SAHARA seminar focus on preventing diseases among South Asians

CERRITOS, CA: On Sunday, September 20 the South Asian Helpline and Referral Agency (SAHARA) hosted its third educational seminar of 2009 focusing on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The event, titled "Live Well, Live Healthy" took place at the Cerritos Library.

Presentations by five professionals, including medical doctors and nutritionists, focused on understanding and preventing diseases and other health problems specifically affecting the South Asian population.

Nirupa Sejpal-Parmar, the Education Director of SAHARA and organizer of the event explained that although SAHARA focuses on preventing domestic violence, it also emphasizes and works toward educating people about maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
This includes mental, emotional, and physical health.

Thus, SAHARA's aim is to shift dialogue away from disease and treatment and towards a greater emphasis on healthy lifestyles and prevention. Similarly, SAHARA aspires to shift focus away from community needs and deficits and towards community resources and assets. "Live Well, Live Healthy" was a step in this direction.

The event began with a presentation by Nisha Ali, a choreographer and dance instructor. Ali had audience members on their feet dancing and working out to songs from Bollywood. The performance was followed by a presentation by Dr. Renu Jivrajka, who explained that three of the most prevalent health issues affecting South Asians are heart disease, diabetes, and poor mental health.

Next, there were three co-presentations by Juhi Pithia, Vandana Sheth, and Aditi Shah on nutrition and diet for the South Asian community, focusing on how to eat healthy and delicious food.

Lastly, the seminar closed with a presentation by Fred Alamshaw on the benefits of exercise for the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle. The event was a great success and enjoyed by all those in attendance.

"Live Well, Live Healthy" was a continuation of the educational seminar series hosted by SAHARA. Previous events have focused on emotional health and spirituality. SAHARA is a non-profit agency serving the South Asian community in southern California since 1991.

Since 2006, the organization has provided almost 40,000 services related to domestic violence and assisted 364 unique clients. SAHARA is committed to responding to community needs and focuses on education as a method of creating a healthy lifestyle.

India Post News Service