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Health Ministry Program for Women Goes on Tour

The 2007 “Empowerment Tour for a Healthier Life” takes the innovative Faith-based health education program to five different Philadelphia neighborhoods

September 10, 2007
Philadelphia, PA - For seven years, the Health Ministry Program for Women has offered a powerful annual health conference that utilizes a faith-based environment to provide wellness education to address health disparities among minority women in the Philadelphia community. 

For its eighth year, the Health Ministry Program is introducing its “Empowerment Tour for a Healthier Life,” which will include five community health conferences to be held at churches throughout the city beginning on Saturday, September 15th.  The Empowerment Tour will culminate in a Celebration Conference and Concert finale on October 27th to be held at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church in Northwest Philadelphia.

Each of the conferences on the tour will focus on a different health issue affecting the women in the audience, and will provide information, tips, and testimonials designed to empower each woman in attendance to proactively manage her health.  Free health screenings targeted to the health issues being addressed will also be provided at each conference, as well as a healthy lunch for all participants.  Local health providers and experts from health organizations have joined with the Health Ministry program to participate as panel speakers, perform health screenings, and provide educational materials for the program. 

Event dates, topics, and locations are as follows:

  • September 15th – Breast Health
    Vine Memorial Baptist Church, 5600 West Girard Avenue, West Philadelphia
  • September 22nd – Diabetes & Weight Management
    Bright Hope Baptist Church, 12th Street & Cecil B. Moore Avenue, North Philadelphia
  • September 29th – High Blood Pressure & Stroke Attack
    The Baptist Worship Center, 4790 James Street, Northeast Philadelphia
  • October 13th – Heart Health
    Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church, 419 South 6th Street, South Philadelphia
  • FINALE Conference - October 27th – Depression and Mental Health
    Celebration Concert featuring Pastor Alyn Waller and the Enon Tabernacle Mass Choir
    Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, 2800 W. Cheltenham Avenue, Northwest Philadelphia

Sponsored by the Health Ministry Program Coalition, Keystone Mercy Health Plan, and Eli Lilly, the Health Ministry Program for Women targets minority and underserved women of all ages and aims to equip them with the education, tools, and resources to keep themselves healthy through all stages of life.

This program provides an opportunity for women in the community to learn more about some of the specific disease states for which they may be at risk, and to participate in related health screenings.  For Keystone Mercy members, it’s also an opportunity for them to meet providers in their community and to learn about other preventive programs from which they can benefit.

“The purpose of this year’s Health Ministry Program is to empower women to take charge of their health.  Our program provides much needed awareness and information, but it also goes beyond the facts to treat these health issues holistically, addressing the needs of the mind, body, and spirit,” says Maria Pajil Battle, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Marketing at Keystone Mercy.  “We hope that this year’s Empowerment Tour will be a joyous and uplifting experience, helping each participant learn how to heal herself from the stress of daily living.”

Over the eight years of the program’s existence, more than 60,000 women and young girls across the Delaware Valley region have participated in the many workshops, seminars, and conferences, using the church as a forum to deliver health information and knowledge that has empowered women to make healthy lifestyles changes.

Interested participants can register for all Health Ministry events by calling 215-871-0400.  Participants that attend three of the community conferences will receive a free copy of Pastor Alyn Waller’s new CD at the finale conference and concert event.

About Keystone Mercy Health Plan
Keystone Mercy Health Plan is Pennsylvania's largest Medical Assistance (Medicaid) managed care health plan serving more than more than 274,000 Medical Assistance recipients in Southeastern Pennsylvania including Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties.  Headquartered in Philadelphia, Keystone Mercy Health Plan is a mission driven, health care ministry of the Sisters of Mercy with more than 20 years of experience.  Its corporate parent partners are Mercy Health System and Keystone First, a subsidiary of Independence Blue Cross. Keystone Mercy's mission is to help people get care, stay well and build healthy communities.  For more information about Keystone Mercy Health Plan, please visit www.keystonemercy.com.

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