, laura@rustonleader.com
05-20-2005
Sharon Pierce is striving to accept the full blindness that will soon become her reality. Due to the onset of diabetes, the Dubach resident is already visually impaired in one eye. She is hopeful a new health plan to be launched in Dubach will enable others to avoid the same fate.
Dozens of Dubach community members squeezed into Town Hall Thursday morning to hear the details of a three-year health plan presented by Louisiana Tech University nutrition and dietetics professor Mary Murimi. With a Rural Health Care Services Outreach grant exceeding $500,000, Murimi and a research team are planning a project involving health education and screenings for all area residents with a Dubach mailing address.
Research team member Brian Coyne said the project will target various age populations.
"We're looking to find the youth already at risk for certain diseases right now," he said, "whereas with the elderly they might already have the disease and we want to prevent complications."
Coyne added the progress of some residents will be tracked over the three-year-period to measure the project's effectiveness.
At the meeting, Murimi stressed the town's need to recruit community leaders. Using a train-the-trainer model, these leaders, drawn from Dubach, would be responsible for the following:
• Receiving training in areas of exercise and nutrition and some medication;
• Encouraging participants and devising a schedule for exercise and nutrition education sessions; and
• Communicating participant progress to research team.
Murimi said about 15-20 leaders would be needed. In addition, grant funds will be used by Tech to hire a full-time project coordinator to combines all aspects of the project. A part-time community facilitator from Dubach will be hired to coordinate the work of the small groups, and act as a liaison between the project coordinator and the group leaders.
"We need somebody who knows and understands the people of Dubach," Murimi said of a requirement for the community facilitator position.
Mayor Margaret Rogers encouraged anyone interested in serving as a community facilitator or community leader to send their name and information about themselves to Town Hall.
Several residents present expressed their enthusiasm about the project.
"I think it's wonderful," Pierce said. "I'm having some problems with money so this will help a lot."
Glenda Knowles said the screening opportunities would be beneficial for many elderly residents, who are either physically unable to drive, or for widows who have never learned to operate a vehicle.
"Most of the seniors around the Dubach area don't have transportation to go to a doctor's office," she said.
Dubach currently does not have any type of health care facility.
"Diabetes is running rapid all over the country," resident Bonnie Gipson said. "When my husband was diagnosed I was shocked to learn how much it was tied into diet and exercise. There could be people walking around who have it and don't know it."
Starting in June, screenings for blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol levels will be available for Dubach residents at local churches and at Town Hall. Tentative screening dates are June 20, 24, 27, and July 8, 11, 15.
Murimi said residents, who are asked to come with their stomachs empty, will be welcome from 6:30-9 a.m. each day and will be fed with breakfast while receiving personalized health counseling after the screenings.
Physician referrals can be provided by the team where necessary, as well as determinations of whether residents qualify for Medicaid or Medicare. As an added bonus, Murimi said all participants will receive a pedometer device.
"Every time you step the gadget records the step," she said, "so they can monitor their physical activity. Our goal is to get everyone to do all 10,000 steps, which is equivalent to four miles, every day."
Murimi is hopeful that when the three-year period is up, the community leaders will have the necessary knowledge to continue their health education.
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