Within our North Nashville community, incidents of diabetes, heart disease,
and stroke are several times the national norm. Health issues are often related
to other community issues. For instance, economic underinvestment means that
there are no nearby grocery stores selling fresh fruits and vegetables within
walking distance.
High crime rates can often lead people to feel unsafe exercising in their
community. Poverty and lack of adequate health insurance are also barriers
to routine health screenings and education. The Vanderbilt University-North
Nashville COPC addresses recognized health issues by providing health care
services and education and by working to increase the resources community
residents have to take care of themselves through proper diet and exercise.
Specific goals of the COPC Health Promotion Committee include increasing the number of children and adults who engage in regular physical activity, reducing tobacco usage, reducing obesity among children and adults, improving child safety, and increasing the number of adults who receive regular cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure screenings. Strategies for achieving these goals include:
Sallie Scovill (sallie.harris@vanderbilt.edu) and Ethel Harris (heavenlyimages7@yahoo.com) serve as the co-chairs of the COPC Health Promotion Committee.