Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report Rounds Up Recent News on Minority Health

The following is a summary of the latest minority health news:

• The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports on La Clinica del Nino, a Roswell, Ga.-based health clinic that serves the Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking populations in the Atlanta area. At the health clinic, "language isn't just a matter of convenience or comfort," the Journal-Constitution reports. Dr. Suzana Montana, the primary physician at the clinic, said, "Language is a very serious problem. If [patients] can't communicate with the doctor, many times they can't even do the medication" (Rodriguez, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 1/28).
• The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center is launching a year-long study of African-American breast cancer survivors in the hopes of improving survivors' quality of life by "deal[ing] with post-cancer health issues," the Houston Chronicle reports. In the study, Sisters Peer Counseling in Reproductive Issues after Treatment, or SPIRIT, some 142 black breast cancer survivors will meet in three sessions with peer counselors who are members of Sisters Network, a not-for-profit Houston-based national breast cancer support organization. The counselors, who received 20 hours of training, will focus on relieving symptoms of menopause, improving sexual function and decreasing "infertility-related anxiety." Karen Jackson, Sisters Network president and a study consultant, said, "Most breast cancer literature is not culturally sensitive to African-American women. In some situations, racism does seem to affect follow-up and care. If you have knowledge, you can ask the right questions." If successful, M.D. Anderson researchers hope to expand the program nationwide (Lake, Houston Chronicle, 2/5).
• The "key" to reducing disparities in minority health is "creating more programs requiring cooperation" between the health department and schools, businesses and the police department, Dr. Jimmie Smith, the supervisor of the Macon-Bibb County Health Services Program, said last week during a luncheon seminar to discuss the issue, the Macon Telegraph reports. The county has been dealing with such issues as teenage pregnancy and language barriers. Ecleamus Ricks, director of the Macon-Bibb County Health Department, said his department has begun contacting businesses, schools, law enforcement agencies and ministers. He added, "We want to have a health revival and have these ministers talking about health issues. But because of budget cuts, anything we do can't cost that much money. It's difficult" (Schwarzen, Macon Telegraph, 1/30).
• The Minnesota Department of Health announced on Feb. 3 that it will disburse $9.5 million in grants to programs statewide to address minority health, the AP/Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. Of the 49 grants, one will go to the Minneapolis-based Centro Inc., a social service agency that plans to use the funds on a series of three- and four-day retreats for teenagers and their families to "discuss teen pregnancy and sexuality" (AP/Minneapolis Star Tribune, 2/3).