November 6, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT
Sherri Holman, MPH
Associate Director of Public Affairs
P (212) 939-1372 F (212) 939-1367
sherri.holman@nychhc.org

Harlem Hospital Center and the Renaissance Health Care Network are pleased to announce the Grand Opening of the Medina Clinic at the Lenox Avenue Health Center and the Ronald H. Brown Pavilion at Harlem Hospital Center. The Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will take place on Friday, November 20, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at the Lenox Avenue Health Center, located at 115 West 116th Street, 2nd Floor, near Lenox Avenue.

The Medina Clinic is the first of its kind in New York City, and will provide comprehensive primary care, health education, and outreach screening with the cultures and languages of the Islamic Community in mind. The Medina Clinic is, of course, open to people of all cultures and everyone from the Harlem community is welcome to visit the Medina Clinic to receive first-class culturally sensitive care.

The goal of the Medina Clinic is to reach a population that typically doesn't seek medical treatment, and ultimately fully integrate them into Harlem Hospital Center's network of services. The Medina Clinic is an extension of the Harlem Hospital Center's Department of Ambulatory Care, which provides services throughout the week, with extended evening and weekend hours.

The clinic is operated with grant funded assistance from the New York State Health Foundation, The HHC Foundation of New York City and the Avon Foundation. Consistent with the Foundations objectives, the project provides services that are needed for the State's most vulnerable populations. The expected outcome is to establish a replicable clinic model that will provide appropriate health care services consistent with the cultural and religious practices of the Harlem Muslim residents. It is anticipated that the clinic will provide medical services to a minimum of 2,000 Muslims the first year.

In recent years, the Harlem and South Bronx communities have witnessed a significant influx of West African residents who are facing barriers to health care services which involve cultural, religious, linguistic, financial and educational issues. In Harlem, there has been an increase of immigrants migrating from Senegal, Guinea, Gambia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Ghana, Mali, Ivory Coast and Yemen. The Bronx, has witnessed a growing African population emerging from Ghana and Nigeria with immigrants from Ethiopia, Gambia, Mali, Sierra Leone and Togo in lesser numbers.

The Medina Clinic provides patients with a culturally sensitive environment, education and confidence necessary to navigate through the healthcare system, ultimately resulting in saving lives.

Harlem Hospital Center, Continuing The Tradition of Excellence.