faustin-Archange Touadé, re-elected on Dec. 27, a vote contested by armed rebel groups.

Lourenço, the president of the International Conference of the Great Lakes, pushed for a peaceful transition of power. "We cannot passively watch the unacceptable situation in that country, whose legitimate government is inexplicably and unjustly conditioned by UN Security Council Resolution 2536 of 2020 with regard to its essential function of ensuring the security and

protection of populations," Lourenço said.

According to Euronews correspondent in Angola, Neusa Silva, the heads of state at the conference called on all parties involved to resolve their differences peacefully and to express their opposition without violence.

The government officials also called on the rebel groups to observe a unilateral ceasefire, retreat from their positions and put an end to the siege of the capital, Bangui as they condemned the violence.

The resounding call for justice was echoed throughout the international conference.

The presidents of member states of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region will meet again Feb. 8 to review developments and consider solutions for ending conflicts in the CAR.

Meanwhile, to prevent the spread of COVID-19, UN Peacekeeping personnel are required to adhere to government-mandated safety measures and guidelines. WI

caribbean now

Cuba Ready to Talk With United States, Ambassador Says

The Cuban government is ready for dialogue and discussion with the new United States administration led by President Joe Biden, the Spanish-speaking island's senior envoy in Jamaica has said, the Jamaica Observer reported on January 31.

“We are talking about our sovereignty, and our independence, but if the new U.S. administration is ready to talk, we are ready,” stated Cuba's Ambassador to Jamaica Ines Fors Fernandez, in an interview with the Jamaica Observer.

“A fluent relationship between Cuba and the United States favors not only Cuba, but also the US. During the Obama Administration we signed more than 20 agreements or memorandum of understanding in several areas including health, agriculture, environment, so it gives you an idea of cooperation. A dialogue with Cuba and the United States is possible, but there should be no interference with Cuban principles,” the ambassador suggested.

Cuba and the U.S. have been at odds since the Cuban Revolution led by Fidel Castro and the overthrow of fascist dictator Fulgencio Batista, then-president of Cuba. WI

Heart Disease in the Black Community – and How You can Take Steps Toward Heart Health

By: Dr. Ruth Tamrat, a cardiologist at Kaiser Permanente and subject matter expert for the American Heart Association

Heart disease kills nearly 50,000 Black women annually, yet only 1 in 5 Black women believes she is personally at risk. The statistics on diabetes are also startling: 1 in 4 Black women 55 years and older have diabetes.

The harsh reality is that biological, socioeconomic, and psychosocial risk factors account for much of this disparity. In fact, an American Heart Association study showed an association between experiencing discrimination over a lifetime and developing high blood pressure, a leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Additionally, high blood pressure and heart disease place many Black Americans at a higher risk of death or serious illness from COVID-19.

While there are many factors outside of your control, there is reason to be hopeful when it comes to protecting your heart. Most heart attacks and strokes are preventable. For Heart Month this February, I urge you to take these steps toward a healthier heart.

WATCH FOR SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

While we usually think of chest tightness, shortness of breath, left arm pain, and jaw or neck pain as the symptoms of a heart attack, some women having a heart attack will not have these typical symptoms. Instead, women may experience pain in their abdomen or upper back, or symptoms like indigestion, fainting, nausea or cold sweats. Listen to your body and seek medical attention if you experience any of these symptoms.

EAT A HEART HEALTHY DIET

We all know that what we eat affects our health, particularly our heart health. Consistently eating nutrient-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean poultry and fish will go a long way toward protecting your heart. Limit foods high in saturated fats, sodium, and sugar, like processed snacks, fast food, soda and sports drinks. Being aware and keeping track of what you eat daily is a great first step toward modifying your diet. If you’re thinking about trying to lose weight, talk to your doctor about establishing a sensible plan that will work for you.

GET MOVING

Regular aerobic activity is vital to your cardiovascular health. The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes per week – or about 30 minutes, five days per week. Not sure where to start? Try taking a brisk walk with a friend, dancing around your living room, or even cleaning your home to get your heart pumping and make a significant difference in reducing your risk of heart disease. Think about how much sitting you do throughout the day and try to remind yourself to take a movement break and do what you can to get a little bit of exercise. Even small chunks, broken up throughout the day, will have an impact.

VISIT YOUR PHYSICIAN REGULARLY AND KNOW YOUR NUMBERS

Ask your primary care doctor to help you track your blood pressure, sugar levels, and cholesterol. These are some of the best indicators to determine whether you may be at risk for a heart attack or stroke. If you have been prescribed medication to control these factors, make sure that you are taking it regularly. Even if you’re healthy now, let your doctor know if you have a family history of heart disease. Your doctor is your partner in preventing and managing heart disease.

Don’t delay routine care during the pandemic. If you don’t feel comfortable visiting the doctor’s office, consider a virtual appointment.

DON’T SMOKE

If you do smoke, consider reaching out to health care provider to help you quit. Smoking is a major risk factor for both heart attack and stroke. There are some very useful programs, tools, and medications that can help you quit smoking. Talk to a medical professional about what resources might be available to help you get started on the cessation journey. Even if you have been a smoker for many years, it’s never too late to start reversing the damage and getting healthy.

FINAL THOUGHTS

With the right support network, we can all lead healthier lives and reduce our risk of heart attack and stroke. Making a few small changes in what we eat or how much we move can have a dramatic impact on our overall health. Let’s use what we know to strengthen ourselves and our communities so that we can enjoy long, happy, healthy lives with our loved ones.

The American Heart Association wants to empower women to protect their heart health by knowing your heart disease risk factors and making healthy lifestyle choices. To get involved in Go Red for Women and learn more about women’s heart health, visit DCGoRed.Heart.Org.

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/ GreaterWashingtonAHA

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/HeartOfGWR

Insta:

https://www.instagram.com/ heartofgwr/

GORED FOR WOMEN

CAMPAIGN

GREATER WASHINGTON

DCGoRed.heart.org

The American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, is excited to announce its first DC Go Red for Women campaign chair.

Ruth Williams-Brinkley Regional President Kaiser Permanente

Williams-Brinkley will lead the 2021 efforts for Go Red, which encourages women to take charge of their heart health and combat the No. 1 and No. 5 killers of American women, heart disease and stroke.

To get involved and for more information, please contact Heidi.Arnold@heart.org or visit DCGoRed.heart.org.

Go Red for Women is nationally sponsored by Lead Local Sponsor