[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 25 (Monday, March 3, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E359]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       TRIBUTE TO THE BLACK BEAUTICIANS HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAM

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                          HON. DONALD M. PAYNE

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 3, 1997

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I would like my colleagues here in the U.S. 
House of Representatives to join me in applauding a new preventive 
health program. The University of California at San Diego's [UCSD] 
Cancer Center has been awarded a $300,000 grant for the Black 
Beauticians Health Promotion Program. The program, sponsored by the 
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, recruits and trains beauticians 
working in neighborhood beauty salons to educate their clients on the 
importance of breast cancer screening and other health lifestyles.
  In the pilot study conducted by the UCSD Cancer Center, eight 
African-American beauticians attempted to determine whether beauticians 
can serve as educators for health information of special concern to 
their black clients. The study also questioned whether these 
beauticians would be able to motivate their clients to adopt health 
promotion behaviors, such as weight control and smoking cessation. The 
study was a great success.
  Many may ask why beauticians were selected as the messenger in an 
effort to reach this high-risk population. In many cases, beauticians 
are well integrated members of the community, and a personal 
relationship has already been established with each client. 
Furthermore, the beauty salon is an establishment which many women 
frequent, and is an environment where personal discussions are quite 
common. In short, many women and men of all races visit their barber or 
beautician more frequently than they do their own doctor.
  Mr. Speaker, as it now stands, African-American women are at high 
risk for breast cancer and other serious illnesses. In addition, their 
mortality rates are disproportionately high as compared to other races. 
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation grant will be used to permit a 
statistical evaluation of this educational intervention program's 
potential impact over a longer period of time.
  Mr. Speaker, I am happy to bring this grant to the attention to the 
House, and I am sure that my colleagues join me in honoring the 
accomplishments of the University of California at San Diego's Cancer 
Center, in conjunction with the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation.

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