Prevention
Preventing Illness With Education and Nourishment
The key word in Naco Wellness Initiative’s mission has always been Wellness. “We aren’t doctors. We are focused on what you need to do to live a healthy lifestyle,” said NWI Founder and Executive Director Tom Carlson. “The people of Naco are our friends and neighbors, and we can help them with wellness and preventive health education for everyone.”
In a town where 70 percent of the people suffer from diabetes or prediabetes, but individual blood glucose monitors are scarce, diabetes prevention and management workshops are the No. 1 wellness program the Barrio Nuevo and Colosio clinics offer. They were among the first workshops NWI devised, with help from the nursing professionals at Arizona State University’s Edson School of Nursing and Health Innovation.
“The World Health Organization is introducing the idea of rural community health workers all over the world, and that’s exactly what Naco Wellness’s Promotoras are,” said Ana Orrantia Murphy, ASU Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing for Barrett, The Honors College. “Promotora” is the title for these healthcare workers.
“It is amazing to watch what they do. They are trying really hard to instill healthy habits for life in their community, starting with kids, and to keep people monitored. They are not waiting for people to get sick. It’s extraordinary how far they have come, and it will be interesting to see their impact 20 years from now.”
Every morning Monday through Friday, Naco residents know they can drop in at an NWI clinic to have their blood sugar and blood pressure checked.
The Promotoras offer regular classes in disease prevention nutrition; first aid and wound care; prenatal and postpartum health; and dental and personal hygiene, including handwashing.
“It fascinates me to be able to work in the clinic,” said Promotora Irasema “Chari” Loreto, who has worked for NWI for nine years. She particularly likes helping people who can’t afford to visit the rural health clinic. “You feel great love at our clinic, and I have friendships with more and more people. They tell me about their life stories, and I have feelings for them and the different things they go through.”
“It is amazing to watch what they do. They are trying really hard to instill healthy habits for life in their community, starting with kids, and to keep people monitored. They are not waiting for people to get sick. It’s extraordinary how far they have come, and it will be interesting to see their impact 20 years from now.”
Prevention
Help Build a Healthy Community
Preventing diseases and sickness can be taxing our healthcare team. You can help support their work and help the people of Naco get healthy and stay healthy. Donations to our Health Care Clinics go toward programs that will create healing across the border.