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Hispanic Health Committee rallies faithbased leaders for health
By Arooj Ashraf, La Prensa Correspondent
The Hispanic Health Committee “Tu TEMPLO es Sagrado” event will be held Thursday, August 2, 2012 from 5:30PM – 7:30PM as a kick off to the Alpha & Omega Church “Gran Campaña Misionera,” which will take place the day after faith based health fair on Friday, August 3rd & Saturday, August 4th from 6:30PM-9:30PM, at the U.S. Bank Parking Lot 3104 Clark Ave. located on the corner of West 25th Street & Clark Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44109
Census data shows that twice this decade Cleveland, Ohio was the poorest city of its size in the nation. Cleveland ranked as the second poorest city, as well. More than one-third (35 percent) of its residents live below federal poverty guidelines. More often these residents are uninsured, underinsured, minorities (African-American or Latino) individuals who have a lower socioeconomic status (less income and education) that leads to advance chronic health disease and have higher death rates.
The Pew Forum on Religion & Public state that 26 percent of Latinos in Ohio are affiliated with Evangelist Protestant Tradition; 76 percent of Ohio adults are Christian and 55 percent of Ohioans feel that spirituality is important in their life.
For the Hispanic Faith Based Community, it is important to implement an outreach program centered on Health and Spirituality, to encourage client participation in a comfortable environment. For these reasons the Hispanic Health Committee which mission is to reduce health disparities, increase access and promote the overall health and wellness of the Latino community in the Cleveland area through education, collaboration and community partnerships will be partnering with Alpha & Omega Evangelical Church on their “Gran Campaña Misionera”.
This collaboration is a way to help the faith based community take care of their health by empowering them with the information; tools and support they need to take charge of their health and improve their health care behavior. The resources at this health fair such as free blood pressure, glucose, BMI, sickle cell and HIV health screenings will help address a wide spectrum of needs across the Hispanic faith based health care continuum. This event will also help to educate community health care workers on the importance of cultural competency sensitivity which is an important step in reducing or eliminating Latino health disparities.
A group of active and passionate Latino Christian leaders have been recruited to help assist in this first time ever health care and spirituality community initiative which is sure to help bridge the gaps between spirituality and health.
The Alpha & Omega Church “Gran Campaña Misionera” & Hispanic Health Committee “Tu TEMPLO es Sagrado” Event, is open to the general public and will include musical performances by local Hispanic Evangelical church bands, free food, children activities and free parking. Metro Health Medical Systems is the premium sponsor for the event.
For more information on this event or to help support, please call Jasmin Santana at (216) 624-9945 or by e-mail [email protected]
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