Esperança Collaborates with American Heart Association to Implement Heart Health Program
(PHOENIX – Feb. 18, 2020) – Esperança, a Phoenix-based nonprofit whose mission is to improve health and restore hope both locally and globally, has collaborated with the American Heart Association’s Greater Phoenix division to implement heart health classes and provide free blood pressure monitors to seniors living in HUD housing.
The American Heart Association has donated 100 blood pressure monitors as well as provided educational materials, in both Spanish and English, that include information about the consequences of high blood pressure, blood pressure measurement flyers, “salty six” infographics and blood pressure tracking logs.
Esperança will distribute the monitors and the materials as part of its hour-long education sessions on blood pressure and sodium reduction held at Avondale Senior Center, Aeroterra Senior Village, Paseo Abeytia and Casa Pedro Ruiz.
“Although February is recognized nationwide as American Heart Month, Esperança is dedicated to educating adults and seniors throughout Maricopa County year-round,” said Jazmin Hernandez, community health educator. “In the past year, Esperança has provided preventive education to almost 500 adults and seniors to fight the risk of cardiovascular disease, and now thanks to AHA, we are able to provide these valuable resources in their native language – which is huge!”
Esperança’s health educators empower seniors to take control of their blood pressure by teaching them how to take their measurements and encouraging them to follow up with their physicians using their blood pressure logs.
In addition, the program provides seniors with the opportunity to learn about nutrition. Each participant will take home a goodie bag with fresh produce, and one lucky winner will also take home a slow cooker and heart healthy foods.
About Esperança
Derived from the Portuguese word for “hope,” Esperança has been dedicated to transforming lives since its inception in 1970. Now celebrating 50 years of service this year, globally Esperança works within some of the poorest communities in Nicaragua, Bolivia, Ecuador, Mozambique and Peru, providing health education, food security, disease prevention, access to clean water, ecological home-building and life-altering surgeries. Further, the organization also serves under-resourced children, adults and seniors in Maricopa County through programs such as oral health, chronic disease prevention and management, nutrition, and parent ambassador training. For more information, please visit: www.esperanca.org.
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
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