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Health By Minister Louis Farrakhan
Real health insurance
comes from the diet and eating that which was unclean to eating that which
is clean. That which is sanitary is that which is clean and that which is
unsanitary is that which is unclean. What is the relationship between sanity
and sanitarium, insanity and unsanitary? When you put that into the principle
of justice, the more deprived of justice human beings are, the more insane
or unclean they become. When you can live in filth then you encourage rats,
cockroaches, flies and all things that are carriers of disease. So, one of
the first things that the Honorable Elijah Muhammad enforced upon us was cleanliness
and he said one day that he would like to form a committee of cleanliness
to enforce cleanliness in the society. He said cleanliness is not next to
Godliness; it is Godliness. So just helping our people to see the need for,
and to get involved in the practice of being clean, will start then on the
road to health and sanitary conditions.
We were required to take a hot bath or a shower every day. We are required
to put the best foods in our stomachs and therefore the Muslims countenance
literally glowed. We never had prescription drugs in our bathroom cabinets.
We hardly ever had a headache. We suffered from diabetes but we know how to
master it. The key is not forcing government to give health care to the people.
The key is providing the people with an internal force of enlightenment that
allows the people with health care should they need it. But, if you are clean
and you eat the proper foods and you try to take control of your thoughts
then you are giving sane, and sanitary conditions to yourself and no matter
what the government does or does not do, we give health to ourselves by what
we do.The government said it was OK to drink alcohol. God said no and we stopped.
The government said it was all right to smoke. God said no and we stopped.
The doctors said eat three meals a day. God said no. We ate one meal a day
and we got away from the forbidden swine and shell food that is improper.
These are instructions to the people because what we represent is empowerment
to the masses by giving the masses the knowledge of how to do for themselves
rather than to depend on government, but the unity of the masses will give
us the power to redirect government. Health is central to high quality of life. Good health requires both preventive
measures and curative programs. Central to preventive measures is healthy
food and healthy eating. Health is not simply the absence of disease; health
is defined as a human right.At the federal level, managed care, social security and Medicare/Medicaid
programs are in financial stress. Since medicine is big business and big government,
the curative medicine programs contain all of the characteristics that challenge
our survival, including racism and economic discrimination.
We must change our eating habits. Next, we must reduce the
amount of junk food consumed by our children. Cigarette smoking is suicidal;
the use of controlled substances also results in illness and death. Poor health
contributes to lost income and unemployment.
We must address political issues involving health care with the same critical
eye, the same energy and the same demand for equity that we reserve for the
most important challenges to our survival
Health Care
The Three leading causes of death among Black people
are heart disease, cancer and respiratory illness. Heart disease is the number
one cause of death in the United States. In 1992, the death rate from heart
disease for Black males was 45.8% higher than for White males. For Black females
it was 69.2% higher. Also in 1992, death rates from strokes were two times
higher for blacks than Whites.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death
among women in the United States. Cervical cancer is also a serious problem.
Black women are more likely to die from this disease than White women. Black
men are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer than White men.
Action Items
Increase the level of Awareness about risk factors
related to heart disease and stroke by collaborating with local community
groups to develop a health component that will develop and implement educational
activities tailored to meet the needs of community.
Increase access to awareness and promote adequate and
affordable medical insurance coverage that will ensure early detection and
treatment of service for Blacks and other minorities by supporting legislation
to increase insurance portability and eliminate pre-existing conditions clauses.
Also, mobilize grassroots organizations to support legislation prohibiting
insurance or employment discrimination based on genetic testing or information.
Issue: Dismantling of Health Care Infrastructure
Policy decisions during the past 20-25 years, based
on cost reduction, have gutted America's infrastructures. There has been a
net loss of hospital beds, clinics and availability of health care. Forty-three
to sixty million people are uninsured. Privatization of health care has victimized
Black and other poor communities. Politicians have abdicated their reasonability.
Excess death rates are soaring. Preventable illness is resurgent due to cost
cutting. Support for concerned community-based doctors is paramount. On the
rise is food contamination by way of chemical additives during the production
process.
Issue: Health Parity - The net disinvestments
and down-sizing of health care infrastructure increases the gap in health
care outcomes. Black, Latino American and other Americans need more, not less,
investment to produce more doctors, nurses and dentist. There is also a need
for more medical schools, hospitals, and clinics.
Health Care: Improve Access In Poor Communities - Everyone should have access to basic health care. Minorities continue to
suffer and die disproportionately from treatable diseases.
Background - African Americans and
other minorities disproportionately suffer from preventable and treatable
diseases. For example, African American men die from strokes at almost twice
the rate of other men, and have a higher incidence of prostate cancer than
any other group.
