Eli Lilly and Company has partnered with the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) to unveil a small tool aimed at battling a big problem -- chronic disease. Lilly is rolling out the free 148-page pocket-sized health book, Buena Salud, Buena Vida -- Su Guia de Recursos de Salud, with the support of NCLR during the organization's 2008 Annual Conference Sunday through Tuesday at the San Diego Convention Center.
NCLR is the largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States. One of the group's major areas of concern is the health and well being of Latinos' families. Given Lilly's commitment to helping people, a partnership between the two organizations was an obvious choice.
"This is a classic a win-win project," said Janet Murguia, NCLR president and CEO. "Pharmaceutical companies have an interest in improving patient care, which depends in part on having an informed consumer. We have an interest in making sure our community has access to the best information on how to prevent disease, as well as the highest quality treatment available. This timely and readable booklet advances both of these goals," said Murguia.
Buena Salud, Buena Vida - Su Guia de Recursos de Salud puts useful tips and resources in the hands of Hispanic Americans to help them lead a healthy life and prevent chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
According to the CDC, chronic diseases account for 70 per cent of all deaths in the US -- 1.7 million each year. These diseases also cause major limitations in daily living for almost one out of 10 Americans or about 25 million people.
While chronic diseases impact all races, Hispanics are more likely to suffer from chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes when compared to non-Hispanic whites. They are also less likely to receive regular, continuous care to combat their serious health conditions.
Factors that contribute to poor health outcomes among Hispanics include language and cultural barriers, lack of access to preventive care and lack of health insurance.
Buena Salud, Buena Vida - Su Guia de Recursos de Salud is aimed at overcoming some of the health obstacles Hispanic Americans face by providing useful information and resources in Spanish. The 148-page book includes an extensive listing of specific resources in each state where people can access useful programs and agencies in their area. Several of the resources are specific to the Hispanic community. The content of the book is also available online at www.lillyforbetterhealth.com. In addition, the book will also be made available to NCLR local affiliates via their national headquarters and at health fairs and other events around the country.
"For the past 130 years, it has been Lilly's mission to provide 'Answers that Matter'," said Jack Bailey, a vice president at Lilly. "Whether these answers are in the form of drugs that treat some of the world's most urgent medical needs, disease management programs that improve patient care, or the general health care information found in our book, our goal is to help people live better lives," Bailey said.
The CDC emphasizes prevention, indicating that although chronic diseases are among the most common and costly health problems, they are also among the most preventable. According to the CDC, "much of the illness, disability, and death associated with chronic disease is avoidable through known prevention measures. Key measures include practicing a healthy lifestyle (e.g., regular physical activity, healthy eating and avoiding tobacco use) and the use of early detection practices (e.g., screening for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers, diabetes and its complications, and depression)."
Inside Lilly's free 148-page health resource book, readers will find information on each one of these key measures and more. Chapters include: Exercise and Nutrition; Children's Health; Women's Health; Men's Health; Older Adults; Mental Health; Diabetes; Living Heart Healthy; Cancer Screening; Substance Abuse/Tobacco Cessation; Veterans Health; and Patient Assistance Programs.
Addressing key prevention measures can go a long way toward helping people improve their health. A better state of health not only impacts the life of the individual, it also has the potential to reverse the current trend of rising health care costs. "We believe that prevention and management of chronic diseases are viable options to manage rising health care costs while maintaining the access Americans have to vital medications and treatments," said Bailey.
Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations.
The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) -- the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States -- works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. Through its network of nearly 300 affiliated community-based organizations (CBOs), NCLR reaches millions of Hispanics each year in 41 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia.