Addressing Health Disparities: Ethnic Inequalities, Global Disease, and the Imperative for Leadership and Community Action in Public Health

Dr. Clarisse T. Mefotso Fall MPH

Description

In the past days, the noble profession of public and community health was often looked upon with derision, as the health workers themselves failed to project a professional image and instead appeared as though they were casually engaging in domestic activities. This had the unfortunate consequence of leaving those in the community, families, and patients who interacted with them feeling downcast and gloomy. As an advocate for the field for over twenty-five years, I have had the opportunity to address this issue at numerous forums. However, I am pleased to note that in recent times, the community and public health workers have taken a more proactive approach to health promotion. They now present themselves as sharp, professional, and positive role models, not unlike esteemed educators and scholars. No longer do they appear more dispirited than their clients but rather exude a demeanor that inspires and uplifts those around them.

Sujets

• Santé et bien-être
• Développement personnel
• développement personnel
• Self-help
• Inspirational
• Motivational

Informations

• Publié par: Xlibris US
• Date de parution: 18 juin 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781669879466
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

ADDRESSING HEALTH DISPARITIES: ETHNIC INEQUALITIES, GLOBAL DISEASE, AND THE IMPERATIVE FOR LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY ACTION IN PUBLIC HEALTH
 
THE MINDSET
 
 
 
 
 
DR. CLARISSE T. MEFOTSO FALL, MPH

 
Copyright © 2023 by Dr. Clarisse T. Mefotso Fall, MPH.
Library of Congress Control Number:
2023909877
ISBN:
Hardcover
978-1-6698-7945-9
 
Softcover
978-1-6698-7944-2
 
eBook
978-1-6698-7946-6
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rev. date: 06/15/2023
 
 
 
 
Xlibris
844-714-8691
www.Xlibris.com
852218

CONTENTS
My life as an NGO and founder began
United Nations Headquarters
Common Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases
Common Communicable Diseases
Clarisse Mefotso Fall
Messages of empowerment for the African communities around the world
2009 African Hope Committee Women And Children HIV/ Aids Health Summit Was The Report Completed. This Will Give You A Perspective In Planning A Community Forum
Interviews of World Leaders in the Humanitarian, Health, Education, Psychology and Sociology Fields
Interview by the African Development Magazine
How Financial Health Affects Our Mental Health
The 2020 Covid-19, A World Pandemic
Challenges beyond Covid-19
Climate And Environmental Issues-Food Crisis
The Impact Of Social Media In Medical Practices Around The World
African Union 2019 with the United African Congress: A Farewell to the Former African Union Ambassador to the UN Mission, His Excellency Tete
Quotes from Clarisse Blanche
 
Bibliography
Acknowledgements

 

 
Clarisse Mefotso Fall, MPH
Executive Director/Founder
Global President
DOJ Accredited Representative
Author
 
