Sickle Cell Disease Training and Mentoring Program (STAMP)

The Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) Training and Mentoring Program (STAMP) is a collaboration between OMH, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Maternal and Child Health Bureau, and the HRSA Bureau of Primary Health Care. STAMP is a free telehealth series taught by hematologists for primary care providers. The program aims to train primary care providers on the basics of sickle cell disease care such as pain management, hydroxyurea, and preventive services. Trainings this month include:

1/8/2020 ǀ 12 PM EST: Update on Pathophysiology of SCD
1/16/2020 ǀ 2 PM EST: Hydroxyurea for Adults

National Glaucoma Awareness Month

national eye institute flyer know your risk of glaucoma

According to the National Eye Institute (NEI), in the United States, glaucoma is a leading cause of vision loss and blindness. Those at higher risk for developing glaucoma include African Americans over the age of 40 and everyone over the age of 60, especially Hispanics/Latinos.

NEI recently re-launched their website and offers access to their new free outreach materials library among other great resources. This month, take an opportunity to talk to your family members about scheduling a dilated eye exam and help spread glaucoma awareness with NEI's resources.

Some things you should know about glaucoma:

Glaucoma can cause vision loss and blindness.
There are no early symptoms.
In the U.S., half the people who have glaucoma don’t know they do.

Read more facts about glaucoma with NEI's factsheet.

Learn More

Cervical Health Awareness Month

Did you know that all women are at risk for cervical cancer? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cervical cancer occurs most often in women over the age of 30 and approximately 12,000 women in the U.S. get cervical cancer each year. More African American and Hispanic/Latina women get cervical cancer than women of other races or ethnicities due to decreased access to Pap testing or follow-up treatment.

It is important for women ages 21 and older to have regular screening tests to help prevent cervical cancer. There are free or low-cost screenings available to women who meet the following qualifications:

You have no insurance, or your insurance does not cover screening exams.
Your yearly income is at or below 250% of the federal poverty level.
You are between 21 and 64 years of age for cervical cancer screening.

Learn More

Healthy Weight Week

Are you ready to implement your active and healthy resolutions for 2020? January 19-25 is Healthy Weight Week and our partners have tips to help you and your family maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Having a healthy lifestyle is all about eating balanced meals and incorporating physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight. As you prepare to go grocery shopping with your family use these resources from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to make informed decisions about what you buy. The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion also has great resources to help motivate you to stay active.

Make sure your healthy eating plan emphasizes the following:

Fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products.
Lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and nuts.
Low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt and added sugars.

Learn More

Knowledge Center

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month. The Knowledge Center online catalog provides resources for both consumers and health professionals related to glaucoma and vision health. To read some of these materials, search the online library catalog.