Críticas Magazine

Loida García-Febo

Reaching out to medically underserved populations
January 24, 2008

The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2007, each week 182 people will be diagnosed with cancer and 68 people will pass away from the disease in Queens. Cancer Facts & Figures 2007 estimates that nationwide, approximately 1,444,920 new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in 2007. About 559,650 are expected to die from cancer this year, “more than 1,500 people a day.” The report indicates that “the five year survival rate for all cancers diagnosed between 1996 and 2002 is 66%, up from 51% in 1976-1977. The improvement in survivals reflects progress in diagnosing certain cancers at an early stage…” This is where libraries can play a big difference providing tools to help improve its customers’ quality of life.  

Queens Library Healthlink is a five-year, federally funded project in partnership with Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the American Cancer Society’s Queens Office, Queens Cancer Center of Queens Hospital and the Queens Library. It was developed to help medically underserved communities in Queens providing free early detection screenings, information and resources.

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center is the world’s oldest and largest private cancer center, leading worldwide figure dedicated to innovative research and patient care. The American Cancer Society is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization with more than3,400 local offices and chartered divisions around the country. Its programs include research, education, patient service, advocacy, and rehabilitation. Queens Cancer Center is a comprehensive cancer center part of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation. It treats all forms of cancer, particularly those most common among Queens’ residents focusing on prevention and early detection.

Services offered by Queens Library Healthlink include a mobile cancer screening van where Queens’ residents have the opportunity to schedule screenings for early detection of Cancer. The project allows Queens Library to increase its outreach resources, adding two outreach specialists from the public health field to work closely with community leaders and organizations. One of the purposes is the creation of Cancer Advisory Councils that work in conjunction with the library to increase cancer awareness.  Educational programs are presented by the American Cancer Society and other organizations, some of them synchronized with mammography van visits. Workshops are available in 14 languages.

Does your library offer out-of-the-box services? I’d love to know about them!

Posted by Loida García-Febo on January 24, 2008 | Comments (0)