|
|
SEPTEMBER IS HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH: The March of Dimes partners with The Arizona Department of Health Services and local organizations to educate Latinas on the importance of taking Folic Acid.
15-Sep-09 |
PHOENIX, ARIZONA, 9/15/09 -- Hispanic Heritage Month is designated to celebrate and recognize the contributions and heritage of Hispanic Americans in the United States. It is also an opportunity to address health disparities facing Arizona’s residents, such as the high risk of a pregnancy affected by neural tube defects (NTDs). In fact, the risk is 1.5 to 3 times higher among Hispanic women in Arizona than non-Hispanic white women. Latinas have the highest risk of NTD-affected pregnancies among all women.
Research shows that consuming folic acid may help reduce up to 70% of all neural tube defects (NTDs), such as spina bifida and anencephaly. These rare NTDs affect roughly 100 babies in Arizona a year; 60% of those are Latino babies. “100 babies may not sound like a significant number, but when over half of those babies are being born into the Latino community…we need to do something about this,” said George Díaz, Jr., March of Dimes Arizona Board Member and father of two children born prematurely. “The March of Dimes has several tools and resources available to educate women [and men] on the importance of taking care of their bodies and the importance of taking Folic Acid before and after conception.”
The Arizona Department of Health Services, Arizona Health Disparities Center (AHDC) has a campaign to educate Latinas of childbearing age about the importance of taking a daily multivitamin containing at least 400 micrograms of folic acid. The campaign includes a public service announcement (PSA) to promote daily multivitamin use among women of childbearing years.
“We are excited to partner with the Arizona Department of Health Services in order to educate more Latinas,” said Christina Martínez-Romero, March of Dimes Communications Director. “The March of Dimes is working hard to promote their mission of saving the lives of babies…all babies. We have partnered with other groups such as Chicanos Por La Causa, La Campesina Radio and Telemundo to craft a message that resonates with this community. It’s about securing a trust and making sure the Latino community knows where to go for information.”
Patricia Batres, Anchor for Telemundo; Maria Barquin, Local Programming and Public Affairs Director for La Campesina Radio, and Argelia Gomez, Chief Operating Officer for Chicanos Por La Causa are a few of the many who participated in a photo shoot to launch the March of Dimes Latino Awareness Campaign in August. “As Latinas in this community we are doing our part to communicate a message that is culturally and linguistically appropriate,” said Batres.
Posters, which are being designed by local Chicano artist El Moises, will be distributed with photos and messages from the campaign to businesses, clinics and hospitals across the Valley. “I am proud to be a part of this, and I hope our listeners take our message to heart and take control of their health,” said Maria Barquin, Local Programming and Public Affairs Director for La Campesina Radio.
WHAT: The March of Dimes and AHDC requests media outlets play the “Take Your Multi Vitamin” PSA during September and October in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month. The PSA invites viewers and listeners to visit the campaign’s bilingual website http://www.takemultivitamins.com/ where information on multivitamins and related health topics can be found.
WHEN: Hispanic Heritage Month - September 15 to October 15, 2009
For media inquiries, please contact Christina Martínez-Romero at cmartinez-romero@marchofdimes.com or 602-287-9929, or Janey Pearl at pearlj@azdhs.gov or 602-364-1201.
For a copy of the PSA please contact Zipatly Mendoza at zipatly.mendoza@azdhs.gov or 602-542-2909.
ABOUT THE MARCH OF DIMES:
The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org
###
|
 |
|
|
|
|
