Health

HIV crisis facing black women in metro Atlanta

Wednesday, May 9th, 2012, 12:26pm

ATLANTA -- 11Alive News is sounding the alarm.

Research shows African-American women, many living in Atlanta, are being infected with HIV -- so much so that the new cases are being compared to African countries.

Data collected in 2009 from the health departments in Clayton, Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Douglas and Gwinnett counties indicates infection rates of HIV and AIDS, respectively, as follows: (This is for women and men combined, all races.)

Fulton: 4,213 and 7,342

DeKalb: 3,257 and 3,983

Clayton: 847 and 943

Cobb and Douglas: 1,030 and 1,288

Gwinnett: 884 and 1,041

In another study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control, black women make up 60 percent of all new HIV cases among women. That's 15 times higher than white women and four percent higher than Hispanic women.

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LOCAL PROFILE: Turkey Day Fitness Tips

Submitted by Eden Godbee, Where U Live Producer

Thursday, November 17th, 2011, 6:09pm

ATLANTA – Next week marks the start of the season many of us look forward to, year round. People love this season, dubbed “the most wonderful time of the year”, for a number of reasons. For children it could be the toys and gifts they receive or the annual visit to Grandma’s house. Or for adults it could be the abundant holiday cheer or the abundant holiday food it's okay to consume for the mere sake of the holiday. For some, the holidays can be too cheery and many end up heavier than they were before they started.

Was the holiday food really worth a holiday gut? Think again.

Many people struggle with this issue, year in and year out. Some go on crash diets before the holiday or workout until they’re fatigued to “make room” for their Thanksgiving Feast but Amy Henry at FORUM Fitness in Buckhead thinks they’re all “wasting their time”.

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Take-back event yields 3,800 pounds of drugs

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Saturday, November 5th, 2011, 5:27am

Take-back event yields 3,800 pounds of drugs

ATLANTA -- The third National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Oct. 29 was a huge success in Georgia.

Participants turned in about 3,794.35 pounds of unwanted and expired medication for safe disposal at numerous sites across the state.

This amount exceeded the weight of the drugs collected at the second event in April, which was about 3,509 pounds.

"The total number of drugs taken back in Georgia speaks volumes about the problem of unused and unneeded prescriptions, the danger they pose to the community and the communities' commitment to making prescription drug abuse a top priority in the state," John Comer, acting special agent in charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Atlanta Field Division, said in a statement.

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DeKalb Medical names new CEO

Submitted by Atlanta Busines... on Friday, October 7th, 1:12 pm

DECATUR, Ga. -- John Shelton has been appointed president and CEO of DeKalb Medical.

Shelton, the former COO, left DeKalb Medical last winter to accept a position at Mobile Infirmary, Alabama's largest not-for-profit hospital.

He was instrumental in DeKalb Medical's revitalization during the past several years, including the opening of DeKalb Medical at Hillandale and the addition of a patient tower for maternity and surgical services at the North Dectaur Road campus.

Shelton replaces Eric Norwood, who resigned as CEO in September.

DeKalb Medical includes three hospitals -- North Decatur, Downtown Decatur and Hillandale -- in addition to the DeKalb Medical Physicians Group.

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Check your child's car seat to ensure safety

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011, 1:06pm

Check your child's car seat to ensure safety

DORAVILLE, Ga. -- It's National Child Passenger Safety Week, and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta is doing its part to minimize the chance of Georgia children getting hurt in car accidents.

On Thursday, Sept. 22, CHOA, in conjunction with Safe Kids DeKalb County and the Department of Public Health's Maternal and Child Health program, will provide free car seat checks from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

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LOCAL PROFILE: Sawanda Spinks, President of Georgia Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation

Submitted by Eden Godbee, Where U Live Producer

Thursday, September 15th, 2011, 5:01pm

ATLANTA – Sawanda Spinks was eight-months-pregnant when she learned her first child would be born with hydrocephalus.

“I had never heard of it; I didn’t know what it was but when I heard the risks, I started crying; I couldn’t take listening to that”, she said.

Spinks had gone into the emergency room for a pulled muscle but when she left her life was changed, forever.

Hydrocephalus is a condition that affects 1-in-500 infants. The condition, also known as having “water on the brain”, happens when fluid accumulates on the brain and in the skull cavities.

As any first-time parent would Spinks visited countless specialists, searching for good news, before she would give birth to her son a month later; she heard none.

“Doctors didn’t give us much hope but they were doing their job, they’re supposed to tell you the worst case scenario”.

“We heard it all.

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Future of State Health Benefit Plan to be secured

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Saturday, August 13th, 2011, 9:01am

Future of State Health Benefit Plan to be secured

ATLANTA -- The Georgia Department of Community Health has adopted a proposal to secure the future of the State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP).

The initiative introduces a new consumer-directed wellness plan, improves plan administration, eliminates the SHBP's projected deficit for this year and substantially reduces future deficits.

"The board is pleased to endorse this thoughtful and responsible plan that is not afraid to tackle the big issues," said DCH board chairman Ross Mason. "This is a forward-looking plan that provides real bottom line-driven solutions."

SHBP is facing a projected deficit of slightly more than $800 million during the next two years.

"Our major concern is the continued delivery of quality health care services at an affordable cost," said DCH commissioner David Cook.

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