Obesity, HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, cervical cancer, and ovarian cancers are all health issues impacting women of African descent at disproportionate rates. Being an organization of predominately African-American women, we not only strive to raise awareness and impact our members but the members of the community in which we live as well. To do this, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated has recently moved from Summit V (which focused on HIV/AIDS Awareness in the African Community) to Summit VI. Summit VI focuses on "Health Issues Impacting Women of African Descent and the Community" and local chapters have been asked to educate the community as well as chapter members by implementing various types of workshops and awareness programs on subjects such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and breast and cervical cancer.
Last year the Summit VI committee disseminated educational information about obesity, clinical depression, and healthy lifestyles to the chapter and held a workshop in the Del Paso community. This year the Summit VI committee is assisting with continuing this campaign by implementing the Delta Fitness Camp. This will be a one day camp where people within the community can come and learn about the importance of eating healthy and keeping fit to avoid the #1 Killer of African American women (heart disease) and combat the high incidence of obesity among women. This will work in conjunction with the Sorority's Health Initiative, "Total Woman Healthy Weight Program" which challenges chapters to a commitment to achieve healthier weights.
This committee will to continue to address the growing health concerns and needs of the community through various programs in hopes of influencing a positive lifestyle change to increase health and overall quality of life.
Shanita Marie Bryant, Chair