October 2009

Partners in Health and Wholeness Newsletter
A Newsletter by the North Carolina Council of Churches

Vol. 1, No. 2

Key Topic in this Issue:
Flu Prevention

In this Issue:
Flu Season
Program Update
Health Care Reform
Sample Recipe
Laughter is the Best Medicine
Announcements

PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY DURING THIS FLU SEASON

The flu season, though its timing and duration vary, usually peaks during the winter months in the United States. With the recent change in seasons from summer to fall, students' return to school, and the global outbreak of H1N1 flu, it is imperative that you take precautionary steps to protect yourself and your family.

According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, taking the following preventive measures could help to contain the spread of flu:

Wash your hands often with soap and water.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Avoid close contact with sick people.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze; DO NOT cough or sneeze into your hands.
If you get sick with flu, stay home.
Get the recommended seasonal flu vaccine (currently available).
Get the recommended H1N1 vaccine (expected to be available in late fall 2009).

Anyone who wishes to reduce their chances of contracting seasonal flu can, in most cases, get vaccinated. However, the following high-risk groups are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated every year and are given priority when vaccines are in short supply: pregnant women, children between the ages of 6 months and 19 years, those with chronic medical conditions, the elderly and health care workers.

Finally, there are simple steps that a church can take to prevent the spread of flu, as outlined by George Reed in an article titled, "Pandemic Flu: Why Faith Groups Must Care". George's article was published in the North Carolina Medical Journal two years ago, and offered prophetic insight to churches on how to prepare for a flu pandemic before the first case of H1N1 was even detected in humans or had claimed the lives of more than 2,000 across the globe.

Faith leaders were urged to:

Get pandemic flu on their radar screens.
Be at the table in the development of contingency plans.
Create firm plans for their congregations and judicatories. For example, what supplies should be stocked, who should make decisions about canceling weekly worship services or altering communion, and how can churches assist families in creating their own contingency plans?
Be well enough involved and informed to be a voice for moral and ethical decision making, and to serve as a source of good and true information in the community.

In 2007, when the above article was published, H5N1 or "bird flu" was of primary concern. H5N1 and H1N1 are both types of pandemic flu, from which people have little to no pre-existing immunity, but the number of deaths from H5N1 was far higher than the current death toll from H1N1. To date, H1N1 has also been less severe than seasonal flu. In order to contain the spread of both seasonal and pandemic flu, however, we must remain on high alert and use the resources around us to protect ourselves and each other.

For more information about flu prevention, please visit www.flu.nc.gov. To read "Pandemic Flu: Why Faith Groups Must Care" in its entirety, please visit the Council's Web site at www.nccouncilofchurches.org or go to the NC Medical Journal 2007; Volume 68, Number 1, p. 43-44.

PROGRAM UPDATE

The Partners in Health and Wholeness (PHW) Program, with generous support from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation and Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, has forged key relationships with more than a dozen non-profit organizations, state programs and other agencies across the state to help promote health as an issue of our faith. These programs will provide faith-inspired materials and/or services to the nearly 6,200 congregations that are affiliated with the North Carolina Council of Churches at little to no cost.

By illustrating God's concern for all areas of our lives - our physical, mental and spiritual well-being - and encouraging congregations to make small, incremental changes such as serving healthier church meals, going tobacco free, and incorporating health into their weeklyworship services, PHW seeks to make people of faith in North Carolina healthier.

PHW Program Director, Willona Akingbade, and Council Executive Director, George Reed, are now meeting with denominational leaders to promote the program and learn more about what is happening at the denominational and congregational levels to improve the health of people of faith. There are a number of creative, quality health initiatives taking place within our churches. The PHW staff seeks to bring broader awareness to these activities as well as assist congregations in their health-related work by connecting them with essential resources in their community.

A PHW Faith and Health Advisory Council has also been formed to help direct the activities of the PHW program and provide valuable insight to staff on issues related to health, health care and faith. Dr. Leah Devlin, former State Health Director for North Carolina, serves as Chair of the Advisory Council, and members include respected health professionals, clergy, and community members who have a vested interest in health promotion, disease prevention and spiritual wholeness.

PHW will hold its first conference - the 2010Faith and Health Summit: Presenting our Bodies as Living Sacrifices, Healthy and Acceptable unto God - in late winter/early spring of next year in Raleigh. Please stay tuned for more details about this important gathering of faith and health leaders and congregants as they become available.

A QUICK WORD ABOUT HEALTH CARE REFORM

As followers of Jesus Christ, the Great Physician, the Council supports a health care system that is inclusive, affordable, accessible and accountable. We echo the moral and compassionate voice of Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, President of the North Carolina NAACP, in his "We Need a Healing" speech delivered at the State Capitol in Raleigh on August 29: "Health Care for Every American, Now! That's what we believe. That's what we want. That's what we are fighting for." To read Rev. Barber's challenging speech, go to the Council's Home page, www.nccouncilofchurches.org, and look under "Health Care Reform Advocates Rally in Raleigh".

Please get involved by signing a faith-inspired vision statement for health care at www.faithfulreform.org; calling your local and state representatives to voice your support for reform; and praying for the nearly 1.5 million North Carolinians who currently lack health insurance.

For more information about what the Council is doing to ensure quality, affordable health care for all, please visit our Web site at www.nccouncilofchurches.org or email Sandy Irving, Health Care Reform Volunteer for the Council, at sirving@nccouncilofchurches.org.

SAMPLE RECIPE

Grilled Salmon with North African Flavors
4 servings

Ingredients:

¼ cup low-fat or nonfat plain yogurt
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 ½ teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste
Freshly ground pepper to taste
1 pound center-cut salmon fillet, cut into 4 portions
1 lemon, cut into wedges

Directions:

Stir together yogurt, parsley, cilantro, lemon juice, oil, garlic, paprika, cumin, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Reserve ¼ cup for sauce; cover and refrigerate. Place salmon fillets in a large sealable plastic bag. Pour in the remaining herb mixture, seal the bag and turn to coat. Refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes, turning the bag over once.

Meanwhile, preheat grill to medium-high.

Oil the grill rack. Remove the salmon from the marinade, blotting any excess. Grill the salmon until browned and opaque in the center, 4 to 6 minutes per side. To serve, top each piece with a dollop of the reserved sauce and garnish with lemon wedges.

Nutritional Analysis (per serving)

Calories	229
Fat	14 g
Saturated Fat	3 g
Monosaturated Fat	6 g
Cholesterol	67 g
Sodium	134 mg
Carbohydrates	1 g
Fiber	0 g
Protein	23 g
Potassium	452 mg

Courtesy of EatingWell.com

LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE

"Over the past week, congressmen have been holding town hall meetings across the country. They've been disrupted by angry protesters who are against Obama's new healthcare plan. And things could have gotten violent, but nobody could afford to get hurt. So, it was very peaceful protesting."

--Jimmy Fallon, late night talk show host

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Need to Get the Word Out?

If you would like to announce an upcoming health event that is taking place at your church or within your community, please email the following information to Willona Akingbade at willona@nccouncilofchurches.org:

Date, time and location of the event
Purpose
Intended audience

Thank you!!

Citations available upon request