Healthcare is a problematic issue for new immigrants, especially the elderly. While Medicare is available to many citizens - age 65 and above - immigrants legally present in the U.S. for less than five years are not eligible and private insurance companies generally do not offer affordable health insurance plans for those over 65. Immigrants in this category often make use of catastrophic traveler's insurance, which has a very high deductible andisvery expensive. In view of these harsh realities facing elderly community members, Masjid Gulzar e Madina of Raza e Mustafa Islamic Center located in Millford Mill Road, Pikesville, MD took the initiative to organize a health fair on Sunday, November 23, 2014. A number of area community organizations, such as the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO)- Metropolitan Washington, Philippine Nurses Association, Chinese Culture and Community Center, Muslim Community Center Clinic Inc., Capital Region Telugu Society, Iraqi Association, Kerala Cultural Organization and Hindu Seva, co-sponsored this event.
A large number of physicians, nurses, and healthcare workers volunteered their resources and worked tirelessly to provide healthcare services for a large number of attendees of various ages. 290 patients benefited fromEasy access to physicians of diverse specialties under one roof provided convenient consultations for wide range of medical issues.
In addition to primary care, the medical specialties available for free consultations included dentistry, endocrinology, gastroenterology, hematology-oncology, otolaryngology, orthopedics, and rheumatology for the community.
A dental van sponsored by Colgate providedconsultations for children ages 1 to 12. Maryland Physicians Care Van provided nutritious food, whileAmerigroup sponsored the Moon Bounce. Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind Van did eye sight screenings. Besides yoga sessions on site, there were diabetes and cancer prevention vendor presentations, healthy living demos and advice booths. Mental and behavioral health information, often a taboo topic, was sensitively offered by Counselors Helping South Asians/Indians (CHAI). The Samar Group obtained bone marrow sign ups and the Washington Regional Transplant Consortium enrolled organ donors. Patients were also screened for Hepatitis B and C.
The health fair, open to people of all different ethnic, religious and socio-economic backgrounds was also supoorted by Rainbow Adult Day Care and the Women's Wellness Program Van.
"The Metropolitan Washington Chapter of GOPIO is very pleased to be a part of this outstanding health fair, which was made possible by the collaboration of physicians, allied medical personnel, county and state health agencies, dedicated volunteers, and Masjid management," said Dr. Zafar Iqbal President of the GOPIO-DC Chapter.
The successful event was coordinated by Mayur Mody and the management of Islamic Center thanked him for providing excellent indefatigable leadership. The logistics team was coordinated by Dr Surinder Singh Gill and Dr Alif Manejwala served as coordinator of medical team and Dr Sukhpal headed the team of volunteers.
With 452 attendees of all hues availing themselves of multiple medical resources under one roof, the acute need for such services was apparent throughout the day.
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