Governor Rod R. Blagojevich and the Illinois Department of Human Services recently announced the launch of the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program. It is the first outreach initiative of its kind to exclusively address diabetes and health care dispar
The state is teaming up with the Diabetic Amputation Prevention Foundation and the National Basketball Retired Players Association. In addition, IDHS provided trained staff to more than 25 local Black-owned barbershops across the city to offer free blood pressure and diabetes screenings to African American men.
According to DAP, 40 percent of African American men die prematurely from cardiovascular disease as compared to 21 percent of white men. In Illinois, more than 25 percent of all diabetes cases are among non-Hispanic Blacks. Overall, Black men suffer far worse health conditions than any other racial group in America, according to IDHS. Contributing factors to this include: poverty; a lack of affordable health services; lack of health insurance; poor health education, and other cultural barriers.
“The Black Barbershop has traditionally been a place where Black men from all segments of society could come together to talk about life, family, relationships and now I am hoping we can start talking about our health,” said Donte Kelly, in a written statement issued by the governor’s office. Kelly is the Black Barbershop Outreach Coordinator. For more information go to www.blackbarbershop.org.
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