13 minute read
Health
HEALTH a combination of surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The ACS said a colonoscopy, an examination looking into abnormalities and changes in the colon through the anus, remains the most common method of detecting the disease.
COVID-19 UPDATE Globally, according to the cancer society, colon cancer ranks as the third most common type of cancer making up 10 percent of all cases. Colon Cancer Can In the wake of Boseman’s death, the cancer society issued a statebe Managed: Expert ment noting, “what most don’t know is that Chadwick Boseman sat at the intersection of where colBy James Wright (ACS). The cancer increases when orectal cancer rates are among the WI Staff Writer polyps develop on the colon and highest and rising the fastest.” @JamesDCWrighter they aren’t treated in a timely fash“He was a young man,” the stateion, the ACS says. ment said. “And he was a Black The death of famed actor ChadSigns and symptoms include man. African Americans are 20 perwick Boseman from colorectal canblood in the stool, a change in cent more likely to get colorectal cer has brought attention to the disbowel movements, weight loss and cancer and 40 percent more likely ease that hits Blacks at a higher rate feelings of constant tiredness. ACS to die from it than any other group. than other racial groups. It has no studies reveal risk factors include Black men have the highest inci5 Actor Chadwick Boseman succumbed to colon cancer in August. (WI File Photo) cure but can be successfully treated diet, obesity, smoking and lack of dence rate.” and managed, an expert said. physical activity. Dietary factors The statement noted rates of Dr. Elmer Huerta, former presicerous polyps that develop and if
Colorectal cancer or colon cancer increasing the risk of getting the colorectal cancer in younger age dent of the American Cancer Sociyou find them early, treatment can occurs when the colon or rectum, a disease include the consumption groups are rising. In 2020, the ety and director of the Can“It is my take place and the cancer will not part of the large intestine, becomes of red meat, processed meat and statement said 12 percent of colon guess that he, like many others, arspread. I recommend everyone get malignant, according to studies alcohol. cancer will be diagnosed in people en’t getting their colon examined,” a colon exam annually.” from the American Cancer Society Treatment for the disease include under 50—about 18,000 cases. he said. “You have to find the canHuerta also suggested there are cultural factors that explain why colon cancer incidence is so high Prince George’s County Will Remain at Phase Two among some groups. “At one time, it was thought to be unpolite to talk about things By William J. Ford to a more open state of business indoor entertainment and comhas the second highest coronavirus such as the colon, feces and polyps WI Staff Writer with the rest of Maryland. merce venues will remain under confirmed cases in the state, will in public,” he said. “What needs to @jabariwill With Prince George’s County continuing to lead the state of Stage Two restrictions. Although the overall rate of also continue to limit indoor and outdoor gatherings. happen is a good public relations campaign should be waged to inPrince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks Sept. 3 announced the county will not move Maryland with more than 27,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, crowds at movie theaters and other COVID 19 test results for the county remain below the 5% positive threshold for moving to phase three, about 13 of the jurisdicMontgomery County Executive Marc Elrich said during a press briefing Sept. 2 officials there will constantly review health data and form people about colon cancer and to make it clear that this is one of the preventable cancers. There are no early detection or prevention tion’s zip codes are above it. The make possible modifications in programs that are widespread. 20783 zip code of Hyattsville has terms of reopening some enter“One thing that is clear, young recorded the highest number of tainment venues. He declined to people are getting it at an increasconfirmed cases in Maryland with set a specific timeline “because ing rate. There was a time when nearly 2,900. that’s not the way to make healthdoctors would recommend you test “We are not there yet,” Alsobased decisions. for the disease at 50 but now that brooks said about reopening other “We’re making progress, but has been moved up to 45 and Mr. businesses. “We remain concerned we’re not where we need to be,” he Boseman, who was 43, serves as an about rolling back restrictions besaid. “When we are where we need example as to why people in that fore we see progress.” to be, we’ll have a great celebration age range need to be tested.” Under the current phase two of being able to reopen things in a In addition to testing, Huerta designation, Prince George’s resmore normal way.” said lifestyle plays a role in avoiding idents can still shop at grocery Gov. Larry Hogan (R) ancolon cancer. stores and deposit and retrieve nounced last week the state will “Living a healthy lifestyle can be funds at banks and gather in limmove into its third and final recova strong factor in preventing colon ited numbers to attend religious ery stage that relaxes restrictions cancer,” he said. “People should eat services. on certain activities that began more fruit, vegetables and whole County and health officials Friday, Sept. 4. grains and stay away from processed will reassess COVID-19 data in Movie theater and indoor venfood. Obesity is a trigger for colon 5 Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, right, provides a COVID-19 update during a press conference July 9 at the county’s Office of Emergency Management in Landover. (FILE: Rob Roberts/The Washington Informer) the next few weeks to determine whether to reopen fully. Montgomery County, which PHASE TWO Page 24 cancer also therefore exercise should be a part of people’s regimen.” WI
Donation to Howard University’s College of Medicine Largest in History
By Alexis McCowan Howard University News Service
On September 3, Mike Bloomberg, former New York City mayor, announced a donation of $100 million to the nation’s four historically Black medical schools: Howard University’s College of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, Morehouse School of Medicine and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science.
Howard University reported that Mike Bloomberg and Bloomberg Philanthropies are making a $32.8 million donation to the College of Medicine – the largest donation to the College in its history.
Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, president of Howard University, welcomed the gift.
“Healthcare disparities exist for a myriad of reasons related to systemic infrastructural issues, not the least of which is the dearth of Black doctors. Black doctors with cultural competency are a major part of the solution but their path is often hampered by a compromised financial situation,” Frederick said in a statement.
