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AMHP Newsletter | April 2010
Message from the Board
Assalaamualaikum,
As we
continue to celebrate AMHP's efforts in health care reform, we are
also embracing a major initiative that AMHP has taken on. In
revitalizing some of the core values on which this organization was
established, AMHP has developed the Health Education Initiative (HEI).
Through this initiative, we are working to develop effective
health education presentations and interventions that will be
implemented at the community level, nationwide.
The
goal of the HEI is to provide health information in a manner that
respects the diverse religious and cultural heritage of Muslims, while
encouraging communities and individuals to take an active role in
addressing prevalent health issues facing their communities. By
approaching the health needs of our communities collectively, we hope to
not only inform and educate, but initiate behavior change that will
positively impact the well being of our communities.
As
part of the the Health Education Initiative, AMHP will be participating
in educational activities at the Inner-city Muslim Action Network's
(IMAN's) Takin' It To the Streets event on June 19th in Chicago.
We will also be presenting a session on Health Education and Prevention
at ISNA this year, during the weekend of July 4th, in Chicago. We
hope that you will attend both events and support our efforts in
educating the community on healthy living. The success
of the Health Education Initiative is dependent upon the efforts of AMHP
membership to help build relationships with their local community and
provide relevant health education that will be developed by the HEI
working group. To learn more about and participate in the HEI,
contact Rhonda Ragab at rragab@amhp.us.
We hope you will join us in this much needed Initiative to better
the health and well being of our communities.
Walaikumassalaam,
Madiha Qureshi
Secretary, AMHP
mqureshi@amhp.us
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 AMHP Partners with APHA for National Public
Health Week
AMHP partnered with the
American Public Health Association (APHA) to commemorate National Public
Health Week (NPHW), which took place April 5-11, 2010. An annual event
during the first week of April, NPHW encourages communities across
America to recognize the contributions of public health and raise
awareness of important issues that contribute to improving the public's
health.
The 2010 NPHW theme was "A Healthier America:
One Community at a Time." The theme was cognizant of the fact that the
community plays an integral role as we work toward building a healthier
America and that small changes can lead to major improvements in public
health and create healthier communities nationwide. The inspiration
behind this theme was the hope that everyone could participate by making
healthy changes at the individual, family, neighborhood, workplace,
school, community and national level .
For more
information on National Public Health Week and its 2010 campaign, please
visit www.nphw.org.
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Organization
Profile: MAADHI
Muslims Against
Alcohol Drugs Hookah & Intoxicants
Founded
by Br. Jason Vail Cruz in response to the surprising amount of drug and
hookah use by Muslim youth, MAADHI is a grassroots club that has a
youth board that meets at one of two Islamic Youth Centers in the
Phoenix Metro area of Arizona. Br. Jason, whom the youth affectionately
call "Uncle Jason", serves as a guide and a resource to the youth who
have an active facebook group and are planning a series of educational
events and value changing activities amongst Muslim and non-Muslim
youth.
MAADHI
began out of a concern with the large amount of self-reported
substance use and smoking (especially hookah) by Muslim youth and
decided to empower youth that were against the behavior through the
founding of a local club. MAADHI draws from many local resources,
including the Phoenix based Muslim Youth Center of Arizona and the
Arizona Chapter of the Muslim American Society, and seeks to expand its
message to reach all Muslim youth and non-Muslim youth about the
dangers/evils of smoking, drinking, and substance use.
MAADHI
is in its initial phase and is currently feeling out its
mission. Current services that are provided by the group
include:
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Information links put out to youth via Facebook
group
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Speaking out vocally in local schools/community
events about the evils of substance abuse to
change youth community mores
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Planning a full substance abuse and behavioral
health awareness event on April 23 in combination
with local social workers and a community
behavioral
health agency targeting Muslim youth
and their families
MAADHI can be contacted via their Facebook group or through the
email: aznewbrother73@hotmail.com.
MAADHI currently operates on Saturdays at:
Muslim Youth Center of Arizona 7810 S 42nd
Place Phoenix, AZ 85042-7300. |
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Member Profile:
Rhonda Ragab
Rhonda Ragab
is the Project Manager for AMHP's Health Education Initiative (HEI).
She's currently an MPH candidate in Public Health Communication at the
University of Southern California. She received her undergraduate degree
in Psychology and Social Behavior from UC-Irvine.
Rhonda
is interested in
research on
vulnerable populations in preventative medicine, optimizing health
education material to work efficiently through different media outlets,
and culturally competent health education materials and research.
As the project manager for the HEI, Rhonda is working to
develop effective health education presentations and
interventions.
To learn more about the work AMHP is
doing in the area of health education or join our Health Education
Initiative, contact Rhonda at rragab@amhp.us
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Support AMHP!
Since its inception in
2004, the American Muslim Health Professionals (AMHP) has been actively
engaged in public health initiatives to better the health of all
Americans.
As a 501 c3 non-profit charitable
organization, AMHP relies solely on the generosity of those who wish to
improve the quality and delivery of health services and increase access
to care.
Donate online using the link below or mail checks
payable to AMHP to:
1284 S. Vermont Street
Palatine, IL
60067
Make a Donation
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AMHP Listserv
AMHP's listserv includes over 1000
healthcare professionals and students from various disciplines across
America. The listserv is open to all without regard to gender, race and
religion who seek to collaboratively empower Muslim health professionals
to improve the quality and delivery of health services and increase
access to care.
Interested
in joining?
Email
your name and email address to: contact@amhp.us.
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