Faith based institutions
What we do
Project Zero PGC: Prince George’s County (PGC) is an engaging, all-inclusive community-based health promotion pilot focused on eliminating new cases of persons with diabetes related end organ disease such as blindness, amputations and renal dialysis in Prince George’s County, Maryland by 2022. Project Zero PGC will ignite the collective efforts of its diverse stakeholders to engage, organize and mobilize to change health outcomes in one chronic disease, Type II Diabetes Mellitus. Through this tertiary prevention strategy, we seek to engage every stakeholder within Prince George’s County in a grassroots outreach educational campaign to raise the awareness of the complications of diabetes and therefore empower and encourage all of its citizens to prevent long-term, often-complex health problems and injuries (e.g. chronic diseases, permanent impairments). The success of this very important initiative will improve as much as possible the ability to function, quality of life and life expectancy of Prince Georgians.
Why we do it
Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 25 million people have diabetes, including both diagnosed and undiagnosed cases. This disease can have a harmful effect on most of the organ systems in the human body; it is a frequent cause of end-stage renal disease, non-traumatic lower-extremity amputation, and a leading cause of blindness among working age adults. Persons with diabetes are also at increased risk for ischemic heart disease, neuropathy, and stroke. According to the CDC, the direct medical expenditures attributable to diabetes are over $116 billion. Diabetes disproportionately affects minority populations and the elderly, and its incidence is likely to increase as minority populations grow and the U.S. population ages. The prevalence of diabetes in Prince George’s County of 12.3 % is disproportionally represented to the nation’s prevalence of 9.3%.
The roles of the health care professionals in diabetes prevention interventions is well known. However, the role of a non-healthcare stakeholders may be unclear. Project Zero PGC will seek to ignite active engagement of each community partner to play a role in reducing the incidence of end organ diabetic diseases. Every stakeholder from citizens, retailers, health professionals to social service agencies have an active role to participate in this activated community transformation initiative. Health care systems can provide diabetes education training and support while libraries provide educational materials and increase awareness regarding diabetes. Primary school teachers as well as college professors can integrate diabetes prevention modules into the curriculum as well as provide healthier snack options. Union leaders can encourage exercise programs for employees while car dealerships provide brochures and information about Project Zero in the waiting area.
Our Stakeholders
Jean Drummond
Executive Director
Brianna Anderson
Program Manager
Tessie Jackson
ProjectZero: PGC / SNAP to Health Coordinator
Zaria Fyffe
Student Lead Intern
Faline Rojas
Student Lead Intern
Our Partners
ICCI (Institute for Creative Community Initiatives)
The Institute for Creative Community Initiatives: Established in 2009, The Institute for Creative Community Initiatives mission is to strengthen at risk communities through the design, development and implementation of innovative grassroots programs that engage, encourage, and empower youth, young adults, and families to embrace life changing principles. We believe in challenging the norm, aiming higher and becoming more. We believe in listening, connecting and working collaboratively to create our best future. We know that uncovering our inspiration is what motivates us. We know that developing skills and having the tools is what empowers us. We know that the village of empowered people working together is what sustains us.
4390 Parliament Place, Suite A1 Lanham, MD 20706
Phone 240-296-3951
Fax 301-552-6436
www.iccinitiatives.org