"DC Cover the Uninsured Week 2008" Campaign Press Event: Monday April 28, 10AM

Washington, DC, April 27, 2008 --(PR.com)-- The DC Area Health Education Center (DC AHEC) in partnership with Greater Southeast Community Hospital (GSCH) will host a series of free community events in support of the National “Cover the Uninsured Week 2008” campaign – aimed at raising awareness of the millions of Americans without health care coverage. Beginning with a press event on Monday, April 28, 2008 at Greater Southeast Community Health Hospital (1310 Southern Avenue, Southeast) from 10 AM until 11 AM., followed with a tour of the Greater Southeast Community Hospital to highlight new and improved services at the once distressed hospital - the only hospital east of the river. The tour will convene with a luncheon for senior citizens from across the District.

The weeklong health care coverage events and health screening events are free and open to the public. (Press may contact Kim L. E. Bell or Pat Fisher directly for interviews and photo opportunities)

The District of Columbia has over 45,000 DC residents are without health care coverage. Activities during DC Cover the Uninsured Week (April 27 through May 3, 2008) are efforts to increase the importance of and access to health care coverage for all Americans—emphasizing residents from the District of Columbia. This is one of many CTUW 2008 outreach events being held across the country to engage individuals in the process to finding solutions that will lead to health care coverage. Some of the weeklong events for District residents are:

♦ Screening 4 Life Health Fair at Greater Southeast Hospital (Tuesday-4/29/08)
♦ Latino Health Coverage Outreach Day with DC Office on Latino Affairs (OLA) (Tuesday-4/29/08)
♦ Citywide Health Coverage Enrollment Days in partnership with Select Giant and /Safeway Market Place Food Stores (Wednesday-4/30-Friday, 5/2)
♦ Unnatural Causes: Is Inequity Making Us Sick-- Movie Viewing/Community Health Dialogue at Bus Boys & Poets (Thursday-5/1/08; 11AM-2PM)

“DC Cover the Uninsured Week 2008” in will culminate with a huge Citywide Extravaganza Health Insurance Enrollment and Re-Enrollment Fair in the parking lot of the Brentwood Shopping Center, NE (across the street from the Rhode Island Metro Station—between Home Depot and Giant Food Store) on Saturday, May 3rd.

DC AHEC, along with Greater Southeast Community Hospital, Downtown Locker, Unity Health Care, Signal Financial Federal Credit Union and a numerous other social service providers will participate in this spectacular event from 10AM – 4 PM. Included will be free health screenings, insurance enrollment, immunizations, HIV/AIDS Testing, free food and Moon Bounce for the kids.

At each of the events mentioned, participants will receive information on available health care coverage options, assistance in applying for free health care coverage, and opportunities to inquire about individual health insurance needs/concerns. Through outreach and advocacy, DC AHEC has responded to the call that encourages the City and America to get and keep health care coverage for the residents of the District of Columbia, while working to find a solution for quality, affordable health care for all. To find out more about DC Cover the Uninsured Week 2008, call Kim L.E. Bell or Pat Fisher at 202-574-6994. For more information on the DC AHEC mission, visit www.dcahec.org.

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