On September 20th, The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) announced that it has partnered with top leaders in the healthcare industry to form the "Katrina Health Coalition." The coalition is committed to the recovery phase and reconstructing the current healthcare system so African Americans receive appropriate long-term care after surviving Hurricane Katrina.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) announced today that it has partnered with top leaders in the healthcare industry to form the "Katrina Health Coalition." The coalition is committed to the recovery phase and reconstructing the current healthcare system so African Americans receive appropriate long-term care after surviving Hurricane Katrina.
Dr. Lucille Perez, NAACP National Director of Health Division, said: "Each partner is dedicated to assuring that those affected by Katrina and its aftermath receives comprehensive and sustained quality healthcare and related services. Services must be linguistically appropriate, gender and age specific, effective to the disabled, address overall mental health needs, as well as the ongoing special needs of those suffering from chronic diseases. Additionally, each partner appreciates that in order to re-establish the well-being of survivors, unfulfilled promises of the nation's immediate recovery efforts must be resolved."
Coalition partners include: the African American Health Alliance (AAHA); American Counseling Association (ACA); American Psychiatric Association (APA); American Public Health Association (APHA); American Vitiligo Research Foundation (AVRF); Black Women's Health Imperative; Congressional Black Caucus Health Brain Trust; Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies; Morgan State University's School of Public Health & Policy; National Black Nurses Association (NBNA); National Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi); Black Psychiatrists of America; National Council of Negro Women (NCNW); National Dental Association (NDA); National Medical Association (NMA) and the Pharmaceutical Trade Association (Phrma).
Fredette West, Director, African American Health Alliance, said: "We commend the NAACP on its leadership and vision on coalescing organizations around the health crisis created by hurricane Katrina. This national crisis requires a multidisciplinary response by interconnected partnership across all fronts with the emphasis on restoring lives, communities, health, jobs and overall well being."
Representatives from the coalition are in the affected areas to assess the immediate and on-going healthcare needs of the Katrina survivors and to oversee that emergency relief funds are appropriately allocated as these Americans rebuild their lives.
Sandra Gadson, M.D., President of the National Medical Association said, "We are strong advocates of Universal Healthcare coverage and are in support of the coalition's call for this long over due change in our health care delivery system."
In addition to relief from chronic illness, Katrina survivors are in need of non-clinical yet essential components to healthcare. This includes but is not limited to appropriate housing, the collection and dissemination of information and resources, a disciplined system monitoring the effectiveness of state and local healthcare agencies.
Anyone who wants to assist the storm victims may contribute to the NAACP Disaster Relief Fund. Contributors can make a donation online at www.naacp.org or mail checks made out to the NAACP Disaster Relief Fund to the following address: NAACP Disaster Relief Fund, 4805 Mt. Hope Drive, Baltimore, MD 21215. For more information about the relief fund, call:1- 866-996-2227
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