By Carol Moody Becker and Zora Kramer Brown
May 12, 2003

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy G. Thompson took advantage of National Minority Cancer Awareness Week April 20-26, to announce three major initiatives to improve the nation's health, particularly for minority populations.

Speaking from the Vermont Avenue Baptist Church in Washington, DC on April 24, he noted that cancer and other chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease — that are more prevalent in minority populations than among whites — can be prevented and controlled through early detection and healthy life styles. He called upon the nation — and especially African Americans and Latinos — to join him in promoting the following national health initiatives:

• "Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day" on September 16;
• "Eat 5 to 9 A Day," a nutrition initiative of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) calling upon Americans to include fruits and vegetables in their daily diet; and
• "Screen for Life," a colorectal cancer screening campaign, promoted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The need for good nutrition and exercise was emphasized at this press conference, with Secretary Thompson describing his "10,000 steps per day" formula that resulted in his recent 15-pound weight loss. Pointing to the pedometer that he wears around his waist, he noted that he checks it throughout the day in order to meet his daily goal.

Joining Secretary Thompson at the press conference were: Tom Joyner, ABC radio national talk show host and Chair of "Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day"; Dr. Andrew von Eshenbach, NCI Director; Dr. Nancy Lee, Director, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control/CDC; Dr. Mark Clanton, First Vice President, American Cancer Society; and Ricardo Villanueva, a survivor of colon and liver cancer.

The Conference of Mayors is supporting all three of the health initiatives described above either through USCM's Cancer Awareness Program or the organization's new chronic diseases initiative. For additional information, contact Crystal D. Swann, USCM Assistant Executive Director, at 202-293-7330 or cswann@usmayors.org.