Salud Sin Barreras/Health Without Barriers on NJN and Online at NJN.NET

TRENTON– Salud Sin Barreras/Health Without Barriers, a documentary focusing on the critical health issues facing the Hispanic community, will air on NJN and online at njn.net on Thursday, November 18 at 9 pm; Thursday, November 25 at 7 pm; and Sunday, November 28 at 8 am. This half-hour documentary, hosted and narrated by ABC’s John Quinones, breaks down the health barriers that affect Latinos and provides insightful information from medical experts, national leaders and celebrities. The program explores the day-to-day reality of individuals who try to navigate the health-care system. It reveals the importance of preventive care, encourages personal life style changes and promotes taking an active role in family health care. Major funding for the program, promotion and a Spanish subtitled version available on DVD was provided by AARP.
Salud Sin Barreras/Health Without Barriers is an inspirational documentary that provides a view of how individuals are breaking the physical barriers and the cultural barriers of the medical system. Wendy, the 22-year-old president of Destiny’s Angels, a group on a mission to break the barriers placed by society on men, women and children in wheelchairs, gives a face to the challenge. The documentary brings to light the issues of language, misunderstanding, lack of health insurance and the negativisms of poor Latino communities caught in the spiral of economic plight and helplessness. Dramatic stories are supplemented by special guest commentary from individuals like nationally recognized cooking expert, Daisy Martinez, who encourages Latinos to change their eating habits and Laura Posada, wife of NY Yankees’ catcher Jorge Posada, who tells the story of her personal battle against a brain and skull illness that threatened the life of their son.
Across the nation, the financial crisis is taking its toll on hospitals and major medical centers. These institutions of emergency and primary medical care are often in areas with a high concentration of Latinos where many of the clients are poor and underinsured. Economically deprived and lacking transportation, patients who once had to simply walk a few blocks to a hospital must now travel miles for health care. This documentary shows you how an organized community can break this barrier of access to healthcare.
Salud Sin Barreras / Health Without Barriers was produced by an Emmy Award winning team consisting of producer and writer William Q. Sanchez, contributing producer Jill A. Hargrave, executive producer Janice Selinger, editor Rick English, and graphic artist Steve Oleszek. Background music for the program was performed by Ana Maria Rosado.
NJN’s first health special on this subject, Su Salud Primero/Your Health First , which was sponsored by the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey and The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, received the 2009 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award in the Community Service category and took first place in the Philadelphia Press Association Awards for Television Public Service.