Mahalo to the DOH’s Unsung Heroes: Our Bilingual Health Aides

Para-Medical Assistant Rensely Alik displays information about the Bilingual Health Aide program at Lanakila Health Center.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been common for some Hawaii residents with limited or no English-speaking skills to feel overwhelmed, stressed or even disenfranchised as they discover language barriers hindering their ability to fully access important health education resources and services. Which is why staff and contractors participating in the Bilingual Health Aide (BHA) program and Easy Access Project (EAP) – part of the Hawaii Department of Health’s (DOH) Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Division – have gone above and beyond to continue delivering critical language support services during this time.

BHA Section Supervisor Valerie Rose explains that in addition to helping these residents with resources and services, Para-Medical Assistants (PMA IIIs) and EAP contractors support COVID-19 mitigation efforts by educating them on prevention, risks and methods of managing spread of the disease’s virus.

“Each day, the team sees the relief that clients feel and their appreciation of the program,” says Rose. “As immigrants themselves, the PMA IIIs and EAP contractors understand the cultural barriers and anxiety experienced by immigrants and migrants in our state. By prioritizing the safety of staff and clients through social distancing and preventive measures, they continue to provide essential language support services with compassion and an understanding of the impact they have on each client.”

On Oahu, BHA support services are offered in Vietnamese, Marshallese, Chuukese, Cantonese, Ilocano and Tagalog. On Kauai, assistance is available in Spanish, Hawaiian, Ilocano and Tagalog.

Available languages for EAP clients on Oahu include Mandarin, Cantonese, Tagalog, Ilocano, Visayan, Chuukese and Marshallese; and Marshallese on Kauai.

Want to learn more about the DOH’s bilingual health aide services? Visit the Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Division’s Bilingual Health Services website.