April 23, 2001
Contacts:
Dr. Adnan Hammad
Director, Conference Chair, (313) 945-8123
Jennifer Day, (313) 577-1058, jday@med.wayne.edu

National conference on Arab-American health issues to be May 11, 12 in Dearborn

The Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) and the Wayne State University School of Medicine will present the second biennial National Conference on Health Issues in the Arab-American Community on May 11 and 12 in the Dearborn Inn.

This vital forum will bring together an international group of health professionals, health policy-makers, researchers and community leaders to address key health issues affecting Arab Americans. Among these issues are:

*Diabetes and cardiovascular diseases;

*Common cancers, including those of the lung, breast and prostate;

*Maternal and child health care;

*Environmental health; and

*Mental health and behavioral issues.

The conference is honored and privileged to sponsor guest speakers from 12 Arab nations, including Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Supporters of the conference strongly believe that to address health issues in the Arab-American community, it is vital to bring together representatives from Arab countries as the health issues Arabs face are truly global in nature.

This conference will present epidemiological findings with a focus on health promotion and disease prevention as outlined by the U.S. surgeon general’s recommendations in Health People 2010.

The conference is being held in southeast Michigan, site of the largest settlement of Arab Americans with more than 300,000 Arab-American residents. Scientific information regarding the prevalence of health-risk factors in the Arab-American population will be disseminated and concrete action plans will be developed to reduce the burden of disease and promote health and well-being. This will enable health-care providers to be sensitive to specific needs.

Since Arab Americans are not yet a federally recognized minority population, the conference aims to enhance awareness of the socioeconomic, educational and cultural problems that are faced in adaptation to the norms and practices of American society. Some of these problems present formidable challenges to health-care providers.

This conference also will have a cultural program component that will feature art exhibits and folkloric music. A gala dinner will be on May 12.

Sponsors of the conference include the Detroit Medical Center, ACCESS IPA, Pfizer, Oakwood Health System, Henry Ford Health System, The Wellness Plan, Karmanos Cancer Institute, William Beaumont Hospital, American Cancer Society, Detroit Asthma Coalition, Fairview Radiology, Greenfield Pharmacy, Midwest Health Plan, Merck, Novo Nordisk, Preferred Health Plan, Providence Hospital and Medical Center, Roche, St. John Health System and the University of Michigan Medical Center.

For more information, please visit the ACCESS website at www.accesscommunity.org.

With more than 1,000 medical students, WSU is among the nation’s largest medical schools. Together with the Detroit Medical Center, the school is a leader in patient care and medical research in a number of areas including cancer, genetics, pediatrics and the neurosciences.