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	Publisher's Greeting

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Health Screenings and Powwow powwow

By Angel Talawyma

The University of Kansas Medical Center American Indian Health Research and Education Alliance (AIHREA) will be hosting the 4th Annual Health Fair and Powwow on Saturday, May 1, 2010. The event will be held at Johnson County Community College in the GYM Field House, 12345 College Blvd., Overland Park, KS 66210. Doors open at 10:00 a.m. and the event will go until 10:00 p.m.

The Health Fair and Powwow will feature arts, crafts and food vendors. This educational and cultural event will benefit hundreds of American Indian and non-Native people in the Kansas City area and northeast Kansas.
powwow1

AIHREA is committed to addressing health disparities currently facing American Indian people and their communities. AIHREA seeks to collaborate and partner with American Indian peoples, nations, communities, and organizations to improve the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of American Indians throughout the United States through quality participatory research and educational programs.

The Health Fair and Powwow is one example of outreach intertwining health and wellness, education and culture. Last year an estimated 1,200 people attended the powwow and 250 participated in the free health screenings.

From September 2008 to May 2009, AIHREA provided health screenings for nearly 1,800 people (powwow included). The numbers of people who have participated in the health screenings and who have attended the powwows have increased over the past few years. The powwow provides a fun and meaningful experience for attendees as well, and allows for non-Native spectators to gain insight on American Indian culture.

Free health screenings and health education will be provided for the following topics:

Body Mass Index (BMI)
Body fat percentage and waist circumference
Blood cholesterol
Blood glucose or “sugar”
Hemoglobin (Hb) A1C for diabetes mellitus management
Blood pressure
Lung function test
Alzheimer’s Disease assessment
Cancer risk assessment
Heart disease risk assessment
Referrals to free medical care

If you would like more information on the 4th Annual Health Fair and Powwow, you can contact Angel Talawyma at 913-588-2654 or atalawyma@kumc.edu. Arts, crafts and food vendors may contact Ed Smith at 913-469-8500 ext 4570 or esmith@jccc.edu.

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