The Roanoke Chapter of The Links, Inc. sponsored its 3rd Annual Red Dress Day Luncheon on Feb. 24 at Sweet Union Baptist Church. The event is held to increase women’s awareness and knowledge about cardiovascular health and diabetes.
Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States and is more prevalent among African-American women than white women—as are some of the factors that increase the risk of developing it, including high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes. For African-American women, the risk of developing diabetes is great, affecting one in four women age 55 and older.
Dr. Karanita Ojomo, a radiation oncology specialist in Pulaski, VA and a member of the Links’ Roanoke chapter, gave a comprehensive presentation on heart health at the Red Dress luncheon. Roanoke chapter member Maureen House, R.N., a case manager at HCA Lewis Gale Medical Center and a certified diabetes educator, shared a wealth of information about the types, causes, symptoms and treatment of diabetes.
With education and action, as that provided at the Red Dress luncheon, cardiac and stroke events may be prevented. In addition, diabetes education is essential to diabetes management as the disease requires day-to-day knowledge of nutrition, exercise, monitoring and medication.
“This has been a very important event for women in our community.” Stated local President Connie Steele, who thanked WomenHeart, and the gracious in-kind sponsorship of Sweet Union Baptist Church,” Roanoke is one of 285 chapters of The Links, Inc. one of the oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of women who are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry.
Dr. Jennifer Alston is vice president; Local Chapter President is Connie Steele.
