Health care issues and proposed reform legislation now before Congress will be discussed Tuesday at a town hall meeting at the University of Hawai'i-Mānoa.

Organized by Honolulu's Xi Psi Zeta graduate chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, the 6:30 p.m. meeting will be in the Wist Hall library, also known as the College Collaboration Center, in the College of Education, 1776 University Ave. A panel for the event, dubbed the Health Justice Initiative, is expected to include disability advocates, health care professionals and politicians, said Michelle McDow of the Xi Psi Zeta chapter. For additional information, contact McDow at 496-2030.

DIABETES FUNDRAISER

STEP OUT WALK ON MARCH 20

The American Diabetes Association will hold its annual Step Out Walk to Fight Diabetes fundraiser March 20.

Statistics from the association indicate one in three children born in the United States during the year 2000 will have diabetes in their lifetime, and the Hawai'i ratio is higher — up to half of them. More than 11,000 people are living with diabetes in Hawai'i today. Diabetes can cause heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, loss of limbs, nerve damage and other complications.

The walk takes place in Kapi'olani Park, with registration from 7 a.m. and the walk at 8. To register or sponsor a walker, go to http://www.stepout.diabetes.org and search for the Honolulu event.

— Advertiser Staff