The Diabetic Amputation Prevention Foundation (DAP) is proud to announce the return of the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program (BBHOP), which kicks off in the state of California, Saturday, May 12th, 2012.
From 11AM-4PM, the organization will facilitate statewide screenings in over 75 black owned barbershops from San Diego to Sacramento-screening over 1,500 African American men for diabetes and high blood pressure. Participants will also receive healthy lifestyle education and medical resources for local clinics and physicians.
“The need to address health care disparities in African American men is paramount in light of the fact that they have the lowest life expectancy of any group in the U.S.,” says Dr. Bill J. Releford, D.P.M., founder of the DAP Foundation. “For decades, the black barbershop has served as a centralized gathering place where African American men feel comfortable discussing the most important issues that impact their lives: politics, social trends, family and finances. Now, we are introducing an important discussion of health and the critical need for health awareness.”
Since its inception in 2007, the tour has visited over 750 barbershops in 50 cities and 13 states and will continue its mission to screen 500,000 African American men by the end of 2014. This unique and innovative grassroots program works strategically with black-owned barbershops, because it represents such a cultural institution of familiarity and trust among African American males-making it the most effective avenue to disseminate health education information.
Click here to read more on our partner site theblackmancan.org!
