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AMHP
Newsletter
October 2009
Message from the Board
Assalamu Alaikum,
With healthcare front and center on the domestic agenda, AMHP has been actively engaged in healthcare reform over the past year.
In our most direct efforts, AMHP participated in a week of advocacy on
the Hill in June and individual members have met with their
Congressional Representatives during the August Recess.
AMHP,
guided by its commitment to Islamic traditions and dedication to
improving the health of all Americans, has focused our reform efforts
on three main areas: strong support of a robust public health insurance
option, strict regulation of the private health insurance market, and
an emphasis on prevention. AMHP will continue to advocate for
real change that upholds our belief in healthcare being a human right
all are entitled to and encourages everyone to do get involved.
To get involved with healthcare reform advocacy efforts or any of our on-going projects, please visit the website or contact us.
Sincerely,
Rabia Akram, MPH, MBA
Board Member, AMHP | |
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 AMHP and
CMSA sponsor Congressional Brief
(Washington, DC) On October 10th, AMHP had the honor of presenting a congressional briefing on the state
of Free Clinics sponsored by Congressional Muslim Staffers Association (CMSA).
The panelists included Dr. Faisal Qazi, President
of AMHP, Mr. Yasser Aman, CEO of UMMA Clinic and Nicole Lamoureux,
Executive Director of National Association of Free Clinics.
The meeting was attended by 15 legislative
offices, Government Oversight Committee staff, and Congressman Keith Ellison
as well as the sponsor of the program, Congressman Andre Carson.
J. Saleh Williams of CMSA noted
that "This is the most well attended CMSA briefing since 2005. The
information provided was valuable and substantive." CMSA has
organized six other smaller briefings on various Public Policy topics this
year.
Ms. Lamoreux informed the audience that Free Clinics have
seen over 4 million patients last year and are anticipated to treat nearly 7
million this year. She stated that Free Clinics are the net below the
safety net. Lamoreux indicated that about 83% of patients treated by Free
Clinics are "working individuals". NAFC is an umbrella
organization representing over 1200 free clinics in the country. Free
clinics are smaller neighborhood clinics that often operate on the weekends or
after hours.
Mr. Aman discussed the differences between Free clinics that are often smaller
neighborhood clinics and the Community Health Centers that are federally
funded. He suggested that the objective and the nature of their work is
similar. Mr. Aman also emphasized the response of the Muslim community is
based on the desire to serve.
Congressman Keith Ellison addressed the audience and called for the Muslim
Community to further the cause of Public Service via institutions like Free
Clinics. He acknowledged the leaders of HUDA Clinic and UMMA clinic as
organizers of model organizations.
Mr. Mitchell Shamsuddin from HUDA Clinic, Dr. Sheron Sherlock from Muslim
Clinics of Ohio, and Dr. Shagufta Hasan from Shifa Clinic-Portland joined the
effort in DC to lobby for Free Clinics. Institute of Social Policy and
Understanding (ISPU) was represented by Shabnum Khan who received
acknowledgement and welcomed the audience. Ms. Khan cited the ISPU-AMHP
research study on Muslim Free Clinics from 2007 which recognizes the momentum
of this movement.
Dr. Faisal Qazi discussed some specific data as collected on nearly 30 Muslim
Free Clinics across the country. He identified the independent, mosque
based, and the network modes of health services. Dr. Qazi noted that the
number of Muslim Free Clinics has doubled within the last five years. He
outlined specific issues relevant to the health reform package such as defining
the malpractice insurance provisions for volunteer providers as such clinics,
listing the clinics as Essential providers in the house and senate legislations
as well as the need to include support for free clinics that helps with
capacity building. Dr. Qazi also suggested that it is plausible to consider
that by including Free Clinics as partners for primary and secondary
prevention, a significant dollar amount may yet be saved.
After the briefing, about 10 AMHP and various clinic members visited numerous
Senate and House offices to advocate for Free Clinics to be listed as essential
providers
AMHP contends that its own focus on prevention must run through its Free Clinic
partners.
