We are a student organization at UCLA working to improve the health needs of at-risk, low-income communities in Southern California.
In Fall 2006, Vietnamese Community Health (VCH) was initiated by five UCLA students to assess the health problems of the Vietnamese-American community that had not been addressed by any other organization on campus. Through extensive research and personal interviews with health care providers throughout Orange County, VCH discerned several health problems in the Vietnamese community in the Garden Grove and Westminster areas, including high cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, hepatitis B, and cervical cancer; we found that an underlying cause of these issues is the lack of culturally sensitive health information and programs. VCH aspires to improve community health in the Vietnamese-American community through education, free services, and screenings throughout the Vietnamese community in Southern California. Equipped with a brand new staff for 2013-2014, VCH is excited to continue our traditions and expand our services. Just as the diversity in Orange County is growing, so are the health disparities within surrounding communities. This year, we aim to go beyond the Garden Grove and Westminster areas and provide our services in Santa Ana as well.
