Norton to Conduct Diabetes Testing at a Safeway Site (11/20/07)

Norton to Conduct Diabetes Testing at a Safeway Site
November 20, 2007

Washington, DC – To put Diabetes Awareness Month into action, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) is sponsoring diabetes screening Tuesday, November 20, 2007 from 4 to 7 PM at the Safeway food store located at 6500 Piney Branch Road, NW (at Georgia Ave). She will be on site as time permits to explain to constituents the importance of testing in this high diabetes jurisdiction. The screenings will take place during Norton’s Government-to-Go initiative to bring services to people in the communities where they live on a weekly basis. Unity Health Care will conduct diabetes testing. Norton is joining other members of the Congressional Black Caucus in using this month, particularly before Thanksgiving, to raise awareness about diabetes, which disproportionately affects African Americans. In the District, more than 8 percent of the population or almost 38,000 adults have been diagnosed with the disease. Diabetes is the leading cause of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and lower limb amputation among all Americans and the fifth leading cause of death by disease. Almost 21 million American children and adults have diabetes. Norton said screening is critical because many more people do not know they have the disease.

In addition to the diabetes testing, Norton staff will give assistance and advice on federal issues, from Social Security and veterans' benefits to Norton's $10,000 Tuition Assistance Grant Program (DCTAG) and $5,000 Homebuyer Tax Credit, and will offer help on accessing many other constituent services. Norton kicked off Government-to-Go in May in Columbia Heights and launched the first of several roving, community satellite offices she has set up for constituent and casework services for residents who may not be able to visit her three offices because of transportation, family or work schedules, disabilities, language difficulty, or other personal impediments. Since then, Norton has set up Government-to-Go sites in all parts of the District.