The Southern California Physician, January, 2002

AAHI Receives $100,000 Federal Grant

By Lisa Perry-Gilkes, AAHI Director and Elizabeth Coleman Dowdy, Hypertension Subcommittee Chair

It is a great pleasure to announce that the African American Health Initiative (AAHI) has received a $100,000 grant from the Office of Minority Health. The two-year grant ($50,000 a year) will allow the AAHI to hire a part-time project coordinator and fund its hypertension and HIV projects. The Office of Minority Health operates under the Department of Health and Human Services.

In order to address the major health concerns of heart disease, stroke and HIV, AAHI will focus on "leading health indicators" that illuminate individual behaviors, physical and social environmental factors, and important health system issues that greatly affect San Bernardino County. All of the activities planned (education and presentations by physicians and nurses, screening services, materials and resource information) will focus on these issues in a method that is clear, understandable, and relevant to the African American culture. This project focuses on fully utilizing and strengthening existing resources through collaboration, and expanding prevention and intervention strategies by focusing on community-based sites such as the faith community, local businesses, and community-based organizations.

The largest geographic county in the nation, San Bernardino County has a total population of nearly 1.7 million. African Americans make up 8 percent, which translates to 136,000 residents. In San Bernardino County, heart disease is the leading cause of death among African Americans and the HIV rates among African Americans in the county have increased dramatically since the first case in 1983. These two health problems pose a major health threat to the local community and they are preventable. In addition to the communities being underserved, many of the residents are in poor health and lack insurance.

AAHI is a comprehensive community health collaborative aimed at reducing and eliminating health risks and improving overall health quality among the African American population in San Bernardino County. AAHI is a partnership of the San Bernardino County Medical Society, the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health, Inland Wellness Information Network and over 30 community based organizations and individuals in San Bernardino County. Our partnership was conceived in 1999 to address the health risks of African Americans in San Bernardino County.

AAHI's long-term goal is to reduce the incidence of heart disease, stroke and hypertension among African Americans in San Bernardino County. AAHI sponsored two community walks this year to emphasize the importance of exercise in the battle against hypertension. We are also working on plans to hold the second annual "Walk the Dream" on Saturday, January 12, 2002.

AAHI is committed to reducing the incidence of HIV/AIDS in San Bernardino County's African American community and improving access for those who know their HIV status but are not receiving treatment.

I believe that the AAHI was selected by the Office of Minority Health to receive the grant because of the collaboration that went into the proposal. The grant will allow the AAHI to really reach into the targeted communities and be effective.

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