Despite advances in the treatment of HIV, one huge challenge still lingers in the medical community: getting people tested in the first place.
The stigma associated with being tested and potentially exposed in a public clinic has prompted scientists at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre to evaluate the efficacy of an oral HIV self-test, a method they believe can serve as an effective but much more private alternative to clinical testing.
This article was originally posted @ mybrownbaby.com. You can see the original post here.
There are a ton of things I’ll never forget about the first time I gave birth—showing up with a Donny Hathaway CD in one hand, a beautiful pink and white-striped “going home” dress and a white blanket handpicked special for my Mari in the other; being scared to death of the epidural needle but grateful that it smoothed me out almost immediately; waiting for what seemed like an eternity to see my baby’s beautiful face; how I seriously believe I saw a white light over my OB-GYN’s head when she entered the room to help me deliver the love of my life. Mari’s baby soft skin against my breast—her breath as sweet as Heaven. I imagine Beyonce, who gave birth just a few weeks ago to Blue Ivy Carter, her baby with husband Jay-Z, will have these memories, too, when the R&B superstar thinks back to the day she had her most incredible performance yet: giving birth.
But that is probably where our memories of that special day part. What I most remember? That the hospital and workers where I had my first daughter sullied what should have been one of the most amazing days of my life.
Congressman Meeks sitting on the Financial Services Comittee
Congressman Gregory Meeks Targeted in Unfounded Claims by Media Sources Seeking to Draw His Attention from Pressing Community Matters – an Op-Ed by Dr. Robert Evans
While all elected officials struggle with accusations by media sources, those in Jamaica Queens have the distinct difficulty of performing their jobs while battling media sources that are constantly at their throats trying to defile their character and unfairly influence the community.
Despite such campaigns filled with negative messages that appear week after week, Congressman Gregory Meeks continues to be held in high esteem by the people of Jamaica Queens. In the middle of an economic crisis with major budget cuts to healthcare programs, Congressman Meeks strives to make sure that his time and resources are spent focusing on the community.
image courtesy of the NY Times
“Who is Advocating for Our Hospitals in Queens While Brooklyn Regroups?”
With the financial distress hospitals are presently facing, whether it’s from mismanagement, servicing large populations of un-insured or Medicaid and Medicare budget cuts; the governor is backing a new model to save Brooklyn hospitals from financial ruins. While Queens still faces a dire outlook in its healthcare crisis, Brooklyn is looking to revamp both their financial as well as medical delivery models.
NY State Senator Shirley L. Huntley
Hospital Closure Act One of The Most Important Healthcare Laws Ever Passed
The impact of a hospital closing in a community has an immeasurable adverse affect on the population at large. This is especially evident in communities where healthcare disparities already exist, giving rise to further deterioration of not only the community’s health and welfare; but also the economic impact from the loss of jobs in this economic down turn economy which can devastate a community.
With the over-crowding of emergency rooms, decrease in the number of doctors per patient population, Medicaid and Medicare budget cuts, and an increase in the uninsured and under-insured populations; communities like Jamaica, Queens and Queens in general will continue to suffer.
The Huntley/Lancman law, “…requires the NYS Department of Health to hold a public forum and report on the impact of a hospital’s closure on the surrounding community’s access to medical care.” Hopefully this law will not have to be enforced in the near future because another hospital closure will put our community in the “Third World Healthcare Status”, if we are not there already.
Good job Senator!
For full text of the Huntley/Lancman law, please click here.
This past Friday the NY Times took an in-depth look at medical care choices for the wealthy.
Dr. Robert Evans, CEO and President of Community Wellness Centers of America, LLC (CWCOA) announced today the formation of a “Community Healthcare Oversight Committee”. The Community Healthcare Oversight Committee will reflect the organizations commitment and mission to identify health improvements that will sustain the health and well-being of the community.
Dr. Evans stated that “CWCOA’s mission to elevate the health and welfare of children, seniors, and families within the community is critical; and everyone in this community should want their families, neighbors and friends to enjoy decent healthcare services. The formation of this “Community Healthcare Oversight Committee” seeks to achieve an effective and efficient healthcare delivery model that will foster a full spectrum of local integrated organizational planning and implementation.
Dr. Evans further states, the “Community Healthcare Oversight Committee” will provide the leadership and support to reduce health disparities in South East Queens, Jamaica and alleviate the healthcare crisis affecting our community through services, education and research.”
It is no secret that Dr. Robert Evans formed the bases of his healthcare delivery model after the medical philosophy of Dr. Gerald Deas. Dr. Deas’s philosophy incorporated the development of state-of-the-art health programs and services to improve health outcomes in underserved communities and attain health equality status for the residents through increased emphasis on prevention. Dr. Evans’s medical philosophy is a clear reflection of Dr. Deas. Dr. Evans trained under Dr. Deas as medical student, medical intern and as a medical resident. Dr. Deas is not only a gifted and extraordinary internist; he is a cultivator of ideas. His ideas on the way healthcare should be delivered far exceed just patient care. His philosophy crosses over to medical policy, which is the area of study that Dr. Evans has been most influenced to pursue.
Community Wellness Centers of America, LLC (CWCOA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Douglas J. Colon as corporate Chief Investigator and Compliance Officer responsible for conducting comprehensive reviews on all companies associated with, or contemplating conducting business with our company.
Dr. Evans stated that Mr. Colon’s credentials are a testimonial as to the Company’s pursuit to be pro-active in the required transparency in conducting business as CWCOA enters into Phase II of building the infrastructure required to support the healthcare services for the community.
Phase 2 of the “Prescription of Change”
Dr. Robert Evans (CEO of Community Wellness Centers of America, LLC) has reached out to Reverend Dr. Edward Davis to formulate a strategic partnership to combat the healthcare crisis in Jamaica Queens, N.Y. The Reverend Dr. Davis, Senior Pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Saint Albans, is highly respected as both a community activist and religious leader. His leadership and organizational skills are well documented and his vast knowledge of community-based services will be a catalyst to addressing the complicated healthcare disparities facing the residents of Jamaica, Queens.
