The Association of Black Cardiologists, Inc (ABC), in close collaboration with African American churches and community leaders, is hosting The Importance of Our Survival: Taking Steps Toward Better Health, a 3-part health initiative designed to decrease heart disease, eliminate stroke, and bring about a greater awareness of health risk factors. The programs will take place in 8 cities over the next 6 months: Nashville, Tenn; Detroit, Mich, Baltimore, Md; Houston, Tex; Charlotte, NC; Oakland, Calif, St. Louis, Mo; and Birmingham, Ala.

The initiatives begin on a Friday with a Community Leadership Forum, in which medical professionals and educators will meet with leaders in the fields of education, religion, and community development to focus attention on eliminating premature death by stroke and cardiovascular disease. The ABC is taking a grass-roots approach by encouraging participants to become health advocates in their communities. Super Saturday, the second part of the health initiative, is a health extravaganza comprised of physician and lay educational presentations, interactive discussions, health screenings, and refreshments. The lay educational sessions will cover topics including cholesterol, smoking, access to health care, exercise, and diet/cooking. The physician educational session will focus on “Optimizing Lipid Management in Patients with Multiple Risk Factors,” among them dyslipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes. The third event is the Service visits, which entail the delivery of a mini-sermon by an ABC physician to various church congregations.

“We are all of one accord, and in complete support of each other in helping the African-American community obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to live longer, healthier lives,” says Dr. B. Waine Kong, chief executive officer of the ABC. “This is an important effort in our community,” he says. “If we are effective, thousands will become more productive, have a better quality of life, and strengthen their ties with family members. There is nothing more important than that.”

Stroke and cardiovascular disease are the leading causes of death in the African American community. Cardio­vascular disease claims the lives of more than 100 000 African Americans each year.

Taking Steps Toward Better Health is part of the ongoing efforts of the ABC to eliminate disparities of heart disease among African Americans and is open to anyone. The program is being underwritten by the pharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca. For more information on this program, contact the ABC at www.abcardio.org.