Religion Briefs
Star-Bulletin staff &
Associated Press
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Churches prepare faith-based health
A faith-based health program is being developed in Mililani churches to teach women the importance of mammograms and cancer prevention.
St. Francis Parish Nurse/Community Outreach Program is working on the project with the Hawaii Medical Service Association. They are hoping to enlist two women from each church in Mililani to become lay health advisors. A training workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 31 and June 7 at the Honolulu Country Club.
Nancy Frazier of Mililani, a St. Francis Parish nurse who is coordinating the faith-based women's health program, said Mililani was selected for the project because women in the area have a low rate for getting mammograms.
With knowledge from the workshop, she said, "The lay health advisors will become a resource in their respective churches to share information about women's health and the importance of mammograms."
About 800 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in Hawaii annually, according to the Hawaii Cancer Facts and Figures 2003-2004 sourcebook. Early diagnosis and treatment are the key to survival, St. Francis points out.
For more information about the Lay Health Advisor program, call Frazier at 368-8949.
Lung association receives $10,000
The American Lung Association of Hawaii has received $10,000 from the Atherton Family Foundation to teach parents and caregivers of asthmatic children about the triggers to the asthma.
The grant will be used to add a third educational component to the Open Airways for Schools' asthma education and management program, said ALA of Hawaii Executive Director Jean Evans.
"OAS+Parents" will focus on home-based asthma management, she said. It will be tested in elementary schools in the 2008-2009 school year.
Smoking continues at Big Isle parks
Big Island smokers are continuing to light up at beaches and public parks despite a new law that bans smoking at all county-owned recreational facilities.
Several people were seen smoking during recent visits to Lincoln Park, Reed's Bay Beach Park and Leleiwi Beach Park.
People were also smoking openly at the Lehua Jaycees Springfest Carnival held at the county's Hilo Civic Fairgrounds.
The law expands a smoking prohibition already in place for restaurants, shopping malls, and other public areas.
