Health Awareness Day

ST. PETERSBURG – Last month the St. Petersburg chapter of Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. (TLOD) kicked-off its National Health Education and Awareness program by hosting a community Health Awareness Day at Suncoast Hospice Empath Health Center.

The event, which was a collaboration between TLOD, The Gathering of Women, Inc., Suncoast Hospice and the National Black Nurses Association, was appropriately themed: “Promoting Better Health Through Community Partnerships.”

The goal of the program was to effect positive change in public health. The objective was to raise awareness of health and wellness issues, particularly those impacting African Americans, through education and advocacy.

Having a clear vision of the desired outcome and a strategy of strength in numbers, Lady Naomi Nesbitt, community partnership chairperson, embarked on a mission to create organizational alliances and coalesce them into a unified community service platform.

No stone was left unturned in soliciting sponsors, engaging healthcare professionals and developing a program uniquely for the community at large.

The morning began with a healthy breakfast in tandem with an opportunity for participants to network, peruse exhibits and displays, acquire resource materials and collect giveaways.

Lady Teresa Norton, chapter president, extended greetings and welcomed all in attendance. She acknowledged event sponsors and community partners, and expressed the chapter’s sincere gratitude for their participation and commitment. She also introduced the TLOD family (ladies, lords and teens) and recognized the Health Awareness Day committee members.

Other program initiatives included formal presentations by a panel of nine healthcare professionals who also provided dialog and discourse with props, hands-on demonstrations (BMI, etc.) and detailed information regarding their respective fields of expertise.

Committee member Lady Janice Lockridge William introduced the panel, which was comprised of the following healthcare presenters: Karen Davis-Pritchett, Hospice Caregiver Support; Chris Cresten, U.S. Dept. of HHS, Wayne Tate, RN, BSN, Intensive-Critical Care Nurse; Robert Henderson, retired fireman; Samantha Stanley, Children Immunizations; Carmen Lett, Health and Wellness; Melvin Smith, Sickle Cell Disease and Dorothy Nangle, Hospice Empath Health/HIV-AIDS.

The National Black Nurses Association of St. Petersburg also played an active role in facilitating the program by administering blood pressure screenings, and The Gathering of Women, Inc. was instrumental in selecting prominent healthcare professionals.

The program culminated with kudos, accolades and a round of applause for an invigorating, informative and impactful TLOD Health Awareness Day. By all accounts, the ladies exceeded their expectations—mission accomplished.

Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., is a National humanitarian community service organization whose motto is: “Serving Youth and Adults.”