Zuni Pueblo, Essay Example

Group Collaboration Paper

Zuni Pueblo is located in New Mexico, in a scenic valley area that is some distance from Albuquerque. In reviewing the windshield survey for this community, it appears that circumstances are relatively primitive, with dirt roads still in existence in some areas, as well as a lack of public transportation for local residents. Some of the buildings appear dilapidated and require some level of repair and consideration. In addition, the community is inundated with a number of health concerns, including obesity, diabetes, and kidney disease, all of which impact child and adults. It is important to address the community-based health needs of this population group in the following paragraphs in order to establish health promotion activities for local residents.

Community Needs

The Zuni Pueblo community resident profile was identified by using a number of different resources in order to determine the most important health concerns that the community faces. Many members of the community experience obesity, which reflects the importance of new approaches to improve health management activities on a continuous basis. In particular, childhood obesity is a serious concern that requires further investigation, as it appears to result from a lack of focus regarding diet, nutrition, exercise, and overall health behaviors (Bryan, 2013). These factors contribute to the overall challenges that the children of this community face, as well as the opportunities that are available to support its members on a continuous basis (Bryan, 2013). The University of New Mexico Health Science Centers’s County Health Report Cards demonstrate the importance of developing new strategies to improve the people of Zuni Pueblo through specific activities that are designed to address health promotion and other related challenges that impact this community.

Health Promotion

Programs are available in Zuni Pueblo to address health-related concerns, but these programs are somewhat limited in their scope and purpose (Pueblo of Zuni). Therefore, additional requirements must be considered that will enable the residents of Zuni Pueblo to improve their health and wellbeing by using specific strategies to reduce existing health disparities (Shah et.al, 2014). These factors require local residents to collaborate with community health workers in order to achieve these objectives, while also considering the level of education and support that is required to ensure that the chosen intervention methods are effective and appropriate for the needs of these residents (Shah et.al, 2014). This process requires a greater understanding of the issues and concerns that impact Zuni Pueblo residents and how they might benefit from new strategies for improvement that will address long-term needs and focus areas (Shah et.al, 2014).

Conclusion

The needs of the residents of Zuni Pueblo require an ongoing approach to improve overall health and wellbeing. This is accomplished through the adoption of new programs and intervention methods that specifically target these residents and provide them with much-needed support, guidance, and treatment for health concerns that are related to obesity and other factors. These programs are essential to the discovery of new techniques and strategies to accommodate new challenges within the community across its different populations. This process will encourage the development of educational programs that will be successful in meeting patient care needs effectively over time for both children and adults who reside in this unique community.

References

Bryan, S.M. (2013). NM officials concerned about childhood obesity Retrieved from http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_22728331/childhood-obesity-rise-nm

County Health Report Cards. Engaging in Communities to Serve the People of New Mexico. UNM Health Service Center. Retrieved from http://hsc.unm.edu/community/InTheCommunity/common/docs/CountyReportsFY13.pdf

Pueblo of Zuni. Tribal Programs. Retrieved from http://www.ashiwi.org/programs.aspx

Shah, V.O., Ghahate, D.M., Bobelu, J., Sandy, P., Newman, S., Helitzer, D.L., Faber, T., and Zager, P. (2014). Identifying barriers to health care to reduce health disparity in Zuni Indians using focus group conducted by community health workers. Clinical and Translational Science, 7(1), 6-11.