Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Thank you for your support!

The Asian American Health Initiative (AAHI) will no longer be posting on Blogger. To find our latest updates, please follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/AsianAmericanHealthInitiative/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/aahi_info).

You can find more information about AAHI through our website (http://aahiinfo.org). Thank you for your support over the years.

Friday, June 22, 2018

Colorectal Cancer Screening: Which test would you prefer?

Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) and the National Cancer Institute strongly recommend people over 50 to be regularly screened for colorectal cancer.As we get older, the risk of getting colorectal cancer gets higher. Research has shown that over 90% of colorectal cancer cases happen to people over 50. Colorectal cancer is preventable.Yet, less than 50% of Asian Americans are screened. Asian Americans are also less likely than non-Hispanic whites and non-Hispanic blacks to get colorectal preventive care.

The recommended screening tests for colorectal cancer include:
• Fecal occult blood testing(FOBT): Polyps and colorectal cancer can bleed and FOBT checks for the presence of blood inapatient’s stool that may not be visible to the naked eye. Blood indicates that there may be growths of polyps or colorectal cancer and it allows doctors to identify people who need further testing.
• Sigmoidoscopy: A long flexible light tube with a lens (sigmoidoscope) is inserted into the patient through the anus into the rectum and the lower third of the colon. This allows the doctor to view the lining of the colon and polyps can be removed for further analysis.
• Colonoscopy:Similar to sigmoidoscopy, a longer flexible light tube with a lens (colonoscope) is inserted into the patient through the anus into the rectum and the colon.This allows the doctor to view the lining of the colon, especially the upper portions of the colon which is not reachable by sigmoidoscopy, and polyps can be removed for further analysis.

Find out which test you might prefer by using the Colorectal Cancer Screening Tool below!

Thursday, May 24, 2018

Recap: ECHO Workshop #15 "Building Resilience: Community & Individual Emergency Preparedness"

On May 23rd, AAHI, in partnership with other Office of Community Affairs programs, African American Health Program, the Community Action Agency, and the Latino Health Initiative, hosted our 15th Empowering Community Health Organizations (ECHO) Workshop! This workshop, "Building Resilience: Community & Individual Emergency Preparedness", focused on disaster preparedness at the individual, community, and government levels. 

Our ECHO Project is a series of professional and practical training workshops designed to build the capacity and sustainability of community organizations.

The workshop began with a presentation by Patrick Campbell, Senior Planning Manager for Mass Care, who provided some history on different disasters in the United States, the preparation for each, and the impact of the disaster. Next Patrick discussed how whole communities can be prepared for disasters, focusing on what individuals need to do to prepare themselves and their families. 



After Patrick's presentation, attendees participated in a short activity where they were tasked with developing an emergency bag in ten minutes with the items they already had in their home.




In the second half of the workshop, Patrick moderated a panel discussion with the following panelists: Chuck Crisostomo, MPH, CEM, Operations Chief for Montgomery County's Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security; Adriana Rojas, PhD, Assistant Professor of Spanish, Eastern Mennonite University; and Cecilia Warren, MS, MBA, Director of Emergency Preparedness Policy for the Maryland Department of Disabilities. Panelists shared their expertise with emergency preparedness, specifically around disaster management, intercultural education, and differently-abled populations.  




The evening ended with a lively audience question and answer session. 

Thank you to our wonderful speaker, panelists, Steering Committee, and staff for making this a successful event. We look forward to seeing you again in our fall 2018 ECHO Workshop!

You can view the Workshop Summary by clicking here

Please click on the image below to see more photos from the night!



Tuesday, May 1, 2018

AAHI's April 2018 newsletter is now available!

The April 2018 issue of AAHI's newsletter was published yesterday and is now available online! Please click the image below to read a full-size version of the newsletter. Subscribe to our mailing list today to receive our quarterly newsletters via email!



Wednesday, April 4, 2018

ECHO Workshop #15 Registration Now Open! - "Building Resilience: Community & Individual Emergency Preparedness"

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (MCDHHS) Office of Community Affairs would like to invite you to participate in a free training workshop as part of the Empowering Community Health Organizations (ECHO) Project 2018. Join us on May 23, 2018 for our 15th ECHO Workshop, "Building Resilience: Community & Individual Emergency Preparedness."

In today’s world, disaster seems to strike far too often. Floods, fires, tornadoes, collapsed buildings – it is vital for you and your family to be prepared and ready for it all. Join us for this important workshop on emergency and disaster preparedness. This free workshop will feature a panel of experts who will discuss what it actually means to be prepared, what you can expect from the government in a time of disaster, and how you, your family, and your community can develop an emergency plan. 

Registration is required due to limited space. Please RSVP by Wednesday, May 2, 2018. You can register online at https://conta.cc/ or by calling Maria Lejano, AAHI Program Assistant, at 240-777-4517.

If you have any questions, or if you are unable to register, please contact Ms. Lejano via telephone or email at Maria.Lejano@montgomerycountymd.gov. We hope you will join us in building a healthier community!