Surrey temples provide backdrop for co-op student’s health promotion efforts

A program aimed at improving healthy living in the South Asian community—and being promoted in local temples—is catching on, thanks to the efforts of “wellness ambassadors” like SFU health sciences co-op student Roman Bhangoo.

Developed by Fraser Health’s South Asian Health Institute, the Sehat program (Sehat means health in several south Asian languages) was launched last fall and brings together South Asian participants, local family practices, community resources and wellness ambassadors, to empower the South Asian community to address chronic diseases and clinical prevention.

The program is based on using culturally appropriate strategies to increase patient knowledge and awareness, and motivate patients to take ownership of their health.

Armed with resources translated into Punjabi and Hindi, ambassadors like Bhangoo set up health prevention booths at six local temples (others will be added soon), where visitors can learn more about diet, heart health, exercise and disease prevention, and take part in info sessions on various health topics presented by experts.

Surveys related to diet behaviors are also providing real-time feedback data to help evaluate the program and further develop its approaches.

Bhangoo spends several afternoons each month providing health information and fielding an increasing number of inquiries on general health matters from those who frequent the temples.

“We’re here to work with the community and provide alternatives and solutions to everyday health matters,” says Bhangoo, whose co-op term with the project will continue this fall. “Since we started these health prevention booths, interest has really grown within the community and now we get many questions. It’s satisfying to know that my work may help to improve lives.”

The South Asian population is known to be at higher risk of developing chronic diseases due to a combination of hereditary and environmental factors. Studies show that the chances of developing diabetes are four times greater among those in the South Asian community. They are also twice as likely to have cardiac disease, and more prone to hypertension, insulin resistance and obesity.

Fraser Health established the institute to focus on ways to reduce risk and improve lifestyles, says Deljit Bains, institute lead and Bhangoo's supervisor.

Bhangoo says setting up at temples provides a diverse window on the South Asian population and gives a particular connection to the older community, who often lack resources or opportunities to learn more about health issues.

“We have also started making a difference in the langar (food) of the temple with the help of our dietitian, so that more healthier choices are served,” notes Bhangoo, who has created info-graphic posters for the temple and its TV projectors as daily reminders to make healthy choices.

After completing her degree, with a major in population and quantitative health sciences and minor in gerontology, Bhangoo hopes to do her masters degree in public health, but she’s not narrowing her options just yet. “I do dream of traveling to India one day to put my skills to work, promoting health awareness and making an impact on improving lives globally.”