Community-Based Groups Well Positioned To Disseminate Health Information to Immigrants, AP/Washington Times Reports

Many health officials and advocates say that "community-based groups, not medical providers, are in the best position to spread health information and push for prevention among immigrants," the AP/Washington Times reports. Many immigrants have little formal education, lack health insurance and have limited English proficiency, making it difficult for them to obtain reliable and helpful health information. Adolph Falcon of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health said community-based organizations are important to disseminating health information because immigrants trust them and the groups can accommodate the specific needs of minorities. A recent health fair for immigrants at the Mexican Consulate in Atlanta offered dental exams, cholesterol screenings, diagnostic tests and information on sexually transmitted infections and other health information related to Hispanics. Astrid Rozo-Rivera of Kennesaw State University, who provided diabetes information at the health fair, said, "Knowing the time limitations for learning, we create our own curriculum, material that's sensible but complete and entertaining, full of color, popular refrains and mental images that are easy to remember because they are specific to Latin culture." She added, "The traditional relationship of dependence -- of waiting for the doctor, the health system or the medicines to be the sole ones with responsibility for health -- must be replaced with prevention and self-care" (Dell'Orto, AP/Washington Times, 1/22).