PA Department of Health and Tobacco Free Allegheny co-sponsor an Inspirational
Celebration in a Quest for Better Health
By: Renee P. Aldrich
On Friday, June 18, 2004 local Gospel Artists, Spirit Filled Music Ministries, vocalist
Anita Brown, and MC Real Deal Brady Hill, gospel rapper will be the featured
performers in a unique outreach effort meant to shed a light on what may be considered a
crisis condition here in Pittsburgh. The crisis is the ranking that Pittsburgh holds and has
held over the past 9 years in the number of pregnant women who smoke and the number
of women who reported smoking during their pregnancy.
According to an annual study by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and reported by
Tobacco Free Allegheny, our fair city who once held the dubious honor of being the most
livable city, has the following startling stats with regard to tobacco use:
--Among the 50 largest cities in the United States, Pittsburgh has the highest rate of maternal
smoking with more pregnant women smoking here than anywhere else in the nation.
--Among the 50 largest cities in the United States, the average number of women who smoke
during their pregnancy is 9.6 percent. In Pittsburgh alone, 23.3 percent of women who gave birth
reported smoking during pregnancy. The overall rate for Allegheny County is 17 percent
It is disturbing to know that our youth do not see these facts as relevant to them, or they
are totally unaware of them. This is evident because according to the American Cancer
Society, across the country over 3000 young people every day make the decision to start
smoking.
Ms. Sheila Beasley, Coordinator of this project and member of Spirit Filled Music
Ministries refers to this event as a “ministry outside the walls”. “The hope is to reach out
to individuals from ‘other’ walks of life who may not have a church home, or who, for
what ever reasons, are not connected with a church. While we want attendees of the
event to gain a true understanding that giving up cigarettes can add years to their life, we
want to do so in a spiritual yet non-threatening space.”
There will be tables with information on resources to help those who want to quit
smoking and counselors will be on hand to talk about being addicted to nicotine. WAMO
radio personality, Mocha will be on hand as well, she will be available to talk about what
it takes to quit smoking since she has been smoke free for 4 months after a 15 year
history of tobacco use.
Beasley is passionate about the hope for this program. She wants to convey that “this
event is more than a musical performance concert, it is an opportunity for the health care
professionals and anti smoking advocates to address the Trouble with Tobacco in
Allegheny County, to make a statement and through information and education, make a
difference in the lives of, not only men and women of our community, but the unborn
children as well.”
For more information regarding attending the concert, or otherwise getting involved, call
412-244-5301.