FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2002

New York, NY - Dr. Benjamin Chu, President of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corp., today kicked off Family Health Month with a firm commitment to make quality healthcare available to every New Yorker.

"There has been a persistent perception that good healthcare is not accessible to all New Yorkers," said Chu, who oversees the city's 11 acute care hospitals and more than 100 other medical clinics.

The citywide observance will include a wide range of free medical screenings, comprehensive health education and assistance to enroll in affordable insurance plans.

The activities have been designed to demonstrate how quality health care is within the reach of everyone.

Throughout the month, HHC will provide residents in every borough everything they need to know to keep them and their families healthy.

Chu said residents are invited to bring in their families for screenings to help identify risk factors and allow for early intervention for diseases and conditions such as breast and prostrate cancer, heart disease, asthma, diabetes and mental illness.

The procedures will be available at HHC hospitals and clinics and in mobile screening vans.

For information on when and where the activities will be offered, residents should watch for announcements, interviews and advertisements in newspapers and on radio and television, as well as on HHC's website (nyc.gov/hhc)

In addition, there will be postings in schools and throughout HHC's facilities, and information will be available in many languages by calling HHC's toll-free phone number - 1-888-NY-B-WELL (1-888-692-9355).

HHC provides healthcare to 1.3 million New Yorkers annually, 500,000 of them uninsured.

Family Health Month will acquaint residents with affordable public healthcare insurance plans, such as Family Health Plus, Child Health Plus and Medicaid, and will encourage more people to enroll.

Chu noted that higher enrollment will give HHC access to the greater resources necessary to continue providing high quality clinical services and to fund the vital specialty programs essential to fill the service gaps in many communities.