Dr. Lor In the Media
"Kajua Lor, a clinical pharmacist and associate professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin, recalled that before the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that everyone wear face masks when out in public, those looks were common “even with my family members wearing masks."
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“With this pandemic looming over the world, there are outbreaks of xenophobia, hate crimes ... even spitting or coughing on Asian Americans,” she said. "The Hmong community didn’t bring the virus to the United States."
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The fear of becoming a victim of a racist incident can cause some members to withdraw from society, Lor said
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“I do think that creates a divide not only for the Hmong community but all Asian Americans in the Southeast Asian community here in Milwaukee,” she said. “It further isolates the Hmong community.”
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Lor also worries about the economic impact and the possibility people won't support Asian businesses and restaurants.
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“I think that’s been a huge barrier in the Hmong community and with even the Asian American community, just because those types things are affecting Asian Americans and the personal safety of the Hmong community,” Lor said. “What I would anticipate is we, as a community, come together because there’s a lot of healing that’s needed for this country and for Wisconsin.”
Kajua Lor, a clinical pharmacist with the Medical College of Wisconsin, is also worried about the economic impact and the possibility of people not supporting Asian businesses and restaurants.
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“I think that’s been a huge barrier in the Hmong community and with even the Asian American community, just because those types of things are affecting Asian Americans and the personal safety of the Hmong community,” Lor said. “What I would anticipate is we, as a community, come together because there’s a lot of healing that’s needed for this country and for Wisconsin.”
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Lor normally does research for diabetes but has shifted her focus to help answer medical questions and inform members of the Hmong community on best health practices during the pandemic.
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“Within the Hmong community, as a clinical pharmacist, I think it’s been crucial to advise on herbs or prescription medications,” Lor said. “There’s a lot of misinformation going around about remedies to prevent COVID-19, as well as which medications can be used for prevention of COVID-19.”
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Lor said she has been mainly advising people to maintain a physical distance, to not go out unless they must, wash their hands, disinfect surfaces, maintain a healthy diet and exercise.
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She has also been telling them about what symptoms to look for and if they feel like they do have the virus what medications they should and should not take.
“The Hmong community has been pretty receptive in terms of understanding that there are risks and that’s one of the reasons why these medications aren’t readily available to the public and you need a prescription,” Lor said.
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Lor said she also works to quell any anxiety experienced in the Hmong community.
“That anxiety is across many different cultures,” Lor said. “But there’s been shortages of not only masks, toilet paper, Lysol, cleaning supplies, but within the Hmong community — rice.”
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The Hmong community has taken a “shelter in place with rice” approach, Lor said. “My mom bought a bag of rice for me.”
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That urge to stock up on rice, Lor believes, arises from experiences older members of the community had in previous decades.
“I think that is reminiscent of the Vietnam War and the Hmong American experience,” Lor said. “That might be stemming from elderly (people) who know how it feels like to be hungry and they know that it's important to make sure they have rice.”
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