- Collection:
- Georgia Government Publications
- Serial:
- Press release.
- Title:
- Press release [Aug. 1, 2003B]
- Creator:
- Georgia. General Assembly. House. Public Information Office
- Contributor to Resource:
- Georgia. General Assembly. House. Public Information Office
- Publisher:
- Atlanta, Ga. : Georgia. General Assembly. House. Public Information Office
- Date of Original:
- 2003-08-01
- Subject:
- Georgia
- Location:
- United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
- Medium:
- publications (documents)
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- application/pdf
- Description:
- Open access; Unrestricted online access star GAGAL
July 29, 2002B; title from Georgia Government Publications citation, viewed September 19, 2007. - External Identifiers:
- Call Number GA L412 .P1 P7 2003/8-1B
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/id:dlg_ggpd_i-ga-bl412-b-pp1-bp7-b2003-s8-h1b-belec-p-btext
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/do:dlg_ggpd_i-ga-bl412-b-pp1-bp7-b2003-s8-h1b-belec-p-btext
- Language:
- eng
- Holding Institution:
- University of Georgia. Map and Government Information Library
- Rights:
-
8-1820-4975
Georgia House of Representatives Public Information Office
Room 131, State Capitol 30334 404-656-5082 1-800-282-5800
August 1, 2003
For Immediate Release:
Epps Renamed to Commission on Men's Health
Atlanta Representative Carl Von Epps, (D-LaGrange), was reappointed by House Speaker Terry Coleman (D-Eastman) to continue his service on the Commission on Men's Health. The Commission was created by HB 1235, which passed during the 2000 session and was co-sponsored by Rep. Epps.
"I am honored and grateful that the Speaker has asked me to continue serving in this capacity," said Rep. Epps. "This Commission has accomplished a lot since we've started, but we've still got a lot to do."
The life expectancy gap between men and women has steadily increased from one year in 1920 to seven in 1990. Almost twice as many men than women die from heart disease. At 28.5 percent, the incidence of stroke among men is 19 percent higher than for women. Men suffer cancer at a fifty percent higher rate than women, and represent 80 percent of all suicides. In 1997 alone more than 41,000 men died of prostate cancer.
"When we look at African-American males things get even more severe," he continued. "In 1995, the incidence of high blood pressure in African-American males was 356 percent higher and they were 97 percent more likely to die from stroke than Caucasian males."
The eleven member commission develops strategies, public policy recommendations, and programs, including community outreach and public-private partnerships that are designed to educate Georgia's men on the benefits of regular physician check-ups, early detection and preventive screening tests, and healthy lifestyle practices. It is the first commission of its kind in the United States.
"A Commission on Men's Health is needed to investigate current medical findings and take such actions as may be needed to promote men's health in this state", the measure reads.
According to the panel's mandate, each year before Oct. 1st, the commission will submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
"These are our brothers, fathers, and grandfathers," said Epps, "We're trying to keep them with us for as long as we can."
Rep. Epps is Chairman of the Regulated Industries Committee, and serves on the House Rules, and Economic Development and Tourism Committees.
-30For further information please contact Rep. Epps at 404-656-7146.