wfn.org | UCC - Parks-Bani says churches are vital to health education

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Parks-Bani says churches are vital to health education

> Written by Micki Carter
> June 27, 2009

No American is ready to hear that a baby born in Bangladesh has a
better chance of reaching its first birthday than a baby born in
Washington D.C., but Carolyn Parks-Bani, a community health educator
from the Centers for Disease Control said it's true.

"Infant mortality in the U.S. has been declining steadily since 1990,"
she said during her River City presentation Saturday morning. "We are
now No. 29 in the world, and African-Americans have the highest rate
in the U.S."

Parks-Bani noted that most of the chronic health issues in the U.S.
disproportionately affect populations of color, the poor and the  disadvantaged.

And, she said, the American health system often hinders rather than
heals. "We will treat a patient for heart disease and then send him
back to a church where fried chicken and sweet potato pie are all
that's served or to a wife who gets her acclamation from her skills as
a cook. She doesn't want her dish (made with less fat and salt)
sitting on the table untouched at the church social."

Parks-Bani believes that churches are the most natural vehicle for
providing health education, both "in-reach" for members and
"out-reach" for the community at large.

"We know what keeps people healthy ? hope, faith, purpose, sense of
belonging, belief in a higher power, social support, sense of
responsibility, positive self-image and human touch. These are the
natural activities of a church community. It's the place to start."