Inner City Muslim Action Network---Chicago

[peezey 0]

By DERMOT CONNOLLY

The Inner-City Muslim Action Network recently opened a free weekly clinic in its new headquarters at 2744 W. 63rd St.

Officials of IMAN, a community organization that recently relocated from 3344 W. 63rd St., showed representatives of several local organizations around the new clinic last Thursday following an informational session at which the general state of health care in the United States was discussed.

The clinic, which opened its doors Jan. 14 and is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays, is staffed by doctors working on a volunteer basis.

It used to operate out of a local doctor’s office, opening only every second Sunday, and IMAN executive director Rami Nashashibi gave credit to the Greater Southwest Development Corp. for helping his agency to find the new, much larger location.

“What we had before was borrowed space in another pediatrician’s office. For us to be in our own building, it is phenomenal,” said Rima Arozullah, MD, who donates her time to see patients at the clinic with her husband, Ahsan Arozullah, MD.

The clinic provides screening for diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, treatment of non-emergency acute and common chronic medical problems, and preventive services such as yearly physical exams, immunizations, and health education.

Arozullah said the clinic now has space for three exam rooms, up from two in the rented office.

“We used to have to run back and forth between the IMAN office and the clinic to get medicine. It was very inconvenient,” said the doctor.

Local doctors have donated prescription medicine to the clinic in the past, enabling the doctors to give it to patients at no cost. But Arozullah said the clinic is working on replenishing its supplies, noting that the medicine had expired while the clinic was closed.

“We are trying to get doctors to give us only certain medicines that we use a lot so we don’t have stockpiles of medicine we don’t need,” said the doctor.

She said that if patients need medicine the clinic cannot supply, they are referred to discount stores that offer prescriptions for as little as $4 or $5.

During the informational session, Stephanie Brown, MD, the clinic administrator, gave an overview of the health care situation in Illinois, citing statistics in a study compiled by the Applied Research Center to show that free neighborhood clinics are needed.

She pointed to statistics showing that approximately one in three people in Illinois had no health insurance at some point in 2003-04, and in 2004, working-class blacks were more than twice as likely, and working-class Hispanics almost three times as likely as working-class whites, to be uninsured in Illinois.

The study also shows that Hispanics with U.S. citizenship are two-thirds more likely than working-class whites to be uninsured, and undocumented Hispanics are nearly five times more likely than whites to be uninsured.

Brown stressed that no one coming to the clinic would be asked to provide insurance or residency documents, and Spanish and Arabic translators are available.

“We here at IMAN don’t have any problem serving (the undocumented) in our clinic.”

“Emergency rooms are not primary care providers,” said Brown. “ERs are getting too clogged up.”

Ilana Bodini of Healthy Chicago Lawn, a community coalition based at 2701 W. 68th St., discussed the overall health situation in the area.

“We want people to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables but it is hard to find them,” said Bodini, pointing out that a quarter of Chicago Lawn residents do not have cars and only 37 percent of the 43 local stores sell fresh produce, because half are “corner stores.”

“The clinic is a great resource for the community,” said Mark McHugh, senior executive director of Metropolitan Family Services, 3843 W. 63rd St.

He said his agency, which, among other things, offers counseling, mental health and legal services, recommends the clinic to its clients.

McHugh and Brown also discussed making arrangements to have IMAN officials speak to clients at his agency.

And Paul O’Toole, principal of nearby Marquette Elementary School, said the clinic would be a good place for students to get the physical exams and shots they need.

“We would like to open the clinic more days and for longer hours, but that will only happen if we can get funding to pay the doctors,” said Brown.

She said the process of getting federal funding for the clinic would take a lot of time and paperwork, but is an option that will be considered in the future.

Ald. Theodore “Ted” Thomas (15th) also attended the gathering and took a tour of the facility.

“What they are doing is great. We need more clinics like this,” said Thomas.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

This is wonderful !

[peezey 0]

Yeah, the whole organization seems really great. They have lots of joint community meetings and task forces.

Anyone in the Chicago area know about this group?

[Henia 11]

Wonderful! I am glad to see Muslims active in the community!

[AInfante-Saraireh 0]

wow, this is great news! I live in Chicago and my husband can go there for checkups. I will check it out.

Andrea