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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has just released data regarding the utilization of cancer screening tests (i.e., mammography, Pap smear and colonoscopy) by race/ethnicity. Here’s a direct quote from the report: “Screening rates for all three cancer screening tests were significantly lower among Asians than among whites and blacks.”
As an example, the rate of mammography within the past two years for Asian survey respondents was 64.1%. This compares to 72.8% among whites and 73.2% among blacks. Similarly, Asians received up-to-date colorectal cancer screening at a rate of 46.9%, as compared to 59.8% among whites and 55.0% among blacks. Data is also presented by Asian ethnic subgroups, including Chinese and Filipinos.
Early cancer detection greatly increases the chances of successful treatment. Clearly, Asian American health organizations and their partners must work to address this disparity in cancer screening rates. I would urge you to review this report. Click here for a link to the report.
-Doug Hirano, MPH, APCA Executive Director
We were recently asked to join other Asian American community members in a press conference demanding the resignation of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. One may wonder why an agency with a mission towards health improvement would want to go out on a limb against a county sheriff. I’m providing the text of my comments as an explanation:My name is Doug Hirano. I am the executive director of the Asian Pacific Community in Action. We’re a non-profit agency that works on behalf of the rapidly growing Asian American and Pacific Islander community to ensure that they have equal access to the health services and information that can help them achieve good health. Since 2002, we’ve helped thousands of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders get immunized, get screened for life-threatening diseases, and find a regular source of medical care. All of our programs are tailored to serve first generation immigrants and refugees facing real challenges of poverty, language, education and unemployment. In our 10 years of service, our work has taught us the power of grassroots advocacy, and so we also work to promote policies and practices that are fair to the needs of all Asian American and Pacific Islander individuals -- regardless of country of origin or citizenship status.It has become clear that the policies and practices of the Sheriff’s Office are a problem for communities of color, including Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, many of whom are recent immigrants and refugees. Many of our service recipients come to the United States seeking a just and fair society. Unfortunately, the discrimination, racial profiling and unconstitutional retaliatory actions taken by the Sheriff’s Office are reminiscent of the policies and actions for which they originally left their home countries. We are concerned that our community members are not seeking the government services they need and are entitled to because of the hostile and fear inducing atmosphere created by the Sheriff’s Office. Data indicate that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are over-represented among the very poor, but do not utilize government-funded services such as behavioral health care, cancer screening and nutrition services proportionate to their population size. For an agency charged with improving the health and well being of our communities, this is unacceptable.We believe that government services and policies are meant to level the playing field for all. We believe that law enforcement must protect everyone’s safety and rights equally. We believe in equal access to justice. Under Sheriff Joe Arpaio, none of these beliefs can be realized. Change is demanded. As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” We therefore request that Sheriff Joe Arpaio resign from office immediately. Thank you. - Doug Hirano, MPH, APCA Executive Director
2012 is indeed a very exciting year for us. We received a grant from Healthy People 2020 to conduct nutrition education intervention/workshops in the Bhutanese community. Bhutanese are nationals of the Kingdom of Bhutan. Bhutan is a landlocked country in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas. India borders the south, east, and west areas of Bhutan and China borders the north. Nepal and Bangladesh are also not too far from Bhutan.
The ancient traditions of Bhutan have been fiercely guarded as a result of having been almost completely cut off for centuries from the outside world. Bhutan, also known as “Land of the Thunder Dragon,” began to open up to the outsiders in the 1970s. Although ancient cultures and the breathtaking sceneries make Bhutan irresistible, tourism is restricted.
There might be restrictions in traveling to Bhutan, but there sure are no restrictions in learning from our Bhutanese friends who are among the newest members of our community in the United States. This project is a result our commitment in learning and growing together. Bhutanese community leaders identified the need for nutrition education among their people.
“Elders believe that they should drink water only when they sweat.”
“Regardless of whether or not they are in pain, some religiously take pain killers three times a day just like the medicines prescribed by their English-speaking doctors, whom they do not understand.”
“They suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, stress, depression and yet eat fatty food cooked in corn oil which is cheap and comes by the gallon.”
“What do doctors really mean by exercising?”
We not only actively listened to the community but did our part in researching the facts. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is a severe case of Vitamin B12 deficiency among the Bhutanese, which results in numerous hematologic and neurologic disorders. A nutrition education/intervention is crucial.
We are in the process of developing a culturally appropriate and linguistically competent nutrition education curriculum specifically designed for the Bhutanese. In partnership with Bhutanese Community Association of Arizona, input from experienced Bhutanese medical assistants and staff members from Mountain Park Health Center, we are striving to build a curriculum that will reflect the input from the community leaders, members, and Bhutanese women who do almost all the cooking. The curriculum will be delivered by trained lay health workers fluent in English and Nepali. The curriculum will also be translated in Nepali, which is the language spoken by the Bhutanese resettled in the United States.
For further information, please contact Ms. Kamana Khadka at (602) 265-4598.
- Kamana Khadka, Program Manager, Bridging Cultures
While many of us have very recently made resolutions around our eating and exercise habits, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is asking the public to adopt at least one additional New Year’s resolution: Be ready. To make this easy, they’ve initiated a “31 days of preparedness” blog offering a tip a day to improve readiness for any type of disaster or emergency.
The first three days’ of readiness tips have included some simple but sensible suggestions for preparing your “second home” – in other words, your automobile – for emergencies. Check back with the CDC blog for additional daily tips. I suspect you’ll be more knowledgeable and better prepared for the unexpected.
- Doug Hirano, MPH, APCA Executive Director
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