Explanation
Title
To honor and congratulate the Central Ohio Diabetes Association's Call-To-Action Interest Group for hosting the 1st Annual Black Tie and Tennis Shoe Gala on the 21st day of October, 2006.
Body
WHEREAS, On May 9, 2003, the Central Ohio Diabetes Association sponsored the Diabetes Call-To-Action Breakfast and hosted more than 220 community members concerned about the problem of diabetes in the African-American community; and
WHEREAS, Columbus' African-American population has alarmingly high rates of mortality due to diabetes, particularly among Central Ohio black men where the death rate due to diabetes complications is three and a half times the national average; and
WHEREAS, The Diabetes Association's Call-To-Action Interest Group was created after the breakfast some 3 years ago and they have taken their charge seriously by moving beyond a discussion of the problem and taking action to help eliminate health disparities in our community; and
WHEREAS, The Near East Healthy Lifestyle Center is one of several solutions-based products resulting from the initiatives of the Central Ohio Diabetes Association's Call-To-Action Interest Group; and
WHEREAS, The Center has two major outreach components that include education and lifestyle modification. The goal is to assist members of families at high risk for developing diabetes to adopt behaviors that will help them prevent the disease such as increased physical activity and healthy diet; and
WHEREAS There is good evidence that counseling interventions have resulted in medium changes to average daily intake of fat, fiber, fruits and vegetables among people at high risk for certain chronic diseases (Pignone et al, 2003) the US National Institutes of Health Review found that modest counseling was associated with some weight loss (5 to 10lbs), which, in turn, was related to improved blood pressure levels, glycemic control and serum lipids levels; and
WHEREAS, the Central Ohio Diabetes Association has responded to the health needs of diverse individuals by opening the Near East Healthy Lifestyle Center in a neighborhood that is disproportionately impacted by diabetes; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby honor and congratulate the Central Ohio Diabetes Association's Call-To-Action Interest Group for all of their hard work and leadership in helping to eliminate health disparities for racial and ethnic minorities.