Claire Mayeux

National HIV Testing Day

According the CDC “Ever 9 1/2 minutes someone in the United States is infected with HIV,” and according to AVERT “In 2007, the highest rates of new AIDS diagnoses were in Miami (33.1 per 100,000 people), New Orleans (31.5), Baton Rouge (31.4) and Washington (30.5)”

So what can you do?

June 27th is National HIV Testing Day so take advantage of the testing opportunities taking place around you and learn the facts about HIV.

The list of local testing sites can be found below, or you can find information for other cities by visiting this site.

Who: EXCELth, Inc. HIV Prevention Program
What: Free Rapid HIV Testing
When: June 27, 2009, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Where: Dillard University w/ The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, 2601 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70122
Info: Free Rapid HIV testing, incentives. Contact: Barbara A. Peters, 504-524-1210, bpeters@excelth.com.

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Who: NO/AIDS Task Force – Community Awareness Network
What: Free Rapid HIV Testing
When: June 27, 2009, 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Where: 7800 Earhart Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70125
Info: Free HIV Testing with free food. Contact: Allison Vertovec, 504-821-2601 ext. 257, allisonv@noaidstf.org.

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Who: NO/AIDS Task Force – Community Awareness Network
What: Free Rapid HIV Testing
When: June 27, 2009, 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Where: 507 Frenchmen St., New Orleans, LA 70116
Info: Free, confidential, Rapid, HIV Antibody screening tests. Contact: Allison Vertovec, 504-821-2601, allisonv@noaidstf.org.

Get a Healthy Start

The city of New Orleans has been chosen as one of the 100 sites for the Healthy Start Program.

According to The Gambit’s Blog of New Orleans, “Healthy Start is a federally-funded initiative that was introduced in 1991 to lower the alarmingly high rate of infant mortality in the United States by addressing the disparity in prenatal care afforded women at different economic levels.”

Take the time to learn more about this great initiative providing prenatal and postnatal care to the women and children of our city.

How Healthy is Your Home?

In an effort to improve the health of Americans, acting Surgeon General, Steven K. Glason, issued The Surgeon General’s Call to Action To Promote Healthy Homes.

The Call to Action places emphasis that “Good health begins at home.” Not only does it include tips on preventing injuries and diseases, the document also urges homebuilders and community leaders to do their part to ensure healthy and affordable homes are available to the public.

Visit the CDC for a user-friendly guide on how to improve the health of your home one room at a time.

Get Your ZZZ’s

In a long list of health observances, May brings you “Better Sleep Month.”

This awareness comes at a perfect time; as the days get longer and hotter, and people make time for well-deserved rest and relaxation.

Getting the right amount of sleep is just as important as a healthy diet and exercise. However, factors like stress and sleep illnesses can interrupt a satisfactory night’s rest.

Visit The Better Sleep Council to learn interesting sleep statistics, common sleep problems and to discover the interesting history of our wonderful friend, The Bed.

Where Circle Bar and Medical History Meet

A recent inquiry to Blake Pontchartrain, New Orleans Know-It-All, revealed a very interesting link between New Orleans and Medical History.

According to Blake, “The last house standing at 1032 St. Charles Avenue. . . was once the office of Dr. Elizabeth Cohen, the first woman to practice medicine in New Orleans.”

The historic building now serves as Circle Bar.

Dr. Cohen was not only the first woman to practice medicine in New Orleans, but also the first female physician licensed to practice medicine in Louisiana.

The life of Dr. Elizabeth Magnus Cohen is one with many challenges and triumphs that not only impacted the history of New Orleans, but the role of women in medicine as well.

Think Before You Drink

April is indeed a busy month, adding?é?áAlcohol Awareness Month?é?áto the list?é?áof health observences.

Drinking one glass of wine per day has been clinically proven to provide health benefits. But what are the risks of drinking more than one glass on the weekend?

Brush up on facts about alcohol to help keep you and your loved ones safe.

Also, learn where Louisiana stands in drunk driving statistics.

April is National Donate Life Month

Did you know. . .
?óÔé¼?ó More than 98, 000 people are in need of an organ for transplant.
?óÔé¼?ó In 2007, nationally, 52,869 people were added to the organ waiting list. 905 of these cases were in Louisiana.
?óÔé¼?ó One organ donor has the power to save up to nine lives.

More interesting statistics are available.

Organ donation and procurement can be a confusing and overhwhelming topic so take a minute and learn the facts. The best way to raise awareness about organ donation is to talk about it with others.

Louisiana hospitals are setting a great example by jumping on board to increase Louisiana?óÔé¼Ôäós donor registry by the end of 2009.

Join Louisiana in making an effort to save a life! It’s easy.