What is it that immigrants desire once they arrive here, and what is it that they are lacking? In many cases, it is health care.
In its recent survey of immigrant women, New America Media found that 30 percent of all immigrant women and 40 percent of all Latinas did not have any form of health care coverage.
This is a story that the ethnic news media cannot run out of imagination to explain what is happening.
In an excellent piece today on the health dilemmas facing immigrant children here illegally, Chicago Tribune reporter Antonio Olivo touched on one angle.
But there are others.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-immigrant-health-transplantaug11,0,3342811.story
As states and communities cut back, how have immigrants and refugees suffered?
How have communities dealt with the health issues of refugees who have lived for years in desperate conditions in camps awaiting their chances to come here?
How do working-poor immigrants cope with unemployment, no health care and their health care bills? Do they live off of underground doctors and uncontrolled, underground medicines? Do they work sick and get so sick they cannot work?
Do elderly immigrants get the health care they are entitled to?
Do immigrants crowed into Chicago’s weary and much used housing get sick more often and more seriously, and from what?
So many stories to tell and so many who would benefit from hearing them.
Here is a link to a website that offers tips, resources and good story examples on reporting on health:
And from my colleague Curtis Black, I’d like to point out this:
Latino Women Organize as “Health Promoters”
Newstip Date: 10-17-2002
In addition to barriers of language and income, new immigrants are often denied access to health services on the basis of legal status. Five years ago a group of Latino women in South Chicago began organizing to marshal resources to meet their community’s health needs. They went on to found the Centro Communitario Juan Diego, where a grassroots “health promoters” program continues to bring free services and train women in health issues — and develop leadership skills. For two years the health promoters have been part of the center’s HIV program.
“They are an amazing group of women,” said Oswaldo Lopez, a volunteer with American Red Cross who works on HIV outreach to Latinos. “They’ve faced so many barriers working in the Latino community, and they’ve overcome them all.” Coordinator Rosio Nazimek says “a lot of taboos are broken” talking about safe sex and handing out free condoms. In addition to HIV issues, the six-week health promoters training covers breast cancer, asthma and diabetes, as well as domestic violence and human rights; advanced trainings are also offered. Graduates “become HIV activists,” Nazimek said, working at clinics or hospitals or with the center doing outreach to at-risk youth.
A graduation ceremony for the current health promoters class will be held in mid-November; a health fair is planned for Nov. 22 at St. Kevin’s Church, 10509 S. Torrence. Centro Communitario Juan Diego is dedicated to serving “the poorest of the poor” and promoting social change, with trainings in human rights and immigration rights, and tutoring and after-school programs, especially for Spanish-speaking children in English-language schools.
More Info:
- Rosio Nazimek at Centro Communitario Juan Diego, 773-731-0109 ext 26
- Oswaldo Lopez at American Red Cross of Greater Chicago, 773-383-4695
