James Fultz, Jr., President
2008-2009

Greetings and Welcome to the Official Website of the Auxiliary to the National Medical Association, Inc. (ANMA).  It is an honor and privilege to serve as the 70th president of the ANMA. I extend my deepest appreciation to you for your confidence in me and together we will make great strides in implementing the objectives of the mission of ANMA.

By the time you read this, you have been busy in voter registration drives and mobilizing people to get to the polls. Now ,what a Wonderful Victory Yes, you are exhilarated! How long we have waited; what a price we have paid; we are energized; — life is more important to us now and we will pay more attention to our health and to the health of those around us, for we have hope-hope that the deadly, ugly disease of racism is closer to an antidote of eradication.

There has not been a more exciting time for the Auxiliary to fulfill its mission to aid and encourage the medical profession in its effort to educate and serve the public in matters of public health, health education, and legislation. Since we may be on the brink of national insurance which would guarantee health care for every child in the United States of America, the ANMA is poised to have our say in the national conversation of health care for everyone who wants or needs it.  Our voices and our hands must be in the midst of any health care discussion. We can educate and be an advocate for the citizens in our local communities while striving to recognize global health conditions to ensure our children and future generations can travel safely beyond our shores.  Endemics, as we know, swim in the oceans and fly in the winds.

However, on this threshold of great potential for living life to the fullest, are the odds for the African American male. According to 1999-2000 life expectancy statistics, the African American males’ lifespan is 6 ½ years less than that of his white counterpart and 6 .7 years less than that of African American women. 

To this end, I am asking you to embrace the theme for 2008-2009:

“Striving To Beat the Odds:
The African American Men’s Health Challenge”

African American men die earlier and suffer more adverse consequences from diseases than their white counterparts. I have selected six health issues on which to focus:

PROSTATE CANCER, COLON CANCER, CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, HIV AIDS, OBESITY and DIABETES

African American men have the highest rate of prostate cancer in the world. Eighty percent of all prostate cancer is diagnosed in men over 65. African American men frequently develop prostate cancer in their 50’s. Colon cancer is one of the easiest cancers to diagnose. A simple test to check stool for blood followed by a digital exam can detect most colon cancer. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in African American men and women. Although the group with the largest increase in AIDS is the African American woman, the African American male partner plays a significant role in this growth rate. Obesity has been recognized as one of the leading health care issues in our country today. Obesity is a contributing risk factor to cardiovascular disease and cancer. The challenge here is to identify and address the many risk factors.

The program will focus on education, screening and development of lifestyle changes to combat the devastating outcome that continues to haunt black men. The program for this year will encompass the following:

Identifying the risk factors

“Beating the Odds” and other issues which were on the agenda of the

ANNUAL STRATEGIC PLANNING AND LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
HELD OCTOBER 17-19, 2008
SHERATON NATIONAL HOTEL
ARLINGTON, VA, 22204

The 2008-2009 Program also includes:

Disaster and Emergency Preparedness. Individually and collectively, many Auxilians have suffered from a string of natural disasters this summer and autumn.  Many communities, especially those in outlying areas, will look first to the physician and the physician’s family for help.  Auxilians must be in the forefront in preparing their community JUST IN CASE.

Diabetes Program.  The Auxiliary has become a coalition member on the National Medical Association’s diabetes grant, “National Program to Promote Diabetes Education Strategies in Minority Communities: The National Diabetes Education Program.” As a result, this year local affiliates of ANMA will work with local affiliates of NMA to plan and implement activities designed to reduce the incidence of diabetes in the African-American community.

Healthy Children Program. ANMA will provide health screenings to three- and four-year-olds and health education workshops for their parents and guardians in an effort to increase the percentage of minority preschoolers who meet the health requirements to enroll in school. A variety of immunizations needed to enter school will also be provided. Hopefully our efforts as advocates for Children’s Health Insurance have been successful. 

National African-American Youth Initiative. ANMA will implement this annual program in June 2009. NAAYI, designed to increase the pool of African Americans in health-related careers, is an eleven-day residential summer program for approximately 80 highly motivated African-American high school scholars interested in health careers.  This year marks the nineteenth Session of this program.

Project SUN. ANMA will implement this annual program for youth at the ANMA 2009 Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. Project SUN is a prevention-based, lifestyle choices program designed to encourage healthy choices and goal setting for African-American youth.

Alma Wells Givens Scholarship Fund. ANMA will mark the 60th anniversary of annual awards of scholarships to medical students.  This year, at least $16, 000 in scholarships will be divided between Howard, Meharry, Drew, and Morehouse.

Mason/Bisson Scholarship Fund.  ANMA will award $2,000.00 for a scholarship to a nursing student training at a nursing school in the vicinity of the Annual Convention.

Also, ANMA will continue its work in eliminating health disparities; breast cancer screenings for women; and, medical liability reform for physicians.

HOW WILL WE ACCOMPLISH THIS PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES?

1. Membership-It is crucial that each Auxiliary- local, state, national- initiate an aggressive membership drive early in the year.  Reactivate members!  Do a mass mailing to all NMA members in your jurisdiction.  There may not be 4 other spouses in your area to form a local, but every one has a State Auxiliary to join and every one has the National Auxiliary to join. Let us know how we can help you.  This year, under the leadership of Judge Overstreet, the Regional Vice Presidents, other members of the Membership Committee and NMA’s support, we aim to increase membership by 100%.  THIS IS A PRIORITY!
2. Auxiliary Meetings- Each Local, State and Regional meeting should address some part(s) of the National Program of Action.  The 2008-2009 Program will be built, also, into the Convention.
3. Affiliates- ANMA will build a stronger reciprocal relationship with its affiliates whereby a larger audience will be maintained to disseminate information and screening opportunities.  Our affiliate organizations are: National Council of Negro Women; National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; National Urban League; United Negro College Fund; and, the Black Women’s Agenda.
4. Collaboration- A shared effort for our Outreach Program to address the health concerns of our communities, will include inviting the-National Medical Association; Greek Letter Organizations (Fraternities and Sororities); Fraternal Organizations; Council of Churches; Parent/Teacher Associations; 100 Black Men; Concerned Black Men; certain Union Groups and others to join us in this important mission.
5. PUBLIC and PRIVATE SUPPORT-Grants and other solicitations will be sought to expand ANMA’S services.

Since our inception in 1936, we have reached and impacted the lives of thousands of Americans and responded to many consumer health needs through health education, health screenings, advocacy, and scholarship programs. When we culminate our program in July 2009 in the Gambling Capitol of the World, Las Vegas, may we have beaten the “Odds”- not by chance or the stroke of Lady Luck- for the African American Men’s Health Challenge by determination, education and screenings.  Please, join us now in the fight to meet the “Challenge.”

Sincerely,

James M. Fultz, Jr.
President