By ELLIOTT DONNER

Staff Writer

A $567,633 award was given to Tech's health and exercise sciences department for a Dubach health outreach project.

"This project is for Dubach and the rural areas around it to increase health awareness," Dr. Mary Murimi, project head and a professor of human ecology, said.

Margaret Rogers, the mayor of Dubach, said Dubach has a problem with letting health slide because there are no health facilities there.

"This is the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to this town," Rogers said.

Murimi agreed with Rogers that there are no health facilities in Dubach, and she said something has to be done about it.

She said someone could die there because there is no one in the town to take care of a serious situation.

She said the closest town to treat someone for a serious medical situation is in Ruston 15 minutes away.

Murimi has studied Dubach's health and said the leading causes of death in the community are heart disease, diabetes and strokes, which all start from obesity.

Murimi said she plans to focus on enlightening Dubach with high levels of "health literacy."

Murimi, along with her colleagues, said she will conduct screenings and interventions for disease.

Murimi said the interventions will include health education sessions, group and individual behavior modification counseling, increased physical activities and nutritional assessment and counseling.

Dubach has a local organization that handles many problems in the town called Dubach Restoration and Beautification Organization.

"This is such a rural area, and there is nothing here for health problems," Nancy Jensen, the president of Dubach's Restoration and Beautification Organization, said.

Jensen said the organization met last year with Tech's health and exercise sciences faculty to discuss how Dubach needed to address people with health concerns.

"There's not even a pharmacy in town," Jensen said.

She said many people in the town are neglecting their health just because of the inconvenience of the drive to Ruston to go to a doctor.

Murimi said this project will spread out over three years and will mostly focus on obesity and screening for illnesses.

Rogers said this project is comprehensive and includes everyone with a Dubach mailing address.

"I don't know what this town would do without all of the help we get from Tech," Rogers said. "The enthusiasm is magnificent from the town citizens."

Murimi and her colleagues are also very excited about this outreach project.

Murimi said, "This project will enlighten the city about health issues and we will do follow-ups even after the three year project has finished."