“This gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies is the first stone dropped into a calm lake of opportunity and promise. The ripple effects that it will have on the lives of our students and our programs will carry on for generations,” he continued.
The dean of Howard University’s College of Medicine, Dr. Hugh Mighty, said reducing loan debt will allow students to look more widely at opportunities they may have ignored before, which include working in impoverished communities.
He said Black communities across the country have less access to quality healthcare, affecting them disproportionately with different illnesses.
“Students choose to go into professions where they can pay their debt back quickly. But now with debt being reduced they may look to choose a specialty that is more beneficial to the community,” he said.
According to Howard, the College of Medicine will determine the eligibility of the students currently enrolled and receiving financial aid for scholarships up to $100,000. Students currently in years two, three or four of medical school will receive retro-active scholarships, meaning that they can receive up to $100,000 in support regardless of whether they are graduating in 2021, 2022 or 2023.
Mighty said Bloomberg’s financial gift will open a door for Black physicians to go into predominantly Black communities where they can both serve and create a healthier community.
Bloomberg’s goal is to improve the health and wellness of Black communities during the pandemic. The donation will help increase the number of Black doctors in the U.S. by reducing the debt burden of approximately 800 medical students.
A Stanford University study paired Black men in Oakland with either Black or non-Black doctors. Men seen by Black physicians appeared more likely to engage with them and be advised for preventive services including screenings and immunizations.
The study also said Black physicians wrote more detailed notes about their Black patients in comparison to white physicians. One
5 Mike Bloomberg and Bloomberg Philanthropies are making a $32.8 million donation to the College of Medicine. The gift serves as the largest donation to the College of Medicine in its history. (Courtesy photo) step to reduce the distrust that Black communities have with the healthcare system is building a more diverse workforce.
Based on the latest data, white doctors make up 56 percent of the physician workforce with Asian doctors at 17 percent. Just under 6 percent are Hispanic doctors. Only 5 percent are Black doctors.
Dr. Marjorie Innocent serves as
senior director of health programs for the NAACP. She said in order to optimize the health and wellbeing of African Americans, people must invest in the training of Black doctors.
“Medical training needs to be improved so that they are actually trained and ready to provide care to African Americans and others,” Innocent said. WI
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over 6,000 required medical treatment for their injuries and property and infrastructure damage totaled at least $10 billion. As for firefighters and law enforcement officials, 9/11 has become the deadliest incident in U.S. history, with 343 and 72 killed, respectively.
I was directed to take the train, along with a photographer, from our offices in Oak Park to downtown Chicago. No one really knew what was going on yet and many speculated that similar attacks might occur in other major U.S. cities. We were there to confirm or deny such speculations.
The trains were empty as people were racing to get as far away from the skyscrapers and swarms of other people to the supposedly safer suburbs.
I wish I could say that I was attentive to my assignment. I wish I could say that I was eagerly pursuing interviews with folks as they scrambled out of the ominously tall towers of downtown Chicago, fought for cabs and pushed their way onto the platforms for the “L.” But it wouldn’t be true.
I moved in a fashion more akin to a robot that day – like being in a trance – my movements hampered like one trapped in suspended animation. Phones were PHASE TWO from Page 22 ues can open at 50 percent, or up to 100 people. Outdoor performance venues are also at 50 percent, but with a limit of 250 people that can attend.
In addition, retail businesses and places of worship can extend from 50 percent capacity to 75 percent capacity.
Hogan’s plan released in April called “Maryland Strong: Roadmap to Recovery,” said the third phase that would require a “FDA-approved vaccine or safe and effective therapeutics.”
At a press conference Sept. 1 in Annapolis, Hogan said, “things have changed since then.”
Officials in the majority of Maryland’s jurisdictions have decided to enter the final stage of the recovery plan. That can be viewed at https://bit.ly/3jPwD0R. inoperable for most of the morning as the circuits and cell towers were overloaded as millions of Americans tried to contact their loved ones to make sure they were safe.
It took me most of the day before I was able to reach my exwife and be reassured that our children, then just 11 and 7 years of age, were okay back home in Detroit. – the city from which I had moved after our divorce,
Ernest Carter, chief health officer for Prince George’s, explained some of the metrics the county used in its decision included the county averaging nearly 1,000 new cases weekly since the Fourth of July. That figure decreased the last week of August to an average of about 700 new cases.
Carter said one out of every four of those in the state diagnosed with the coronavirus have been Prince George’s residents.
He continued to stress residents should wear face coverings or masks in public and maintain social distancing of six feet from other people. He added that residents should not be discouraged that other jurisdictions are relaxing restrictions before Prince George’s County.
“Don’t host large parties. Don’t attend large parties,” Carter said. “I know how disappointing it can
hoping to make a fresh start on my own in Chi-town.
I had never felt such fear or anxiety like what I experienced on 9/11 – waiting to hear, wanting to hear, needing to hear. Finally, when I heard the voices of my little girl and my little boy, all was right again – at least in my very small world.
Others would not receive such good news.
And so it was. WI be to hear some of our neighbors are reopening more quickly than we are,” he added, cautioning that the county shouldn’t “take a backwards trend.”
Meanwhile, childcare providers in Prince George’s that remain closed or reopened after July 30 due to the coronavirus pandemic can apply for grants. Some of the money would go toward personal protective equipment, payroll, supplies, rent and other operating costs.
Licensed centers can apply for up to $$20,000 and those registered as a home center can request up to $3,000.
The county will allocate $2 million from the federal CARES Act to provide the funding.
Eligibility requirements can be reviewed at https://www.pgcedc. com/covid-child-care-recovery.
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