Salaam

Spectrum News – Salaam Cleveland, a Home for Refugees and Immigrants

sara — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 14:51:55 +0000

A recent article by Spectrum News highlights Salaam Cleveland’s impact on NE Ohio and the people they serve.

https://spectrumnews1.com/oh/cincinnati/news/2022/04/07/mosque-for-refugees

Since Salaam Cleveland began in 2002, its goal has been “to see communities unite and to help build a culturally rich and tolerant society.” During Ramadan, they attain that goal by doing all they can for the immigrants and refugees new to the area.

Through Salaam Cleveland’s Mohammad Rasoul Allah Islamic Society, Muslims of all backgrounds and ethnicities gather to worship, create friendships, and freely experience community support.

The Mosque is a place that provides a sense of not only unity but of home. This Ramadan season and well beyond, Director Zahid Siddiqui and the Salaam Cleveland staff will continue the work of caring for the underserved with social issues, addressing domestic violence, health issues, and refugee settlement disputes.

The primary focus is to help the Afghan refugees new to the Cleveland area. Salaam Cleveland provides those in most need a Mosque, shelter, kids programs, and vital healthcare for free. Soon, Salaam Cleveland expects to extend their helping hands to Ukrainians in crisis.

Incoming refugees and immigrants will also learn how to navigate their new surroundings with the help of Salaam Cleveland. They provide:

Job search assistance
Grocery shopping
Driver’s training
Transportation
Appliances
Medicare/Medicaid Support
Home Setup/ Coordination of Household Donations
English and Maths Tutoring
Children’s Field Trips and Social Activities

If you would like to join this good work, visit https://www.salaamcleveland.org/volunteer/ to partner with Salaam Cleveland in assisting the underserved and uninsured in our community.

Doctors without Borders: Physicians and the ultimate sacrifice

sara — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 13:14:12 +0000

Murder in the Tigray region of Ethiopia

Physicians already give up a lot to pursue service to others. Time, money, relationships. But for a few, their sincerity, and love for their profession, and service to others leads them away from their nation, and their homes. These are the physicians of Doctors Without Borders. Dr. Mohamed Fadlalla, a big supporter of the Salaam Clinic, is one of those physicians who answered a medical call to arms, who left home to help the underserved in lands far away.

On Father’s Day this past June, Dr. Fadlalla took time away from his family and friends to speak to volunteers and students at Salaam Clinic about Doctors Without Borders and the experiences he has had with them. This deserves recognition, as this was during a brief time off he had between medical trips to Uzbekistan and Sudan. The discussion revolved around how to get involved, is it worth it (yes), and the differences in healthcare in America and parts of the world Doctors Without Borders operates in.

As appreciative as we are for Dr. Fadlalla, we are even more appreciative now as just a few days later, three of our colleagues in Doctors Without Borders were murdered in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. This abhorrent attack on our colleagues in Doctors Without Borders has led to the suspension of medical work in that region in Ethiopia. Thus far, no one has claimed responsibility for the murders.

As physicians, we often see our work undermined by political motives, and in times of political uncertainty, we become easy targets. Nonetheless, we continue to sacrifice and will continue to sacrifice for the sake of others and in service to others.

Read more about Doctors Without Borders and the situation in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.
ethiodia-msf-demands-investigation-killing-three-staff-members-tigray

Watch Dr. Fadlalla speak with Dr. Shah, CEO of Salaam Clinic, about the differences in community care in America and Uzbekistan.

Mass Vaccinations Begin in Ohio

salaamcleveland@admin — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 13:51:37 +0000

We have collectively been waiting a very long time for vaccinations to begin at this level,

Here in Cleveland, the mass vaccination site is at the Wolstein Center at CSU. At the time of writing this (3/18/2021), Ohio is currently accepting those in groups 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B; and on this Friday (3/19/2021), eligibility will include those over the age of 40, and those over the age of 16 if you have chronic conditions.

By the end of March, vaccine eligibility will be for all people over the age of 16.

For children, studies are currently being conducted to ensure their safety and also to confirm an immune response. Once the FDA approves these vaccines in children, vaccination of them won’t be far behind.

This is great news. At best it means the end of the widespread pandemic, and at the least, it gives us breathing room and a chance for some sense of normalcy. And though the road is still long, we can see our destination. Families can begin to see one another again without fear or guilt, businesses can strengthen, and couples can go out once again. But with this hopeful future, we still need to remain vigilant and safe today.

Although fully vaccinated individuals can meet together without masks, when in public or around unvaccinated individuals, or you are unsure, the same mask and distance precautions apply.

