USCAIH 2010 Overview

Advances in science, medicine, and technology have the potential to improve health, but large segments of populations in the United States and globally continue to suffer a disproportionate burden of premature death, disability, and disease.

Alliance for Health in the African Diaspora, Inc. (AHADI) and Office of Minority Health Resource Center (OMHRC) are organizing a conference to enhance the capacity of community and faith based organizations to serve the African Diaspora within the United States in health education, research, prevention, care, and treatment. This conference will bring together members of the community, health scientists, public health workers, advocates and providers, as well as community organizers to chart a purposeful course. The Office of Minority Health Resource Center is sponsoring the conference research tracks focusing on HIV/AIDS, Research, and data collection.

Participants at the USCAIH 2010 will come together to develop a plan to address specific health issues and gaps in health as they relate to African populations residing in the United States. This plan will establish a multi-sector strategy to develop priorities for cohesive action to address health disparities in the African Diaspora so that health quality and access to care can be maximized.

Conference Purpose

The USCAIH 2010 will offer the “African Village Square Forum”. This culturally rich format provides a platform where members of the community, agencies, service providers, policy makers and other stake holders can:

• Address public health issues
• Highlight programs and services
• Network with other Professionals, and
• Celebrate the community.

Conference Broad Objectives

• Describe and understand the current state and trends in African immigrant health, including disparities in health status and use of health care
• Identify gaps in  data collection and research in African immigrant health and subsequently formulate a  research agenda
• Showcase best and promising practices in developing and implementing culturally appropriate and/or faith-based programs and services to support African immigrant health
• Network with professionals, researchers, and community leaders from across the nation with an interest in African immigrant health

Conference Scope

The USCAIH 2010 will encompass the following areas which are considered critical elements in addressing health disparities in the African Diaspora in the United States of America:

• Health disparities reduction
• Policy change 
• Existing national connections, partners, collaborators 

• Existing relationships for governments and institutions 
• Community networking and outreach 
• Cultural needs, beliefs, and practices 
• Grassroots focus 
• Impact of war, torture and trauma.
• Changes in US immigration policies on HIV/AIDS

Expected Conference Outcomes

The USCAIH 2010 will provide a forum to:

• Chart out a short and long-term national agenda for action. 
• Produce a forum to share and disseminate health information. 
• Galvanize stake holders on eliminating health disparities. 
• Produce a meaningful and practical to-do-list for stakeholders.
• Standardize tools for health departments to use in data collection, which will address the data gap for the African community.
• Document research on African Immigrants and HIV, and creating a research portal for this population.

Breakout Session Tracks

As we strive to achieve optimal health and wellness among the African Diaspora, the conference will focus on diverse and emerging public health issues within the United States African immigrant population. These sessions will explore health disparity issues among minorities, especially the African immigrant population.

• OMHRC Research Track: HIV Panel Presentations: This track will feature research related to the epidemiology of HIV/AIDS and co-morbidities in the United States African immigrant population; identify existing gaps in the scientific literature related to HIV/AIDS and co-morbidities in African Immigrants and develop an agenda for research; and highlight culturally appropriate and/or faith-based programs and services for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and co-morbidities in African immigrants.

• OMHRC Data Collection and Research: This track will provide a forum for professionals, researchers and community leaders from across the nation to identify the existing gaps in the scientific literature related to the health status of African immigrants and their use of health care in the United States and subsequently formulate a research agenda. This track will also provide an opportunity to address mentoring and development of future and early/mid- career researchers in the field.

• Promising Practices: This track will focus on translating research into practice, specifically; we will explore best and promising practices in developing and implementing culturally appropriate and/or faith-based programs and services to support African immigrant health, including mental health and youth.

• Faith and Health: This track will explore the influence of faith on health practices and the role of faith leaders in health education, prevention, and care.

• Culture and Health: This track will examine the interplay of African culture and health issues (health education, treatment, access, care) in the United States. Proposals may deal with issues such as cultural misunderstandings between client and provider; customs/traditions and health; stigma and health; culturally responsive interventions.

• Health Disparities: This track will explore the issue of health disparities among minorities, especially the African immigrant population. Proposals may focus on specific issues or diseases.

• Advocacy/Media: This track will discuss the role of advocacy and media in influencing health policies affecting the Africans in the Diaspora.

• Preventive Lifestyles and Cultures: This track will empower the community to address issues relating but not limited to Mental Health, Mind and Body of the African.

• Health Education/Outreach: This track will address issues on health education, community networking and outreach; it will highlight outreach challenges or outreach programs that work.

Conference Participants

AHADI projects several communities, persons and professionals will be taking part in this unique and extraordinary summit. The target population for the USCAIH 2010 summarily includes all Africans in the Diaspora as well as health researchers and practitioners. However, any and all persons working, volunteering or providing other types of civic engagement activities within Minority & immigrant communities are welcome to attend the USCAIH 2010.

Conference Planning Committee

• Mr. Amadou Diagne, Gilead Sciences
• Mrs. Anette Ladan – Zumunta Association USA, Inc.
• Ms. Eunice Mafundikwa – Zimbabwean Community    
• Dr. Fabian Nabangi – Grambling State University, Louisiana
• Ms. Fifi Derso – Ethiopian Community
• Mrs. Glory Kilanko – Women Watch Afrika, Inc. (WWA)
• Dr. Hassan Danesi – Alliance for Health in the African Diaspora, Inc. (AHADI)
• Dr. Hodelin Rene – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Dr. Ismail Gyagenda – Alliance for Health in the African Diaspora, Inc. (AHADI)
• Mr. Jay Blackwell – Office of Minority Health Resource Center (OMHRC)
• Ms. Marcey Guramatunhu – Community Advocate
• Mrs. Margaret Korto – Office of Minority Health Resource Center (OMHRC)
• Mr. Mehrdad Sabhzehi – Emory University
• Mr. Michael Sannoh – Saving Lives through Alternate Options (SLAO, Inc.)
• Dr. Mohammed Ladan – Zumunta Association USA, Inc.
• Mr. Musah Mumuni – Council of African Muslims, USA, Inc. (CAMUSA)
• Dr. Wardah M. Rajab-Gyagenda – Alliance for Health in the African Diaspora, Inc. (AHADI)