Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Beta Zeta Chapter
On Wednesday June 20th, 2007, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Beta Zeta chapter sponsored a Diabetes Awareness Program at a DC Public Library located in SW DC. The program was hosted by Ndidi N Amutah, MPH, along with Dierdre Perry-Patterson, both co-chairs for the ZHOPE Women’s committee program, one of Zeta’s signature initiatives.
ZHOPE stands for Zetas Helping Other People Excel, and has three focuses- mind, body, and spirit. Given the focus areas of ZHOPE and the goal of the sororscaring initiative to educate women on diabetes, Beta Zeta felt these programs dovetailed nicely.
The Diabetes Awareness program was led by Naeemah Raqib, a nutritionist who works for the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Project. The program consisted of a lecture by Raqib on the etiology of diabetes, how to eat healthy, things a diabetic should know, and concluded with a question and answer session, giving the audience an opportunity to find out more information on diabetes. Beta Zeta chapter provided materials from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), to the participants to take home and share with their families. National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) tip sheets (More than 50 ways to prevent type 2 diabetes) were also provided to participants.
Members of Beta Zeta chapter were on hand to assist the participants in developing plans to improve eating and exercise habits and invited participants to stay for healthy snacks and conversation. The program was well attended and highly successful. The community benefited from this informative and timely program, and Beta Zeta chapter, in line with the goals of the sororscaring initiative will continue to lead the way in diabetes and women’s health programs in the Washington DC community.
For more information on this event please contact:
Ndidi N Amutah, MPH
namutah@hrsa.gov
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