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

By Dr. Clarisse T. Mefotso Fall MPH

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9781669879466

Dr. Clarisse T. Mefotso Fall MPH

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Copyright © 2023 by Dr. Clarisse T. Mefotso Fall, MPH.

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Rev. date: 06/15/2023

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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

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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 employees.

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 benefits.

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 treatment.

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 members.

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 program.

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 interview.

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 the Doctor campaign— a call to action for men of all ages, ethnicities, and economic levels to regularly visit a doctor, and for the women and men who love them to help make it happen. Most participating Brooklyn hospitals, clinics, and health-care professionals offered free flu shots; HIV testing; exercise demonstrations; health screenings for asthma, blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, glucose, glaucoma, and other conditions; and made important health information available in and around Borough Hall Plaza. This was a life-learning experience on the ground for me in areas of public health in addressing health issues, designing models, policies, and structures to implement the program. It was a huge success. Dr. Graham never saw me as an intern, but a staff—a staff capable of running any program assigned to me. Of course, I never shied away to run to her office for clarities and guidance.

The Brooklyn Borough President’s Office:

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MY LIFE AS AN NGO AND

FOUNDER BEGAN

I N 2003, MY OWN JOURNEY has cumulated as the executive director and founder of African Hope Committee after working for almost a year with team specialist in health care, finances, law, and education to plan and form the nonprofit. Today, with over twenty-five years working in community and public health and doing humanitarian work, I have the honor to share my work with you.

I’m Clarisse Mefotso Fall, and I’m originally from Cameroon—a wife, mother, and dedicated professional woman in the field of public health. I graduated from Mount Saint Vincent College with a master’s degree in public health in the area of policies, structures, and systems. I had volunteered and interned with NY City public schools, American Diabetic Association, the Brooklyn Borough president’s office, and other communities in New York. I worked at the Brooklyn Perinatal Network on the maternal-child health program for five years and then began to develop specific work plans for the formation of African Hope Committee, Inc. In 2004, African Hope Committee, Inc. was incorporated, and through my hard work and the ones of the board members, staff, interns, volunteers, consultants, and friends, I have received several proclamations in New York, including proclamations from Mayor Bloomberg, Brooklyn Borough president, Manhattan Borough president, Councilmember Robert Jackson, State Senator Bill Perkins, recognition awards from the Commissionaire of women’s health in 2004, and was a recipient of the Union Square Awards in 2005. In 2012, I was a recipient of the NYPD Award. I received a citation from the Brooklyn Borough President Eric in 2020 for being a hero in addressing COVID-19 in New York City, a citation from state senator. In 2023, I received the Presidential Lifetime Awards during our CSW67/ ninth annual women and youth empowerment forum.

We formed the Kalifa Youth Program in 2010. This program served as a tool, arming all participants and future 1000 African Women Network members with great leadership skills and the talents to succeed in one’s career and tackle challenges facing in their personal and professional life. The program was global and made to empower youth from around the globe. Women, girls, and youth develop the skills to affect change in this complex world. Our program focuses on a proactive approach to managing, with a new skill set where changes are to be seen later as a catalyst for positive growth. As members, they learn with us how to grasp the difference and power themselves through. With continuing creativity, Kalifa Leadership Program has now been expanded to form a global network called 1000 African Women Network. The network includes business professional, nonprofessional, stay home mom, entrepreneurs, students, farmers, small businesswomen, and girls from all walks of life that are willing to join the membership and make changes in their lives and in their communities. Each day, we strive to create new visions, to embellish and find ways to transform the lives of women, girls, and youth around the world, SDG 5 of the United Nation for the next fifteen years under the auspice of African Hope Committee’s Global Projects. Professionals, organizations, institutions, faith-based universities, corporations, investors, and funders continue to learn from African Hope Committee on the way we work to make changes, approach challenges and difficulties in implementing projects that continue to create positive impact, collaboration, and partnership in our community at a local, national, and international levels.

Our goal was to reach our members and teach them how to use various leadership techniques, develop network skills, become economic independent, and expose them into various high-level events at the United Nations where they can use during their personal and professional lives. We expected to develop a network of one thousand members from around and then, together, develop a plan of actions that will transform member’s lives as well as the one of their families by 2030.

The membership also introduces members to communication, networking skills, decision making, conflict resolution, and critical thinking skills. Members had the chance to present their learning skills and talents to their local community leaders in a competitive project showcase with a hope to win a gift to help them create their own businesses.

The 1000 African Women Network is a membership network of health-care professionals, entrepreneur, social workers, mentor, businessmen and women, lawyers, government officials, humanitarians, and public advocates. The network is part of the global project of African Hope Committee, an ECOSOC-accredited organization of the United Nations since 2014. We work to plan and implement the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, SDGs, in poor communities around the globe.

You can join the Network Today and visit www.afriquehope.org.

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As a humanitarian and philanthropist, I have created advocacy work to create awareness on social issues for social change & equality for people in undeveloped & disadvantaged communities. The organization has actively and effectively work in engaging and promoting human and social welfare, with no prejudice on human suffering on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, religious, migrations and political issues. The main goal is to save lives, relieve suffering, and keep families safe. As a Public Health Advocate for women and the girl child education, I have devoted my life to work to advance equality for women through advocacy, education, philanthropy, mentoring, networking on a local, national and international level, building network and partnership at a community and government level. I describe myself as a true humanitarian and a people person at heart. The network goal is mainly to share resources, empower, motivate, educate, and encourage people to be agents of change.

Activities created to empower women, girls, and families:

1. Women empowerment, Created by the organization working to alleviate women, men, and youth poverty in the poor and immigrant communities. Clarisse Fall wanted to use this platform to raise awareness for women, men, and youth poverty, so she launched the educational programs in low-income neighborhoods by hosting forums. Other nonprofits and health institutions including the Department of Health, Harlem Hospital, and many more have joined the nonprofit to show women, men, and youth that success is possible despite economic hardship.

2. The 1000 African Women Network. Created in 2014 to address females’ and young girls’ poverty around the world. The organization’s mission includes securing equal opportunities for women and young girls on issues that have great impact on their lives. These opportunities include equal access to proper education, vocational training, jobs, sports, and arts and cultures. To be exposed in politics and learn about their rights. To accomplish