While the overall death rate due to breast cancer had declined, it has increased
for African American women. In addition, African American infants are twice
as likely as White babies to die before their first birthday. Diabetes also
is more common among African Americans than Whites, with the highest rate
among African American women.
Managed Care Reform
A. "Patient Bill of Rights"
- The CHC will support legislation that: Facilitates access to emergency care
to all people.
Ensures the privacy/confidentiality of all patients'
records. Includes measures of accountability for health care providers to
monitor adequate service to minorities.
B. Access to Specialist - Raise awareness
of health care needs of minority communities not being addressed by managed
care, including access to specialist. For instances, minority communities
that suffer disproportionately from diabetes and cancers must have access
to the appropriate medical treatment.
C. Restoration of Benefits for Legal
Immigrants. Support Legislation that restores SSI, Medicaid and food stamps
to legal immigrants.
Medicare Reform - Advocate for the inclusion of prescription
drug coverage for all plans and not limit it to Medicare HMO's.
Support the expansion of eligibility to adults younger
than 65 years old.
Advocate for Medicare reimbursements to health care
providers in all the territories at a rate similar to that enjoyed by health
providers in the states.
Long-Term Care
Support the $1,000 tax credit to compensate for formal
and informal long-term care for people of all ages with three or more limitations
in activities of daily living.
Support the National Family Caregivers Program, which
would assist families caring for elderly in our minority communities. With
the decrease in payments to many health providers in our minority communities,
we must look for alternatives in traditional health care.
Mental Health - Latino
Americans suffer disproportionately from sever depression. Mental and substance
abuse disorders come in many forms and include different diagnoses affecting
millions of individuals. Of those affected, Latino Americans have been found
to have the highest rate of severe depression compared with Whites and other
minority communities.
Support efforts by the administration to educate Americans
on the need for quality, affordable mental health care, especially for our
minority communities.
Support parity of mental health issues including drug
and alcohol abuse.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death
among women in the United States. Cervical cancer is also a serious problem.
Black women are more likely to die from this disease than White women. Black
men are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer than White men.
Action Items
Increase the level of Awareness about risk factors
related to heart disease and stroke by collaborating with local community
groups to develop a health component that will develop and implement educational
activities tailored to meet the needs of community.
Increase access to awareness and promote adequate and
affordable medical insurance coverage that will ensure early detection and
treatment of service for Blacks and other minorities by supporting legislation
to increase insurance portability and eliminate pre-existing conditions clauses.
Also, mobilize grassroots organizations to support legislation prohibiting
insurance or employment discrimination based on genetic testing or information.
Issue: Dismantling of Health Care Infrastructure
Policy decision s during the past 20-25 years, based
on cost reduction, have gutted America's infrastructures. There has been a
net loss of hospital beds, clinics and availability of health care. Forty-three
to sixty million people are uninsured. Privatization of health care has victimized
Black and other poor communities. Politicians have abdicated their reasonability.
Excess death rates are soaring. Preventable illness is resurgent due to cost
cutting. Support for concerned community-based doctors is paramount. On the
rise is food contamination by way of chemical additives during the production
process.
Issue: Health Parity - The net disinvestments
and down-sizing of health care infrastructure increases the gap in health
care outcomes. Black, Latino American and other Americans need more, not less,
investment to produce more doctors, nurses and dentist. There is also a need
for more medical schools, hospitals, and clinics.
Health Care: Improve Access In Poor Communities - Everyone should have access to basic health care. Minorities continue to
suffer and die disproportionately from treatable diseases.
Background - African Americans and
other minorities disproportionately suffer from preventable and treatable
diseases. For example, African American men die from strokes at almost twice
the rate of other men, and have a higher incidence of prostate cancer than
any other group.
While the overall death rate due to breast cancer had
declined, it has increased for African American women. In addition, African
American infants are twice as likely as White babies to die before their first
birthday. Diabetes also is more common among African Americans than Whites,
with the highest rate among African American women.
The lack of access to preventive care and inadequate
treatment when care is provided account for the disparate impact on minorities
health. Indeed, almost 31 percent of minority adults do not have any health
insurance, compared to 14 percent of White adults. Minorities are twice as
likely to have very little or no choice in where thy obtain health care. They
are also less likely to be satisfied with the quality of their care when they
are fortunate enough to receive it.
Statement by The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan
- The National Agenda for the Million Family March, Photo by Kennith Muhammad
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Photo: Minister Louis Farrakhan addresses a welcoming audience at St. Sabina Catholic Church Catholic Church which is headed by Rev. Michael L. Pfleger in Chicago Illinois
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