AMHP PLEDGES TO FIGHT OBESITY WITH FIRST LADY 

American Muslim Organizations Join Let’s Move Faith and Communities, Praise Congress for Efforts to Improve Child Nutrition
   
WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 3, 2010) – First Lady Michelle Obama addressed community leaders from around the nation on a conference call earlier this week to encourage faith-based organizations to join the Let’s Move Faith and Communities campaign. Rabia Akram, President of American Muslim Health Professionals (AMHP), along with eight other faith and community leaders joined the First Lady at the White House, where she pledged to help combat obesity by committing AMHP and its members to a number of ambitious goals.

Over the next year, AMHP will work with its member organizations from across the country, which include free clinics and community centers, to walk at least 10,000 miles, achieve twenty Presidential Active Lifestyle Awards (PALA), host two summer food assistance programs, and set up a mosque-based farmers market or community garden.
“We strongly believe in the importance of educating our communities to improve the well being of our members, and so AMHP is very excited to join Let’s Move” stated AMHP’s President, Rabia Akram.
 
The First Lady urged community and faith leaders to become more actively involved in Let’s Move through measureable and engaging local activities. She also highlighted a new toolkit created to guide faith and community organizations interested in participating, which can be found at the Let’s Move website (http://www.letsmove.gov/action.php).

In addition to supporting Let’s Move, AMHP congratulates Congress on its recent efforts to substantively improve school nutrition programs for children across the country. AMHP recognizes that although community and individual efforts to address obesity are necessary, Congressional leadership and action to support healthier lifestyles are equally important. Please contact us at contact@amhp.us to learn more about how to participate in Let’s Move.

Picture above:  First Lady Michelle Obama participates in a Let's Move! Faith and Communities conference call with faith leaders in the First Lady's East Wing Office at the White House, Nov. 29, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

DISCLAIMER: This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.  

 

AMHP ROLLS OUT ITS FLU VACCINE CAMPAIGN

Halting A Real Threat: Preventing H1N1 and the Seasonal Flu In Our Communities

A Guide to Help Leaders of Washington Area Islamic Centers and Muslim Organizations Educate Their Communities about the Influenza Vaccine

October 2010

This year, AMHP is launching a pilot program in the Washington Metro area to engage imams, moulanas, and other Muslim leaders to help keep our communities healthy.  Based on the success of this pilot, we may do a nationwide rollout in the future.  We are excited to have you onboard as active partners in our cohort!  As trusted leaders, you are uniquely positioned to communicate important health information about the need for vaccination and healthy practices in an effective and motivating manner.
 

Problem

• Seasonal flu and H1N1 are destructive but preventable illnesses
• In serious cases, the flu virus can lead to pneumonia and death.
• The elderly and infants are at a greater risk than the general population due to a weak immune system.
• On average, 5 to 20 percent of American get the flu, 200,000 are hospitalized, and between 3,000 and 49,000 people die yearly from it.
• H1N1 had a smaller than anticipated impact as a pandemic in 2009. This is largely due to concerted global surveillance, vaccination, and treatment efforts.  Still, H1N1 claimed the lives of 17,000 in the US alone, most of whom were young adults.  The seasonal flu is different from the common cold.  Both are viral but the common cold is less severe, has no vaccine, and spontaneously resolves itself after 7-10 days. 
 

Solution

• Recommend the flu shot: This year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta are recommending the seasonal flu vaccine (or flu shot) to everyone over the age of 6 months.  The vaccine is created to prevent H1N1 and two varieties of the seasonal flu that are expected to be most prevalent.
• Reinforce the message: This vaccine only requires one injection and is effective for the entire flu season.  There are a number of people in the US who are traditionally difficult to reach with health messages and interventions.  As faith leaders, you know who is most vulnerable and hard-to-reach in your community, and you know how to reach them. 
 

Specific Tactics

• October 22nd “Flu Khutba”: Commit to offer a khutba to discuss impetus to prevent the spread of the flu and to get a flu shot.
• Display education poster prominently: AMHP has crafted a poster that includes succinct health and Islamic messages to educate masjid goers and help them locate places offering flu shots.
• Repeat Messaging during halaqas and majalis: People need reminders and reinforcement. It is important to have the entire masjid leadership reinforce the message of flu vaccines and good healthy practices such as coughing into ones’ sleeves and washing hands frequently. 
 

Key messages from Qur’an and hadith

1. Seek knowledge: Influenza is serious and we must first educate ourselves about this virus and the illness it can cause.
2. Body as amana: Your body is an amana (trust) from Allah. Your body, thus, has rights over you.  To be true to Allah, you must be true to your body.
3. Protect one another: Your duty as a Muslim it to protect your neighbor, the young, the elderly—essentially, the most vulnerable in the community.  Vaccination of yourself helps others around you from getting the illness.

To read a complete AMHP flu khutbah guide, please click here.

 

AMERICAN MUSLIM LEADERS ANSWER OBAMA’S HEALTH CARE CALL

HHS and the White House Urge Faith Leaders to Inform Communities about Health Care Changes Starting Thursday, September 23

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 22, 2010) – Yesterday afternoon, President Obama and Secretary Kathleen Sebelius of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services joined faith leaders from around the nation on a conference call to celebrate the 6-month anniversary of health care reform advances and to address new benefits that will come into effect this Thursday, September 23, 2010 under the new Patients’ Bill of Rights.  For example, young people up to age 26 will now be able stay on their parents plan, whereas the previous standard cut-off age was age 23.

