Immigrants Dance to Better Health in Lowell, Mass.

Posted Abril 7th, 2008 by Anonymous

in

Source:

EthnicNewz.org

Writer:

Eduardo A. de Oliveira

Elisa Garibaldi heads three wellness programs for Asian and Latino immigrants at the Lowell Community Health Center in Massachusetts. (NEWz photo: Eduardo A. de Oliveira)

Story Location

Lowell, MA

United States

See map: Google Maps

For the vast majority of Asian and Latino immigrants, life in Lowell, Mass., is all about working hard to prosper quickly.

That's exactly what worries the staff of the Lowell Community Health Center (LCHC). They have noticed increasingly that their immigrant patients prioritize financial stability over a healthier lifestyle.

And that has led to increased rates of obesity and other diseases among these immigrant communities.

The LCHC, a nonprofit healthcare provider with four branches in Lowell and one in Tewksbury, caters to a large immigrant population.

Latinos make up 28% of its patient demographics; Asians, 27%, with large communities from Cambodia and Laos.

Elisa Garibaldi, who works in LCHC's health promotion department, says that the first step is to change the culture of wrong priorities.

"Many Latino immigrants, especially Brazilians, think they will never fall sick in the U.S. They believe they can save money to be treated when they move back home," said Garibaldi.

However, the statistics say that is a risky mindset.

According to a 2003 survey of the Latino Coalition for a Healthy Calilfornia, 19% of Latino teenagers in the U.S., aged 12 to 17, are at risk of becoming overweight.

Among African Americans, the risk jumps to 22%, and 11% within the Asian population.

Garibaldi, a physician from Panama who was a pediatric surgeon in Brazil but has yet to be licensed in the U.S., is concerned. Obesity can lead to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other medical problems.

She coordinates three wellness programs at LCHC.

The first project involves training of health promoters. In 2007, the project empowered 21 Latinos, of whom none were in the medical field, to spread the word about disease prevention and how to access care providers within their own communities.

This year, the program will pay special attention to recruitment of additional health promoters, as most of last year's "Promoters" have returned to their native countries due to the current financial downturn in the U.S.

For the second program, which will start April 16, Garibaldi will conduct walking tours in Lowell. The pilot project is a partnership with the Lowell Adult Education Center, which is part of the city's Public School system. The adult education center also graduates more than 650 students in English competency every year.

"Did you know that a 145-pound person can lose 226 calories in an hour walking at 2 mph?" asked Garibaldi.

The Walking Lowell tours will take place two mornings per week through the city's downtown or along the rivers. Another route targets senior citizens.

But the program that has been the greatest success, leaving so many smiling, is the dance classes.

"It makes me fly. I feel liberated and rejuvenated," said Gail LaBranche, one of 20 women who participate twice a week in the dance program, to follow the salsa, samba and axe footsteps of Zito Camilo.

Axe is an Afro-Brazilian music that comes from Northern Brazil.

On the first of six weeks, patients and some nurses had their body mass index measured. BMI is a ratio of weight and height that indicates if a person is overweight or obese.

Brazilian immigrant Simone de Oliveira (no relation to reporter) feels that she's losing weight while having a fun time.

"Here you work body and mind. I feel I am progressively getting better. It's just a shame it'll only be for six weeks," she said.

The funding for the free dance classes will dry up at the end of the month. But some students are organizing to collect signatures to extend the program.

As for the dance instructor, Zito Camilo, he claims to be learning to respect his students' limitations as he tries to present them with a healthy lifestyle.

"The winters in Massachusetts are very long, and that's when people compensate for the low temperatures by eating or drinking more. I am simply here to help them access their best motivations and I truly believe that dance can have a positive impact in their lives," he said.

Source: EthnicNewz.org

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