ASH OUTREACH PROGRAM TRAVELS TO MONTSERRAT FOR ITS NEXT COMMUNITY OUTREACH!

Blog from Gilda Caputo-Hansen, Director of the ASH Hypertension Community Outreach Services

Dr. Icilma Fergus-Rowe ,  MD,  Nancy Thomas, (both from Mount Sinai Medical Center), and I will travel to the Island Of Montserrat, on August 27, 2011 – for Blood Pressure without Borders.  As guests of the Minister of Health, Colin Riley and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Michael Owens, our mission is to raise awareness of Hypertension and other cardiovascular related diseases as we visit the residents of the Island. 

In 1995, and again in 2010, the people of Montserrat suffered through devastating volcanic eruptions of its previously dormant Soufriere Hills Volcano.  Much of the island was destroyed and about two-thirds of its population was forced to flee their homeland.  Now, in 2011, in the wake of the last volcanic eruption that destroyed Bramble Airport and their Major Hospital, their medical infrastructure has been retrofit to an old school building, until a new one can be financed and built.  

Unfortunately, there are very few specialized medical professionals resident on the Island.  Dr. Fergus-Rowe, who is a Cardiologist, an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, and Director, Cardiovascular Disparities Center, at Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY,  will meet with and examine patients with uncontrolled high blood pressure and other cardiovascular maladies.  

While Dr. Fergus-Rowe is seeing patients,  Nancy  and I will travel around the island to educate residents about Hypertension and related cardiovascular diseases.  We are targeting shop keepers, barbershops, restaurants and beverage establishments.   We will bring home blood pressure monitors, Blood Pressure and Your Health patient information pamphlets, and other educational tools to teach the owners about blood pressure.   We will take their blood pressure and we will teach them how to use the home monitors so that they may, in turn, take their customers’ blood pressures.  We will talk about what the numbers mean, and about ideal blood pressure.  Our hope is that they will pass this information on to others.

Our message will be . . . . . .

   Controlling Your Blood Pressure is a Check Away, so Start Today!!

               

Check your blood pressure

                Eat Less Salt

                Eat more Fruits and Vegetables

                Exercise – take a walk

                Don’t Smoke

Stay tuned for more stories and pictures from our journey.