CHARLESTON, W.V.a — The AstraZeneca Health Care Foundation awarded grants Tuesday of more than $644,000 to three nonprofit organizations aimed at reducing the risk of cardiovascular health in Appalachia.
AstraZeneca’s “Connections for Cardiovascular Health” program presented grants to West Virginia Health Right Inc. in Charleston, Ashland-Boyd County Health Department in Ashland, K.Y., and St. Mary’s Health Wagon in Wise, V.A. These organizations received more than $2.3 million funding over the last five years to improve healthy lives in the area.
Govenor Earl Ray Tomblin proclaimed February 24, 2015 as “Connections For Cardiovascular Health Awareness Day” in West Virginia.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease accounts for 23% of all deaths in West Virginia and Kentucky and 22% of all deaths in Virginia.
Karen Bowling, Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, said the grant money is intended to help bring education, training, and services to agencies, families, and community members to improve cardiovascular disease.
Kristin Newby, a Professor of Medicine in Cardiology at Duke University Medical Center and Trustee of AstraZeneca, said the program covers multiple areas such as reducing weight, increasing physical activity, improving blood pressure, control, and treating diabetes.
“There are vulnerable populations and many of these populations that are served by the grants that we’re providing are the populations that are at highest risk and that have the least services and resources,” said Newby.
Health Right in Charleston is implementing the “Sustainable Change And Lifestyle Enhancement (S.C.A.L.E.)” program that aims to promote cardiovascular health for sustainable weight loss, lifestyle changes and to raise awareness across the Mountain State.
Holly West, Public Health Services Manager at Ashlans-Boyd County Health Department in Ashland, KY said they’ve been able to work with community partners and involve family support throughout the course of their program “Appalachian Partnership and Positive Living and Eating (A.P.P.L.E).” West said it’s an innovative change that treats more than just obesity weight issues.
“If there’s anything going on with bullying or self-esteem issues or anything like that we’re able to link them to care givers for that as well as nutritionists and physical activity coordinators,” said West.
West said it’s been an up-hill battle to reduce the epidemics that obesity and cardiovascular disease bring to role Appalachia. She said they working with roughly 1,000 individuals with heart problems through this program.
West Virginia Health Right Inc. was awarded $191,028, Ashland-Boyd County Health Department was awarded $223,000 and St. Mary’s Health Wagon was awarded $250,000 in grants.