State Senator Gustavo Rivera & Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. Launch Third Year of Bronx Can Health Initiative Check-In

(Bronx, NY) –  State Senator Gustavo Rivera (D-Bronx) and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., together with Montefiore Medical Center and other community health partners, will launch the third annual Bronx CAN Health Initiative Check-In on August 17th at Crotona Park, which is located in the new part of Senator Rivera’s district. The Bronx CAN Health Initiative was launched in response to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's study that showed the Bronx as the unhealthiest county in the state of New York.

In addition to tackling the issues of obesity, nutrition, exercise and access to preventative health services, as has been done at previous events, this year’s Bronx CAN Health Initiative Check-In will also offer HIV and Hepatitis C testing, as well as information about how to prevent and where to get treatment for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).  These additions are in response to a recent report from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene which found that the 10457 ZIP code in the Bronx, in which Crotona Park lies, has the highest number of people with at least two STDs in the city.

This event is free and open to the public. 

WHAT:           Third annual Bronx CAN Health Initiative will offer members of the community free health screenings, fitness classes and fun activities, such as blood pressure screenings, body mass index measurements, cooking demonstration, zumba classes and much more.  

WHO:             Senator Gustavo Rivera

                        Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

                        Montefiore Medical Center

                        Community Partners  

WHEN:          Saturday, August 17, 2013

                        12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

WHERE:        Crotona Park

                        Intersection of Crotona Avenue & Claremont Parkway