NCLR Summit Highlights Community Advocacy As Critical To Latino Health
SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Health experts, community leaders and government officials gathered at the NCLR (National Council of La Raza) Health Summit in San Antonio September 22–23 to discuss ways to improve Latino health and build healthier communities. Speakers shared best practices on such issues as helping those newly insured under the Affordable Care Act find medical care, increasing access to grocery stores with fresh fruits and vegetables, and advocating for healthier options in housing and schools.
"The places where we live affect our quality of life—particularly our mental and physical health. Poor air quality and a lack of sidewalks, for example, discourage physical activity and can damage health. We must build healthier communities so that more people can exercise, eat right and get the medical care they need," said Delia Pompa, Senior Vice President, Programs, NCLR.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), how communities are designed contributes to health challenges such as asthma, obesity and heart disease. Communities that require school bus engines to be turned off when idling can improve air quality and reduce medical emergencies for people with asthma. Neighborhoods with sidewalks and bike trails offer more opportunities for exercise and make it easier for people to maintain a healthy weight and reduce their risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
San Antonio, which is nearly two-thirds Latino, is located in Bexar County where 65 percent of the adults are overweight or obese. The city has encouraged bike sharing, supported healthier restaurant meals, increased fitness equipment in public spaces and strengthened physical education in schools. From 2010 to 2012, obesity rates in San Antonio and Bexar County dropped from 35.1 percent to 28.5 percent.
"We commend the work of our colleagues here in San Antonio for helping residents become healthier and more active. This is just one example of real-world community advocacy featured at the NCLR Health Summit that has changed people's lives for the better," said Pompa.
Please visit the NCLR website to access the Health Summit agenda and the "NCLR 2015 Profiles of Latino Health."
NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S.—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.
Contact:
Kathy Mimberg
(202) 776-1714
[email protected]
SOURCE National Council of La Raza
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