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Program Provides an Opportunity to Live a Healthier Life
NEVADA CANCER INSTITUTE (NVCI) is encouraging Nevada's American Indians to get healthy and active through the Just Move It campaign, having already enrolled more than 350 participants this year.
Just Move It is a national program created by Indian Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control to promote physical activity among American Indians. The program provides tribal communities with the awareness, understanding and tools to live healthier, longer lives and ultimately build healthier, sustainable communities. The national enrollment goal is one million American Indians.
Nevada Cancer Institute (NVCI) launched the Just Move It program in the summer of 2006 with the Las Vegas Paiute. Following the success of that pilot program, and with the support of Nevada's tribal communities, NVCI kicked-off Just Move It in six more American Indian tribes throughout Nevada this summer.
The seven Nevada tribes that have joined the Just Move It campaign include: the Las Vegas Paiute, Moapa Band of Paiutes, Duckwater Shoshone Tribe, Battle Mountain Band, Elko Te Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone and the Wells Band. Since January 31, 2007, NVCI has enrolled 357 participants in Just Move It.
During the second fiscal year of NVCI's Just Move It campaign, NVCI hopes to reach out to seven more Nevada tribes.
"In 2006 NVCI partnered with Nevada tribes to provide the Just Move It program as an opportunity in tribal communities to make an active choice of changing unhealthy life style behaviors," said Barbara Lawson-Risso, patient navigator/American Indian liaison. "It has been a long and rewarding process. Our ultimate goal is for the tribes to sustain their physical activities and for NVCI to have continuous programming in all of Nevada's 26 tribes."
Tribal communities are working diligently to improve overall health among tribal members with daily and weekly classes that include walking programs, volleyball, basketball, swimming, jack pot horseshoes and Rez Robics. Rez Robics is an aerobic workout compact disc made by and for Americans Indians.
In addition to the health benefits, researchers are learning that physical activity can also affect the risk of cancer. NVCI's Outreach & Education Department has visited various reservations to promote cancer awareness and provide cancer education workshops on breast and cervical health, nutrition, smoking cessation, sun safety and navigation services. Future workshops will include colon, lung, prostate, uterine and cancer survivorship.
The Just Move It campaign has a statewide goal of increasing the physical activity levels of 2,200 American Indian participants. NVCI is hoping the Just Move It program will reach the nearly 26,420 American Indians residing in Nevada, as reported in the 2000 U.S. Census.
"The Just Move It campaign has already begun improving the lives of the participants who are dedicated to it," said Joe Mike, Recreation Diabetes Activities Coordinator for the Duckwater Shoshone tribe. "We have had a good turnout at classes and people seem excited about the programs and reaching their personal goals."
The Elko Te Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone also is having success with its Just Move It program.
"Since beginning Just Move It we have distributed 800 swimming passes, compared to 200 the year before we started the program. That is incredible," said Phaline A. Conklin, diabetes coordinator for the Elko Te Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone. "I know people are enjoying their exercises. We also have about 20 children participating in a daily walk program after lunch."
This program was founded with the knowledge that exercise can help control weight, lower blood sugar levels, lower the risk of heart disease, increase self-esteem and increase overall health.
Sponsors of the program include the National Indian Health Board, National Congress of American Indians, national DM Program, NVCI and Nike, who is providing equipment at wholesale cost.
If you would like information on the link between physical activity and cancer, please go to www.cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/PhysicalActivity.
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Nevada Cancer Institute (NVCI) is the official cancer institute for the State of Nevada. A nonprofit organization, NVCI is committed to reducing the burden of cancer by pursuing the development of a comprehensive cancer research institute, as defined by the National Cancer Institute. Through the knowledge and expertise of the finest scientists, clinicians, educators and caregivers, the Institute provides hope to communities in Nevada, the southwest and beyond through research, education, early detection, prevention and high quality patient care. NVCI is striving for a future without cancer that is achieved through initiated and collaborative research in basic, clinical and population science. For more information, please visit www.nevadacancerinstitute.org or call (702) 822-LIFE.
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