Through Reading Connections and the Montagnard Central Highlands Church, MDA recently participated in a blood pressure clinic. Many adults in the Montagnard community have high blood pressure. Some are not aware that diet, exercise and reduction in smoking endanger themselves and their families.
•They do not realize certain popular condiments and other products essential for Southeast Asian cooking have high concentrations of sodium. See examples we show our clients.
•Men may regard outdoor work such as roofing as exercise and women may say they are too busy with running a household.
•They may not be aware of the dangers of second hand smoke to non-smokers. One client said her husband smoked 5 packs a week. Even if most of that was done at work, smoking at home brings smoke exposure to everyone.
Improving individual and community health means changing behavior. A lot has to happen before an individual or family decides to change; if it was a simple matter of informing people of health risks, there'd be no obesity, diabetes, hypertension, AIDS or drug and alcohol problems in the US.
We know enough now about health and behavior to imagine what it might take to improve the Montagnard community's health (besides the obvious, affordable care). These might include involving groups rather than relying on individuals' own commitment to daily exercise, friendly competitions, the support of churches and schools, etc.
But what precisely might work for the Montagnard community?
Bill Moyers, the PBS host, has had several programs about health and healthcare in the US. Below are links that showcase one way in which a minority community decided to make health a priority.
Dr America Bracho, and how she got her community to deal with diabetes:
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/10162009/watch2.html
On promotores ("promotors") as effective community organizers:
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/10162009/brachoexcl_flash.html
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