• SECRETARY OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES TOMMY THOMPSON VISITS UNITY'S ANACOSTIA HEALTH CENTER!!!

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson visited Unity Health Care’s Anacostia Health Center on September 24 to urge minority communities across the country to take a family member or loved one to see a health care professional, or schedule an appointment to see a health professional. The call to action marked September 24th’s Take A Loved One to the Doctor Day, a nationwide event aimed to help eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health care faced by minority populations. Elizabeth M. Duke, Ph.D., Administrator of HRSA, the Health Resources and Service Administration accompanied Secretary Thompson in his visit.

Vincent A. Keane, CEO of Unity Health Care, Inc., and Pamela Hodge, Anacostia Health Center Manager, welcomed Secretary Thompson. Unity Health Care is a nonprofit organization serving the uninsured and medically underserved residents of the District of Columbia since 1985. It provides services in all eight Wards through a network of fourteen health centers, twelve sites serving homeless people, and two mobile units.

Take A Loved One to the Doctor Day, which targets African Americans and other minority populations, is the signature event for the department’s “Closing the Health Gap” campaign, created through a unique partnership between HHS and ABC Radio Networks, launched in November 2001.

More than 400 national, state and local organizations spanning 47 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico have partnered with HHS in promoting Take A Loved to the Doctor Day and are hosting local activities in their communities. Highlights include health fair screenings, on-site applications for Medicaid and SCHIP programs, free transportation to health care facilities, panel discussions, community health center events and activities for children.

In addition, during the week of September 24, ABC Radio Networks’ Tom Joyner Morning Show will conduct on-air interviews with celebrities and special guests to discuss the importance of visiting a health professional.

“Communities of color suffer disproportionately from diabetes, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, cancer, stroke and infant mortality, ” Secretary Thompson said. “Eliminating these and other health disparities is a priority for one preventive measure can help add years to a life.” Keane remarked, “"People should not underestimate the importance of ongoing primary health care. It really boils down to the difference between preventing or controlling a condition in its early stage versus treating someone for a condition that is in its advanced stages and places the patient beyond full recovery.” He added, “Here too, prevention is better than cure."

HHS’ Closing the Health Gap campaign is part of the department’s overall Initiative to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health. For more information on the Closing the Health Gap campaign, visit www.healthgap.omhrc.gov. For more information on Unity Health Care, visit www.unityhealthcare.org.