The call included questions from notable faith leaders, including Dr. Ingrid Mattson of the Islamic Society of North America, and was attended by representatives of over 50 free clinics affiliated with American Muslim Health Professionals (AMHP).

“Faith is a powerful motivator for health care reform advocacy. Health is a human right, and members of faith communities must continue to push forward together and improve health in America in these important days ahead of us,” stated AMHP’s President, Rabia Akram.

Secretary Sebelius underscored the importance of faith communities in improving the health of the nation, citing people’s deep trust and regular engagement within their communities, common to faith organizations.  American Muslims in the health profession have consistently worked together in their mosques, clinics and charitable organizations to provide public health and medical assistance to all Americans, particularly those most in need.

President Obama urged community and faith leaders to educate their communities about the upcoming health care changes and thanked leaders for clarifying misconceptions about benefits in the Affordable Care Act. AMHP is answering the President’s call and will be providing information about these benefits, beginning Thursday (September 23, 2010) morning on AMHP’s website and asks its members and allies to share information about these new benefits with their congregations.

AMHP applauds the President and Secretary’s commitment to improving the health of the nation and recognizing the important role of faith organizations in realizing this goal.

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Are You Ready for Better Health Care beginning September 23, 2010?

September 23, 2010 represents a new day for American consumers in our health care system due to a series of new rights, benefits, and protections under the Affordable Care Act that will go into effect. Below is a summary of the new restrictions for insurance companies and rights for consumers, collectively referred to as the Patient’s Bill of Rights.

American Muslim Health Professionals (AMHP) urges you to share this important information with your family, friends, colleagues, and community members.

• Deny coverage to kids with pre-existing conditions.
Health plans cannot limit or deny benefits or coverage for a child younger than age 19 simply because the child has a pre-existing condition like asthma.
• Put lifetime limits on benefits.
Health plans can no longer put a lifetime dollar limit on the benefits of people with costly conditions like cancer
• Cancel your policy without proving fraud.
Health plans can’t retroactively cancel insurance coverage – often at the time you need it most - solely because you or your employer made an honest mistake on your insurance application.
• Deny claims without a chance for appeal.
In new health plans, you now have the right to demand that your health plan reconsider a decision to deny payment for a test or treatment. That also includes an external appeal to an independent reviewer.

Insurers will no longer be able to:

1. Deny coverage to kids with pre-existing conditions.
Health plans cannot limit or deny benefits or coverage for a child younger than age 19 simply because the child has a pre-existing condition like asthma.
2. Put lifetime limits on benefits.
Health plans can no longer put a lifetime dollar limit on the benefits of people with costly conditions like cancer
3. Cancel your policy without proving fraud.
Health plans can’t retroactively cancel insurance coverage – often at the time you need it most - solely because you or your employer made an honest mistake on your insurance application.
4. Deny claims without a chance for appeal.
In new health plans, you now have the right to demand that your health plan reconsider a decision to deny payment for a test or treatment. That also includes an external appeal to an independent reviewer.

Consumers in new health plans will be able to:

1. Receive free preventive services.
New health plans must give you access to recommended preventive services such as screenings, vaccinations and counseling without any out-of-pocket costs to you.
2. Keep young adults on a parent’s plan until age 26.
If your health plan covers children, you can now most likely add or keep your children on your health insurance policy until they turn 26 years old if they don’t have coverage on the job.
3. Choose a primary care doctor, ob/gyn and pediatrician.
New health plans must let you choose the primary care doctor or pediatrician you want from your health plan’s provider network and let you see an OB-GYN doctor without needing a referral from another doctor.
4. Use the nearest emergency room without penalty.
New health plans can’t require you to get prior approval before seeking emergency room services from a provider or hospital outside your plan’s network – and they can’t require higher copayments or co-insurance for out-of-network emergency room services.

Find more information at http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/overview.html
Adapted from HealthCare.gov, 9/22/2010
 

 

AMHP IN ATTENDANCE AT CELEBRATION OF HISTORIC SIGNING OF HEALTH REFORM BILL

After decades of tireless preparation and countless attempts, the United States Congress has finally passed comprehensive health care reform.  This historic legislation profoundly improves the nation's public health system through a series of provisions focused on health insurance reform, expansion of existing federal programs and investment in emerging health infrastructure.  Upon complete implementation, the bill is expected to extend health coverage to over 30 million, significantly improve the quality, accessibility and affordability of existing plans and reduce the national deficit by approximately $100 billion.

Over the course of the past year, AMHP has taken a proactive role in supporting health care reform.  We have developed policy positions and encouraged our members to engage decisions makers to bring about change.  AMHP has also participated in array of educational activities to inform the community about health care reform and engaged governmental channels, including Congressional visits, forums, publications, and federal consultation.  The bill contains a number of targeted reforms advocated by AMHP namely scholarships and loans for minority health workforce development, data collection on minority Americans, major investment in community health centers, and substantive improvements in preventive health.

In recognition of AMHP's service and dedication, the White House invited AMHP to the celebration of this momentous occasion.  Dr. Faisal Qazi attended the celebration that took place after the signing of the bill on Tuesday, March 23, 2010.  AMHP is honored to have been able to represent American Muslims throughout the nation in this historic celebration, and looks forward to further participation as the law is implemented.

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