South Asian Health Foundation
- To promote improvements in the quality of, and access to, healthcare and health promotion in South Asians.
- To promote research that leads to the above objectives
The SACHE campaign.
Following a successful pilot, in 2007-08 the South Asian Health Foundation has rolled out a national programme of grass roots, community based heart health education sessions. These are tailored to the diverse needs of each South Asian community and delivered in a bi-lingual way in the language, format and style familiar to these groups. The programme is delivered in bespoke health education sessions in temples, mosques, gurudwaras and community centres.
The SACHE campaign covers accurate, simple and standardised key messages to promote a healthy heart:
- What is heart disease?
- Why is it common in South Asian communities?
-
the risk factors
- What can be done to reduce risk?
- lifestyle modification
- What might be expected as standard care if you have heart disease?
It provides education on primary and secondary prevention of heart disease to the public (including so-called hard-to-reach groups), patients and health professionals alike.
Health education campaigns needs to be sustainable - continuously reinforcing key messages pertinent to the health risks surrounding disease - if any change is to be achieved in the long term.
Priorities
- Provide strategic leadership in policy and health advocacy for professionals and patients
- Promote health by providing education and resources to healthcare professionals and patients
- Improve access to services by highlighting areas of need and potential for improvement
- Facilitate the development of a network of healthcare professionals to disseminate information and improve joined up working
- Promote high quality research and facilitate the dissemination of research findings