M Y JOURNEY IN COMMUNITY AND public health began in 1997, after I graduated from the College of Mount Saint Vincent with a bachelor of science in community health services. Prior to that, I was a student nurse at La Guardia Community College then transferred to the College of Mount Saint Vincent to pursue my undergraduate and graduate program in community and public health. During my academic years, I interned with several institutions such as the American Diabetes Association and a public school in New York. I acquired so many skills in community work by visiting health centers and high schools. At the public school, I joined the nutrition program wherein we were in charge of educating kids about proper nutrition such as eating more fruits and vegetables and eating less starches like processed juice and bread. After I graduated, it took me less than a year to find a job as a community outreach (person) at one of the community health institutions in New York funded by the NY State government to address maternal-child health in all five boroughs. I worked with the Brooklyn Perinatal Network, a not-for-profit based in Brooklyn, and I loved my job. I worked very closely with the executive director and the program manager. I quickly developed a passion in maternal-child health in poor and underserved communities in Brooklyn and in New York City areas. We conducted outreach in the community to identify women who were looking for guidance counseling, proper referrals, and care assistance, especially during pregnancies or during postpartum. We were stationed at some of the health institutions like Kings County Hospital, Brooklyn hospitals, and many others; and we also conducted outreach in several public schools. I was assigned to oversee the managed care program that was just approved by the federal govern ment.
The Clinton health care plan was a 1993 health-care reform package proposed by the administration of President Bill Clinton and closely associated with the chair of the task force devising the plan, First Lady of the United States Hillary Clinton. President Clinton had campaigned heavily on health care in the 1992 presidential election. The task force was created in January 1993, but its own processes were somewhat controversial and drew litigation. Its goal was to come up with a comprehensive plan to provide universal health care for all Americans, which was to be a cornerstone of the administration’s first-term agenda. The president delivered a major health-care speech to the US Congress in September 1993, during which he proposed an enforced mandate for employers to provide health insurance coverage to all their emplo yees.
BPN then received funding to recruit and enroll families in the program. The program allowed me and other workers to work alongside with several health insurance companies like Health First, Health Plus, Child Health Plus being that we had a maternity health program where pregnant women were seeking health bene fits.
This was a life-changing moment for me. I used my story to empower moms, young girls who were pregnant, and those who have stopped their education and often raising their children in welfare. I was empowered as well to go back to school and complete my master’s degree during that time, although I had a full-time position. I went back to the College of Mount Saint Vincent to pursue a science degree in public health with a track on policies, structures, and systems. My journey in completing my master’s degree was not an easy one. I had to juggle my work and family because I had just gotten married, and this was in 1998. The experience of being in the field when I was completing my master’s made it exceptionally smooth. I had acquired so many practical skills. I decided to develop my thesis on maternal-child health with concentration in the public policies, structures, and systems in areas of maternal postpartum depression. I worked closely with my counselors and my peers. The program was designed to conduct so much research and write programs and proposals to address maternal health depression. I was more interested in addressing the psychology and mental states of women during pregnancy, after birth, as well as designing policies and procedures that will address postpartum depression, such as health coverage and treat ment.
It was a long program. I finally completed my thesis and presented in front of the jury. This was a victory for me. My husband was present as well as my twin daughters who were only a year old, being that they were born in 2001 and my older daughter, Lidwine Meffo, who later studied psychology and had graduated today with a master’s and obtained a second master’s in health management. She had arrived from Cameroon and attended my graduation with my mother, Rose Metchum Tagne, who also had arrived in New York in very poor health—a chronic diabetic with neuropathy, which she is still suffering today. It was a joy in my family, and we celebrated it with friends and other family mem bers.
I continued working as a program manager, managing different programs as well as working with the managed health care. During the time, Former President Bill Clinton was at the White House with the First Lady Hilary Clinton. The program was run to serve men, women, and children who had no health care. The program was designed to enroll men, women, and children who were citizens or at least had a work authorization. The program also covered pregnant women. We covered the Brooklyn area by conducting outreach in health institutions, schools, churches, and on the streets. I was successful in addressing the program, and the grant was renewed again for the second phase. We had several audits by the funders coming from Washington, and our numbers were appropriately reaching the goals of the pro gram.
I met the deputy Brooklyn Borough program president during one of the major maternal-perinatal health events at the Brooklyn Borough Hall office building. She walked in when I was setting up for the organization’s yearly major event. I had met her several times at different events where she spoke eloquently about community issues. She was a role model to me, had a lot of class, well educated, and well spoken. I ran down the stairs to meet her. There, I spoke to her about doing an internship or volunteering in her office. Immediately, she referred me to her chief of staff who then scheduled me on same day to come to the office for my inter view.
At Brooklyn Borough Hall office, I worked alongside the deputy Brooklyn Borough president, Dr. Yvonne Graham, who recruited me as an intern. I was assigned to very practical and theoretical activities that required intensive research and calls and writing reports. I was assigned to coordinate the first campaign by the Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz entitled “Take Your Man to the Doctor.” The goal was to bring together CEOs and chairmen of most of the health institutions in Brooklyn to sign accord so that during the campaign, their health facilities are available and used for free of charges for men’s health checkup. Roundtable meetings took place every week to plan the campaign. Borough President Marty Markowitz and deputy Borough President Yvonne Graham kicked off their first annual “Take Your Man to