Pennsylvania Medical Society Commends Council of the City of Philadelphia on Resolution Declaring March Latino Health Month
The following is a statement that was given today by William W. Lander, MD, immediate past president of the Pennsylvania Medical Society and a practicing family physician from Bryn Mawr, during a Council of the City of Philadelphia meeting. During the meeting the council passed a resolution designating March as Latino Health Month. The Pennsylvania Medical Society and Congreso are currently running a mass media campaign called A Su Salud, which is focused on Latino health issues.
On behalf of the Pennsylvania Medical Society, I thank the Council of the City of Philadelphia for declaring March Latino Health Month and for recognizing A Su Salud and the program’s partners.
Today, in Pennsylvania and throughout our great country, concern is growing about the negative impact that certain lifestyle issues such as obesity and cardiovascular disease have on individuals as well as on society. As a family physician, I see how a few extra pounds on a patient can lead to health issues such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
By addressing these issues, we can create an atmosphere that encourages healthy living and a better quality of life.
That’s why the Pennsylvania Medical Society collaborated with Congreso and our sponsors to make A Su Salud a reality.
Again, thank you for recognizing A Su Salud and declaring March Latino Health Month.
City Resolution follows:
The Designation of March as Latino Health Month in Philadelphia
WHEREAS, more than 160,000 people of Hispanic heritage reside in the City of Philadelphia, comprising more than 10% of the City’s total population a growth of more than 70% in the last decade; and
WHEREAS, Latinos fare far worse on many health outcomes than the general population, and
WHEREAS, 14.3% of Latinos are diagnosed with Diabetes in South Eastern PA (SEPA), as compared to 8.1% in the general population of PA and 8.9% in the National Population; and
WHEREAS, 54.8% of Latino Children in SEPA ages 2 -17 are at risk of becoming obese as compared to 41.4% of Children of the general population, and
WHEREAS, 26.6% of Latino adults in SEPA are obese as compared to 22.8% of the general population; and
WHEREAS, the Pennsylvania Medical Society and Congreso are joining efforts to prevent adverse outcomes with obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease in the Hispanic communities to launch an unprecedented bilingual multimedia health initiative focused on improving the health of Latinos, under the guidance and support of the Philadelphia Department of Public of Health; and
WHEREAS, Congreso de Latinos Unidos, a leading non-profit community based Latino organization in Pennsylvania whose mission is to strengthen Latino communities through social, economic, education, and health services; leadership development; and advocacy; and
WHEREAS, the Pennsylvania Medical Society, a statewide physician organization has been advocating for the patient-doctor relationship since 1848; and
WHEREAS, these two organizations have facilitated the collaboration and support in this initiative of all Philadelphia health promotion and health care providers having a dedicated interest in the unique needs of the Latino community, to launch a bilingual multimedia health initiative focused on improving the health of Latinos, A Su Salud; and
WHEREAS, this initiative brings critical preventive health information and education to Latinos across eight counties in South Eastern Pennsylvania, through a culturally appropriate televised educational media component with four Latino healthy cooking shows aired on Telemundo via Comcast Cable Network in March, 2007, with Latino health professionals appearing as guests to speak about health and fitness topics in a culturally appropriate and compelling manner; and
WHEREAS, a print media component will include the distribution of nearly half a million bilingual recipe and health information booklets throughout these counties beginning in February, American Heart Health Month; and
WHEREAS, the campaign will also include free blood pressure and body mass index screenings offered at key venues throughout Philadelphia’s Latino communities, at Congreso de Latinos Unidos and most Latino primary health care facilities, directing individuals to treatment; and
WHEREAS, the City of Philadelphia recognizes the valuable platform which this campaign offers from which to mobilize efforts to reverse these health disparities; now therefore be it
RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, that we hereby establish March as Latino Health Month in Philadelphia; and
RESOLVED FURTHER, that an engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to a representative of both Congreso de Latino Unidos and the Pennsylvania Medical Society, on behalf of the Latino community of Philadelphia, as a commendation for their establishment of this campaign, and as a symbol of the sincere admiration of this legislative body
PRINTER'S NO. 2760
Last Updated: 7/31/2008