Heart and Stroke Healthy City Recognition Program

• The City of Laredo, along with other Texas cities, will be included in the 2010 assessment process for the Heart and Stroke Healthy City Recognition Program from January to August of 2010. This program is administered by the Texas Council on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke (CVD Council) to recognize cities in Texas for their achievements in creating healthy communities.
  

• This state-wide program recognizes Texas cities for having in place a set of ten evidence-based, community indicators that are known to be important in reducing the burden of heart disease and stroke, which are the number one and number three killers of men and women in Texas and the United States.

• This year the City of Laredo Health Department will form a team of local stakeholders to participate in the city assessment process.  Input from the local stakeholdersis critical in order for Laredo to receive the gold standard and be recognized. 

Projecto Bienestar Laredo:

• The Bienestar Health Program is a bilingual school-based health program that aims to decrease dietary fat, to increase physical fitness levels, to prevent obesity, and to prevent diabetes. The program is research-based and implements kindergarten through eighth grade learning activities from a Social Cognitive Theory. The children learn these health behaviors through five health programs: The Bienestar Health and P.E. Curriculum, The After School Health Club, the Family and Community Program, and the Cafeteria Program. With these programs, the children have shown to learn the importance of cutting down on fatty foods, increasing fiber intake, and exercising regularly. The City of Laredo Health Department has provided the research arm for Projecto Bienestar Laredo.

Healthy Living/Viviendo Mejor (HL/VM)

• Funded by the Department of State Health Services is a unique family and community focused intervention for all to change behavior.  This is so important however “Changing behavior is difficult to do and diabetes means changing eating habits, doing more exercise and taking your medication correctly, it has to be a family affair”  said Dr. Hector F. Gonzalez, Director of Health.  Through HL/VM family members and persons with diabetes as well professionals in our community will be able to participate in FREE education classes on diabetes self management, cooking, fitness and exercise and peer educational activities.

• We need encourage healthier lifestyles to improve the life of our families. Just in Texas there are more than 2.2 million persons with diabetes.  Yet the risk of developing diabetes can be substantially reduced and complications can be prevented with adequate health education, proper eating habits, exercise, early detection and treatment.  The HL/VM initiative will help Laredoans with diabetes and their family members take control of their disease and live healthier by becoming better informed of the risks in developing diabetes and to better manage their diabetes.

• What is HLVM: these are interactive classes that focus on: 1). Awareness and knowledge of the seriousness of diabetes, its risk factors, and effective strategies for preventing complications associated with diabetes and preventing type 2 diabetes; 2). Help persons understand to manage their diabetes to live healthier; 3). Reduce the risk of diabetes by the community and family members of persons with diabetes and 4). decrease the number of Laredoans with undiagnosed diabetes.

• These free interactive classes are offered to persons with diabetes, their family members and anyone who wants to improve their health. They are offered in different sites throughout the year.   To enroll or for further information please call Dr. Erika Cavazos at (956) 795-4557 or Dr. Zaida Gonzalez at 956-795-4918.

Children's Environmental Health Initiative

• Funded by the Environmental Protection Agency border 2020 that is conducting environmental health risk assessment, surveillance and prevention.
• For more information please call : (956) 712-6017