The Arts and Letters Committee of the Hinesville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority hosted a book discussion and health fair expo Jan. 20 highlighting “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” at Midway Middle School.

More than 30 participants gathered to have an open book discussion on their reading and to have interactive games and quizzes related to the book to enhance the participants’ understanding of what was read along the way. 

Henrietta Lacks was an African American woman whose cancer cells are the source of the “HeLa” cell line, the first immortalized cell line and one of the most important cell lines in medical research, according to the book.

During the book discussion, participants discussed the legal and ethical implication that occurred. Mrs. Lacks nor her family ever gave the doctors permission to harvest her cells, which were later cloned and sold, according to the book.

The event facilitator, Genese Lane, used clips from the HBO film featuring Oprah Winfrey, who portrayed Deborah Lacks, one of the daughters of Henrietta Lacks, to enhance what the readers had already read.

United Healthcare, Diversity Heath Clinic, Susan B. Komen-Coastal Georgia, the Sickle Cell Association of Savannah and the Coastal Georgia Public Health participated in the event. Free HIV screening was conducted on sight and two participants were able to enroll in a health care plan thanks to a representative from United Healthcare.

To learn more about the Henrietta Lacks Foundation, please visit https://Henriettalacksfoundation.org. To learn more about the legacy of Henrietta Lacks at John Hopkins Hospital visit www.hopkinsmedicine.org/henriettalacks/index.html

The Arts and Letters Committee of the Hinesville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority hosted a book discussion and health fair expo Jan. 20 highlighting “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” at Midway Middle School.

More than 30 participants gathered to have an open book discussion on their reading and to have interactive games and quizzes related to the book to enhance the participants’ understanding of what was read along the way. 

Henrietta Lacks was an African American woman whose cancer cells are the source of the “HeLa” cell line, the first immortalized cell line and one of the most important cell lines in medical research, according to the book.

During the book discussion, participants discussed the legal and ethical implication that occurred. Mrs. Lacks nor her family ever gave the doctors permission to harvest her cells, which were later cloned and sold, according to the book.

The event facilitator, Genese Lane, used clips from the HBO film featuring Oprah Winfrey, who portrayed Deborah Lacks, one of the daughters of Henrietta Lacks, to enhance what the readers had already read.

United Healthcare, Diversity Heath Clinic, Susan B. Komen-Coastal Georgia, the Sickle Cell Association of Savannah and the Coastal Georgia Public Health participated in the event. Free HIV screening was conducted on sight and two participants were able to enroll in a health care plan thanks to a representative from United Healthcare.

To learn more about the Henrietta Lacks Foundation, please visit https://Henriettalacksfoundation.org. To learn more about the legacy of Henrietta Lacks at John Hopkins Hospital visit www.hopkinsmedicine.org/henriettalacks/index.html