National Cambodian American Town Hall Meeting
NATIONAL CAMBODIAN AMERICAN HEALTH INITIATIVE
NATIONAL VIDEOCONFERENCE AND WEBCAST TOWNHALL MEETING TOADDRESS CAMBODIAN AMERICAN HEALTH EMERGENCY
APRIL 17th2006
11:00am –3:00pm CENTRAL STANDARD TIME
Forfurther information on participation and how to connect, contact:
National CambodianAmerican Health Initiative
(800)505-4637
TheNational Cambodian American Health Initiative (NCAHI) is a nationwidecollaboration of community based organizations and individuals committed toaddressing the health disparities faced by Cambodian Americans. NCAHI believes that recent healthstudies have shown that Cambodian Americans continue to face the ongoingdegenerative effects of genocide even after three decades of refugeeresettlement in the United States. Cambodians are dying disproportionately fromcomplications associated with diabetes, heart disease, depression, andpost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Cambodians are among the largest groups of survivors everadmitted into the United States. Over147,000 arrived as refugees in the aftermath of the Vietnam War and continuedto be resettled throughout the 1980’s. Nearly all suffered extreme starvation and faced torture and traumaunder the genocidal Khmer Rouge creating health problems that continue to thisday. The upcoming trial of the KhmerRouge is scheduled to begin in early 2007. This historic event will be the first attempt at seeking justice for thecrimes against humanity committed by the Khmer Rouge. Trials of perpetrators of torture and genocide are generallyassociated with increased levels of PTSD that will have a great impact on thehealth and mental health of Cambodian Americans.
April 17th marks the Cambodian New Year as wellas the infamous day when the Khmer Rouge came to power. The day will be a forum for Cambodiancommunity members, community leaders and health experts to discuss the healthemergency faced by Cambodians. Information gathered from this meeting will be used in developing a nationalstrategic plan to address the health issues.
Organizations participating by videoconferencing are theCambodian Association of America in Long Beach, CA; Immigrant and RefugeeCommunity Organization in Portland, OR; a coalition of organizations fromLowell Massachusetts that include the Lowell Community Health Center- MettaHealth Center and the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association of GreaterLowell; Khmer Health Advocates in West Hartford, CT; and the CambodianAssociation of Illinois in Chicago, IL. At this writing, arrangements are beingmade for other organizations to join the meeting via web casting. For moredetails on hot to join us through webcast, please contact Mary Scully at(860)561-3345 or email to mfs47@aol.com
For more information, please contact: Theanvy Kuoch at 860-561-3345or 1-800-505-4637.
Portland, OR 97220
(503)234-1541
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