Health an early priority for NCP Woodlawn

• Amadi Jordan-Walker
• October 16, 2007

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Newly formed lead agency NCP Woodlawn has gotten busy quickly, forming several committees to address priority issues.

The physical and mental health of Woodlawn residents has been high on that list – and the Health and Human Services Committee, led by Woodlawn residents Annie Pope and Joyce Nimocks, has spearheaded an ambitious agenda.

Retired from their professional careers, the two passionate leaders recognized a growing need in the Woodlawn community for health education and advocacy.

Nimocks explained that their goal is to “carve out a nice niche in NCP to promote good health.” Pope, chair of the committee, added, “I think the challenge is there is such a broad gap between health outcomes between blacks and whites.”

The committee hopes to close this gap by providing regular educational programs and health services that address heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, asthma, and mental health diseases.

First on the agenda is a comprehensive 10-week course for women, titled “Life Smart,” which will take place on Saturday mornings through January 5. This program will include workshops on nutrition, physical activity, aging well, sexual health, and emotional well-being. Pope says that these workshops will be “educational and interactive,” and will be open to adult women ages 18 and up. For the schedule, topics and location, click here.

They also plan to provide education and screening for kidney disease, diabetes, and hypertension. Pope has been in talks with the American Kidney Fund, which does screening targeted specifically to minorities. That’s “very valuable,” says Pope. The normally expensive test provides an extensive assessment of health indicators as well as a detailed explanation of the results.

Pope helped bring the screening to her church last year, and heard from many of the participants that, for the first time, they could distinguish between what is normal and what wasn’t when reviewing their test results. The committee believes this type of information is something all Woodlawn residents should receive.

The Health and Human Services Committee also hopes to provide asthma screenings and educational seminars. Nimocks believes reaching out to the community about this potentially deadly disease is important because despite its prevalence in Chicago , it remains a neglected issue.

Hoping to reach out to people of all ages, including the elderly, Pope and Nimocks have solicited the help of Carol Phillips, a senior housing manager at The Woodlawn Organization, as well as a member of the NCP Woodlawn board.

Phillips stressed a special need to inform this often neglected and vulnerable age group about their health options and responsibilities. “Seniors go to the doctor and don’t ask the right questions. We need to educate them,” she said.

While Nimocks and Pope are aware of their limitations, they believe they have developed a solid plan to lead the way toward a healthier community. Committee members hope to produce literature on health issues, as well as keep the community informed through the NCP Woodlawn website.

Nimocks summed up the importance of this initiative: “You cannot have a good community if people are not healthy. We want to leave a legacy and help people take care of themselves.”

For more information on the Life Smart for Women Health Program, contact Warren Beard at 773-256-2900. Classes will be held every Saturday from 10:00-11:30 a.m. at 6250 S Park Shore East Ct., starting October 20, 2007.

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