Ohio’s Goals:

Governor DeWine stated very clearly that health orders may be lifted once we reach below the level of 50 new cases per 100,000 people. Right now Ohio is around 100-200 new cases per 100,000. We are trending downwards and in the right direction, and now is not the time to let off the steam. We need to carry forward full strength ahead without letting up, and God willing, this can be behind us by summertime.

To sign up for the vaccine, or to read more about it and FAQ’s please visit gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov

Food Drive – December 2020

salaamcleveland@admin — Wed, 23 Dec 2020 14:28:01 +0000

There is light at the end of the tunnel, though the tunnel is more than bumpy

salaamcleveland@admin — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 13:18:17 +0000

With the start of vaccine distribution for COVID-19, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
We commonly hear that the vaccine came out too quickly to be trusted, or that shortcuts were taken. This, like most misinformation, is part truth, and majority falsehood. The timeline was quick, due to the urgency and deadliness of the pandemic. And shortcuts were only taken in bureaucratic areas and financial areas where shortcuts were possible. The bigger and more important truth is that absolutely no shortcuts were taken when considering and assessing the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine in humans.

And even though there is light at the end of the tunnel, and we are working hard to combat misinformation, the tunnel that is left to traverse is more than bumpy. We are seeing surges of covid-19 spread, with ICU beds nearing capacity. Widespread shutdowns are once again popping up around the nation. Our healthcare workers are also being stressed even more than they have been since the pandemic began, living most of their waking hours in PPE. And to increase the stress, staffing is being stretched. In fact, with coronavirus being in our communities, a major problem is the lack of medical personnel who are out with the virus more so than available space and resources such as ventilators, etc. What this will mean is we have more death to deal with over the next few months. And even with better treatment of covid-19, daily deaths are now the highest they have been in the state, along with hospitalizations and number of cases. This means upcoming scenes of loved ones passing away, morgues filling up, and resorting to ordering refrigerated trucks to store our deceased loved ones. I’m not saying this to instill fear or to be scary, because the truth remains, that it is scary.

Around the nation, without relief, we see millions of Americans on the verge of eviction (as of writing this on 12/16/2020, congress is inching closer to making a deal on a roughly $900 billion relief package). We see crime inching upward, and desperation starting to set in. Access to food and housing security is starting to dwindle, and many are in the cold as furnaces stop working (as one resident has stated, what is the use of making rent if only to sit in a cold apartment’). And while we look out for our neighbors, we must also look out for our families by taking precautions. And precautions work.

Flu hospitalizations compared to a 5-year average are down, though we are not out of the weeds yet (In Ohio, January-March are the months with the highest hospitalizations due to flu). This is seen as a by-product of the covid precautions we are taking. This includes masks, social distancing, and keeping gatherings to a minimum. There are a lot of differences between the flu and COVID-19, such as incubation period, how long you are infectious, and how easily it spreads before knowing you have an illness, etc, which explains why COVID-19 is spreading at the rate it is while flu numbers are currently less than the 5-year average.

So yes, with the vaccine, there is light at the end of the tunnel, but until there is the widespread availability of the vaccine, we must keep up the fight by limiting gatherings to household members, masking up, and keeping away from places where you will be in close quarters and contact with those outside your household, unless necessary.

Sources:
coronavirus.ohio.gov
odh.ohio.gov

salaamcleveland@admin — Fri, 27 Nov 2020 17:48:03 +0000

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News 5 Cleveland – Salam clinic Opens a Free-For-All Clinic at East Side of Cleveland

salaamcleveland@admin — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 15:25:01 +0000

https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/cleveland-metro/free-health-clinic-opening-on-clevelands-east-side?_amp=true

In Cleveland, Ohio – Salaam Clinic, a non-profit organization offering free medical services on a soft-scale since 2018 opened its full-fledged working clinic on Thursday 17 October 2019. The clinic aims to create healthcare equity in the Northeast Ohio area. News 5 Cleveland covered this event.

There are many uninsured and underinsured community members whose medical treatment is often delayed and neglected. Salaam Clinic aims to cover this gap in the community and wants everyone to enjoy a healthy life.

Salaam Clinic’s CEO Dr. Shoaib Shah said in the news release that Cleveland has been a lifelong home of his and holds a special place in his heart. It gives him great pleasure to be able to give back to the community and offer free medical services to all people. He aims to increase the resources and urge other Doctors and nurses of Cleveland to contribute to this Nobel cause.

Salaam Clinic feels humbled by its dedicated volunteers who donate their precious time and stay away from home. It is now open for patients on Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. For appointments, call 216 505 9800.

Cleveland.com – Salam Clinic Open its Doors for all with Free services

salaamcleveland@admin — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 13:45:50 +0000

https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2019/10/salaam-clinic-opens-offers-free-healthcare-to-northeast-ohio.html?outputType=amp

In Cleveland, Ohio – The nonprofit organization named Salaam Cleveland opened its Medical services under the name Salaam Clinic. The clinic aims to offer free medical services to the uninsured and underinsured segment of the Northeast Ohio community. Cleveland.com covered this event.

