Uhuru Health Fair: Get Fit for the Revolution: It’s Our Only Solution!

On Saturday, April 29, 2017, the African People’s Education and Defense Fund will host the Uhuru Health Fair from 11am to 4pm at Akwaaba Hall at 7911 MacArthur Blvd in Oakland. “Get Fit for the Revolution: It’s Our Only Solution!” is the rallying cry of this community solutions-oriented fair which will offer free health screenings, interactive fitness workshops, entertainment, food giveaways, vendors, information on alternative health options as well as information on APEDF institutions.

Ona Zene Yeshitela, coordinator of Uhuru Health Fairs & Festivals nationally, asserted that “The dire state of health faced by the African community of Oakland is well known and well documented.” Recent reports by the Alameda County Department of Health show disparities in life expectancy, maternal health, infant mortality, chronic disease, medical care access and overall health and well being. Some of these statistics include:

• A person of African descent born in West Oakland can expect to die almost 15 years earlier than a white person born in the Oakland hills.

• The median household income for Africans in Alameda County is $42,124, for whites it is $74,401 to around $81,000 per year.
• The rates of Asthma for African children is 2.5 times higher than the overall rate in the county.
• Diabetes in Alameda County is at 13% for Africans compared to 5% for caucasians.
• High blood pressure is 48% for Africans, 28% for caucasians.
• 43.1% of Africans were obese compared to 21.6% of caucasians.

In fact, Alameda County Health Department, in recent years, has condemned the deliberate public policies imposed on African communities that have resulted in economic, social and health inequities. The African People’s Education and Defense Fund aims to address these inequities through African self-determination, empowerment and community transformation.

Yeshitela elaborates on the long term goals of the health fairs, “The Uhuru Health Fair is building programs to put crucially needed resources in the hands of our under resourced African community, involving people of all walks of life ultimately in feeding, housing, clothing. Strengthening and healing our people under African leadership. This is what our revolution looks like.”

Black Star Industries is co sponsoring the Uhuru Health Fair. The mission of BSI is to build economic development and commerce for and between African people worldwide. BSI sees the Uhuru Health Fair one part of a comprehensive African community led initiative to ensure that “not one child shall go hungry; not one family shall be homeless; not one youth shall be without a positive future; not one elder shall be disrespected and alone; not one African shall be thrown into prison by a system that makes money from his or her incarceration.”

To get involved or support the Uhuru Health Fair, contact 510-763-3342 ext. #3 or email oakland.volunteer@uhurufurniture.org