(NAFC's annual convention is scheduled for Oct 26th in San Diego)
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Free Clinic Profile: Muslim Clinic of
Ohio
Muslim
Clinic of Ohio (MCO) was established in 2007 by a group of Muslim
physicians, lawyers, and health professionals from Dayton, Cincinnati,
and Columbus to promote the well-being of the underserved and uninsured
by providing access to high quality healthcare for all, regardless of
ability to pay in the State of Ohio. MCO was the first Free Clinic
established by Muslim physicians in Ohio and the First Free Clinic ever
in Cincinnati.
MCO
works in collaboration with Reach out Clinic of Montgomery
County,Wright State University (WSU) School of Medicine and Miami
Valley Hospital (Dayton), Mercy Hospital (Cincinnati), and Ohio State
University School of Medicine (Columbus).
Muslim Clinic of Ohio received the Community Mobilization Award from CAIR in 2009
Tell us, briefly, about your clinic:
The clinics offer an alternative to emergency visits for minor illnesses and
chronic conditions that need immediate attention. Clinic visits are at no cost
to the patient. Referrals to Reach Out's sub-specialist network are dependent
on availability of services requested. The physicians' professional fees are
waived and medical and nursing students rotate through the clinic.
We believe in partnership with Hospitals to provide a win-win successful model.
What are your current projects?
We are applying for several grants and starting clinics in Toledo
and Cleveland.
We are also forming partnerships and memberships with organizations and or
beneficiaries in Ohio.
How can you be contacted?
Tariq Sultan
513-659-4197
AMHP Newsletters will feature a Free Clinic profile each month. Please submit your clinic's information to mqureshi@amhp.us
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From the Field
Sumaira Arastu
As
a health policy fellow at the Center for the Study of the Presidency
and Congress, I have had the opportunity to explore various facets of
policy formation. The first week I arrived I spent most of my
time becoming well versed in the policy recommendations coming from the
Health and Medicine team at the Center. The recommendations were
submitted under a proposal titled New Horizons.
These recommendations are organized within a range of the
following topics: research, public health, global health and
re-engineering.
I
will be working within the research subgroup. This particular
committee puts forth suggestions for improving commitment to education
and research within science. These recommendations encourage
innovation by insuring that there is adequate funding for laboratories
and that students receive stellar training in math in science from the
K-12 levels. The first set of proposals have been submitted to
the current administration and another set is to be released this
January.
Aside from working on proposals
I spend a lot of my time attending interesting health focused events such as
congressional briefings, lectures hosted by acclaimed scientists/physicians,
and meetings addressing global health problems. It has been a whirlwind of an experience thus far and I
have gotten an opportunity to delve right into health policy work.
AMHP has played a critical role
in supporting and encouraging my fellowship and has allowed me to really explore what a career in
health policy is like. I believe it is important that youth from all levels become
active participants in AMHP in an attempt to realize that public health and
health reform is truly a community based process.
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Member Profile:
Sumaira Arastu
Sumaira is an AMHP intern and through AMHP is a Health Policy Fellow at the Center for the Presidency and Congress. She
recently graduated from
UC Davis Law and had entered law school because she wanted to become an
advocate for those that were denied access to basic needs
such as health and education.
Sumaira
feels that "AMHP has been an inspiration and wonderful avenue for me to
pursue both my personal and career goals. AMHP's sponsorship of
my fellowship has enabled me to work on current health policy. I
am working on various recommendations in the public health sector."
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Business Profile:
AZKO, Inc.
Tell us briefly, about your AZKO:
Azko,
Inc. primarily deals with infectious diseases and rapid diagnostic
tests. We are registered in Washington, D.C but have an office in
Maryland.
How did you get started?
After
having retired in 2002 from Children's National Medical Center
(Infectious Disease Research) I started Azko, Inc., to promote and
develop simple, inexpensive diagnostic tests to save time and money for
patient care in this country and abroad.
Who is your target market?
We
have a global target in developed and underdeveloped countries.
AZKO has developed a test for Typhoid fever that takes 10 minutes to
get results, which are highly specific and 98.5% accurate, and only
costs $5.00 per kit.
What is you current project?
Currently
I am working on rapid diagnosis of all types of meningitis. I have put
in an application for a patent on a "Three in One" test for
Gram-positive, Gram-negative and viral meningitis.
How can you be contacted?
Dr. Waheed N. Khan
Tel: (301) 340-1949
E-mail: waheednk@yahoo.com
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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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