Lao health program first of its kind in Elgin

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among Asian women. Yet this group has the lowest rates of breast cancer screenings of any ethnic group in the United States.

These two statistics, cited by the Chicago-based Asian Health Organization, have highlighted the need for the Silk Brocade Project, a grant-funded program that will be the first of its kind reaching out to the Lao community in Elgin to educate women on breast and cervical cancers.

Mona Artani is the project coordinator for the Asian Health Coalition, which has conducted similar programs with other Vietnamese, Cambodian and South Asian communities.

“Asian-American women, as a whole, tend to not go get preventive screenings,” Artani said. “Because of that, if cancer is found, it’s usually found at a later date. We’re trying to change their behavior one community at a time.”

The Silk Brocade Project, funded with a one-year Promoting Access to Health grant from the Centers for Disease Control, first will focus on training two Elgin Lao women to conduct educational outreach in their community. Then, starting in January, mother-daughter team Manivong and Janette Nanthavongsa will educate Lao women about the diseases.

May Saengpraseuth is the program director for the health and women’s departments of the Lao American Organization of Elgin. She will oversee the Silk Brocade Project from the community.

Saengpraseuth said the project goals are to educate 180 women and then sign up at least 75 for a free screening at VNA Health Care in Elgin.

“But we want to exceed the expectations,” Saengpraseuth said.

Saengpraseuth, 26, lives in Chicago but grew up in Elgin after her family arrived as refugees in 1989.

The Fox Valley is home to the largest Lao community in the Midwest and almost 90 percent of the Laotians here are immigrants. Saengpraseuth said that is why education and outreach in Elgin is so important.

“Back in Laos, there is no annual doctor’s visit,” Saengpraseuth said. “You don’t have money for that. Unless you’re dying, that’s the only time you’re going to the hospital. That mentality is brought here with a lot of first generation people.”

The Silk Brocade Project will continue through September 2012 to try to change that mentality, but Saengpraseuth said this is just the beginning of bringing more services to the underserved Laotian community in Elgin.