Salaam Clinic’s CEO Dr. Shoaib Shah said in the news release, “Cleveland has been a lifelong home of mine, and it holds a special place in our hearts for all of us. We’re thrilled to be able to use our resources and talent to help the community in what capacity we can, and it’s a goal to grow that capacity as well as the services we offer.”

Dr. Shoaib Shah also thanked all the volunteer physicians, doctors, nurses, and the support staff for dedicating their precious time from home. These volunteering brothers and sisters are the backbone of the Salaam Clinic and help the deserving segment of the Cleveland community.

It’s now open for patients on Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. For appointments, call 216 505 9800.

Solon Times – Solon physicians open Free clinic in Hough neighborhood

salaamcleveland@admin — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 13:37:18 +0000

View News Coverage Here.

Solan Times covered the media coverage of New Salaam Clinic on 5 Dec 2019. Salaam Clinic recently had a grand opening of its free clinic in the Hough neighborhood. Dr. Syed P. Ashraf and Dr. Simee Malik, who are the heart and helm of the Salaam Clinic, both are Solon residents and care about their local neighborhood quite profoundly. The New Salaam Clinic has three exam rooms that are dedicated to the uninsured and underinsured community members. Dr. Syed P. Ashraf, Dr. Simee Malik, Dr. Marina Magrey, and eight other volunteering physicians, nurses, and support staff split their time manning the clinic.

Dr. Simee Malik, a pediatrician with Lake Health, said that the idea of free medical checkups for deserving members of her community was bugging her for the past 2 years. Cleveland Clinic’s main campus, other hospitals, and medical centers are nearby the Salaam Clinic, but still, people were not getting access to health care.

Dr. Syed P. Ashraf, an internal medicine specialist with Atrium Group, said that the word “Salaam” is an Arabic word which means “Peace”. Salaam Clinic is part of Salaam Cleveland, which is a social work organization and came into being after the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. Local doctors vowed to provide free basic health care screening and primary care facilities because while working at well-sought hospitals and clinics, they saw that there is a gap in the system, where uninsured and underinsured people are neglected from basic medical facilities due to financial reasons.

In Solon and its suburbs, most community members are not insured or are underinsured. These people are equally valuable members of our community and they spend their whole lives without getting proper medical services. Salaam Clinic gives proper care to people who aren’t aware of which direction to take in certain medical conditions. The primary focus of Salaam Clinic is to get these people into the healthcare system. This means beginning a health chart, performing various medical screenings, and other routine exams.

Dr. Syed P. Ashraf said that they are continuously looking forward to collaborating with pharmacies, hospitals, and medical centers. They are looking for all types of collaborations, as Salaam Clinic is a primary health services clinic and cannot take mammograms and other lab tests, so they need support from hospitals as well as from the local council.

Dr. Syed P. Ashraf has long term goals for Salaam Clinic. He foresees a more holistic approach to medical services in the future. Salaam Clinic aims to offer free basic prescription medicines and medical or health education for deserving people as well.

News 5 Cleveland – Salaam Clinic prepares to reopen amid Covid-19

salaamcleveland@admin — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 13:10:36 +0000

https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/continuing-coverage/coronavirus/local-coronavirus-news/salaam-clinic-of-cleveland-prepares-to-reopen-after-being-forced-to-close-in-march

Salaam Clinic of Cleveland was forced to close down in March when the Covid-19 pandemic hit the global level. It is now preparing to re-open the clinic. Salaam Clinic is based in a Bilal Community Center on Euclid Avenue, which was forced to close down; the clinic had no choice but to shut its doors. However, the untiring efforts and heartfelt pain of Salaam Clinic doctors made it possible to reopen its doors for the people in need. News 5 Cleveland covered this event on 17 May 2020.

Salaam Clinic runs under Salaam Cleveland, which is a non-profit social organization. Salaam Cleveland has recently received a grant of $25,000 from the greater Cleveland Rapid Response Fund to procure clinical items, personal protective equipment and to expand its telehealth services.

Dr. Syed Shoaib Shah, CEO of the Salaam Clinic said that these are challenging times, and people who are uninsured or underinsured need medical services more than ever. Whether we have a pandemic or not, the need for people to get medical attention and checkups will not stop. Although the Salaam Clinic has secured a grant, it’s not enough to fulfill the needs of the community, as its three main fundraisers had to be canceled.

Salaam Clinic has also started its Telehealth services to ensure the safety of every community member, and provide them proper consultations at the ease of their homes.