The Pacific Islander Diabetes Prevention Program (PI-DPP) is a 5-year Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded initiative at AAPCHO that has established the infrastructure of local organizations across the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands, Hawaii, and the continental U.S. to deliver tailored, CDC-recognized lifestyle change programs to Pacific Islanders, Medicare beneficiaries, and the general population.
Get to know AAPCHO’s PI-DPP affiliate sites as they deliver culturally competent care for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.
Belau Medical Clinic
The Tutau Ra Did Splashers in Koror, Palau initially focused on swimming to be more active. Now, the program has become a strong community group. Rumi, a retired nurse and lifestyle coach, leads the group through the PI-DPP class. The group includes mostly women with a variety of lifestyles and ages who share in cooking classes, hikes, potlucks, and more. These women engage in activities that make them laugh, enjoy each other’s company while providing a positive environment to support each other in their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being to be happy.
National Tongan American Society
The Tongan culture finds its’ strength and wellness in social connections and gatherings, such as the family, church, village, town, and community. For Tongans, social wellness provides joy, laughter, socialization, and the appreciation of others to everyday life. Despite COVID-19, the National Tongan American Society uses Zoom and other technologies to continue fostering relationships and helping them achieve the goals of the Diabetes Prevention Program.
Arkansas Coalition of the Marshallese
Fei Debrum, John Calep, and Fressana Lawin, are lifestyle coaches for the Pacific Islander Diabetes Prevention Program, called “Arkansas Wodde Jeppil ñan Ajmour.” They enrolled over 700 participants. To date, 43% of their participants who have completed the program have lost at least 5% of their body weight. The coaches say that people love the program because they can see it is working.
Majuro Wellness Center
Majuro Wellness Center in the Marshall Islands has programs that focus on teaching people how to live a longer life through healthy nutrition. They host both gardening and cooking classes to encourage people to eat healthy and local foods.
Belau Medical Clinic
Mayumi Sone, one of the Pacific Islander Diabetes Prevention Program lifestyle coaches at Belau Medical Clinic, was trained as a coach this fall and is an athletic trainer in Palau. We appreciate Mayumi’s and the other amazing coaches at BMC!
Chuuk Women’s Council
The lifestyle coaches at Chuuk’s Women’s Council promote their diabetes prevention program and encourage healthy living through events such as cooking demos, community outreach events, and monthly community walks just to name a few.
Chuuk Community Health Centers
The Chuuk Community Health Centers team hosts walkathons, sports tournaments, Zumba sessions, and much more. Their lifestyle coaches ensure that community members, loved ones, and co-workers are supported as they prevent Type 2 diabetes.
Kosrae Community Health Center
At Kosrae Community Health Center (KCHC), Cecilia Sigrah serves as both the Coordinator and as a Lifestyle Coach for KCHC, in addition to serving the health center as the Operations Manager. Cecilia has been a local champion for a range of health issues, including nutrition, childhood obesity, and other non-communicable diseases.
