MINORITY HEALTH: Program Educates Latinas On Family Health
While "[p]overty, illiteracy and language barriers" contribute to "poor health practices in many Latino communities," a program educating Latino women about family health will soon move into the Montclair community. "In Latino communities, the woman is perceived as the gatekeeper to the family's health," said Lori McNicholas, director of the Por La Vida program. The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin reports that during Por La Vida's 16-week course, participants will learn about "family health issues, with emphasis on reducing the risk of heart disease" through diet, nutrition and health care. Corina Garay, who works for the city, said, "Sometimes health food is more expensive. And it takes some savvy to find free health care." Women chosen to participate in the program will be trained to relay the information to other Latinas after completing the course. "The group leaders bring together their friends and family members. There is no special message that the health community has, no magic information about eating healthy and preventing disease," McNicholas said. In addition to learning how to transition their families to healthier eating and living, participants will learn about preventive health care such as breast self-examinations and mammograms. The Por La Vida program, which has already held courses in Downey, Bellflower, Merced and Modesto, is funded by the California Endowment, a nonprofit foundation of Blue Cross of California (Zwerling, 11/12). Click here for recent CHL coverage of health challenges in the Latino community.
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