New Mainers Public Health Initiative (NMPHI)

At A Glance

Contact: 

Abdulkerim Said

Location: 

Lewiston, Maine

Primary Issue Area:

  • Environmental Health
  • Living Economies

Active since:

2013

Core volunteers:

27

Group Links:

Our Purpose

Our purpose is to build resilient and healthy communities by informing, educating, and advising immigrants from Africa and the Middle East on ways to keep healthy, improve nutrition, receive vaccinations, take care of their children with developmental disabilites, and respond to emerging or existing public health challenges among the refugee community of Lewiston Auburn, Maine. Our primary focus in the past few years has been hosting Cancer Awareness Workshops for both men and women in Somali, French, Arabic and English. We host the workshops and in follow-up ensure that anyone with concerns make an appointment with their primary care physician to be checked out and if necessary, get screened. We take people to their screenings and we stay with them throughout the process, including through diagnosis phase and treatment protocols including medication and physical therapies.