Health Department
For the past ten years, ACANA’s Health Department has been promoting good health care through provision of health education and screening for major preventable and manageable diseases, including Diabetes, Hypertension and HIV/AIDS. ACANA has also been advocating for lifestyle changes through diet and exercise, immunization, and regular primary check-ups.
ACANA is cognizant of factors which hamper immigrant access to health services such as limited education, language barrier, lack of interpretation services and lack of health insurance. Our health department’s goal is to increase access for African and Caribbean immigrants to community-based health resources in a timely manner to prevent or reduce many life-altering events.
Health Department Initiatives
African Women’s Health Initiatives
As part of our commitment to assist vulnerable segments of our community, ACANA is committed to providing vital health and wellness information for African and Caribbean women thorough various programs.
Female Genital Cutting/Mutilation Project: Project Baobab
ACANA provides culturally sensitive education, information on FGC and also trains medical professionals on how to work with women who have experienced FGC.
ACANA Healthy African Woman Workshop Series
Monthly interactive workshop series where women gather to learn about various women’s centered health topics from trained peer leaders and medical professionals. The workshop series also provides access to free or low-cost health services for Philadelphia residents and other incentives. Past sponsors of this series include Women’s Way and the First Hospital Grant Foundation.
Department Head
Health: Dr. Nettie Johnson
Executive Director
Areas of Expertise
Mental Health Case Management
- Engage immigrant community on taboo subject of Mental Health
- Encourage members to seek MH services for self and family
- Tackle acculturation issues that strain family dynamics
- Present MH topics to immigrant groupings
- Promote suicide prevention activities
- Refer members and families to access free MH services
Mental Health Cultural Sensitivity Training
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Design and Develop cultural specific MH materials
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Conduct in-person and virtual MH cultural sensitivity training
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Provide cultural-sensitive debriefings on issues arising from MH sessions
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Collaborate with community-based MH service providers to deliver culturally & linguistically appropriate MH services to immigrant population
Public Health Programs
- Health education services to a target population of refugees and recent immigrant women resettled from sub-Saharan Africa and residing in the Philadelphia region.
Women’s Wellness
- We help improve the health and quality of life of African and Caribbean immigrant and refugee women in Philadelphia through an increase in routine screening for breast, cervical and ovarian cancers by medical professionals.
ACANA Clinic
- Health screenings (Blood Pressure, Blood Glucose, HIV, BMI) and connection to care.
Preventive Health and More
- Virtual Wellness check-in meetings
- Social Work in Health Department