Mary Jane O'Neill RN appointment to the Board of Directors of Z.I.A.D. Healthcare for the Underserved Inc.

Mary Jane O'Neill RN from Patient Care Management Systems for the County of Wayne a long time advocate for health care for underserved populations has been appointed to the Board of Directors for Z.I.A.D. Healthcare for the Underserved Inc.. Z.I.A.D. Healthcare for the Underserved Inc. is a non profit 501c3 providing primary care for underserved,poor and working poor populations.

Mary Jane O'Neill RN has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Z.I.A.D. Healthcare for the Underserved Inc. a 501c3 non-profit providing primary healthcare for underserved, poor,and working poor populations. Mary Jane O'Neill RN has been working in Patient Care Management Systems in the County of Wayne for over 15 years serving the Plus Care program and many other inovative programs that serve the poor with healthcare services. Z.I.A.D. Healthcare for the Underserved Inc. has a mission to "provide health care services to uninsured, under insured poor or working poor families, and individuals. To provide access to health care in underserved areas, especially Shortage Areas".

The Problem of the Uninsured In the United States. According to the latest Census Bureau report, there were more than 41 million+ uninsured Americans in the year 2001. Eight out of 10 were in working families. In most cases, the main earners in these families either had jobs that offered no health coverage or their premiums were unaffordable.

Because uninsured Americans cannot afford needed medical care, they live sicker and die younger than Americans with health coverage. For example: Uninsured women who develop breast cancer are twice as likely to die than insured women with the same diagnosis.

Uninsured men are nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed at a late stage of colon cancer than insured men. Uninsured children who need medical or surgical care are four times more likely to go without care than insured children with the same needs Uninsured children are almost five times more likely to be unable to receive needed dental care

Uninsured children are four-and-one-half times more likely to do without needed prescription medicines or eyeglasses. Uninsured children are more than one-and-one-half times more likely to be missing some or all of their immunizations. The number of uninsured Americans is rising for several reasons:

First, the economy has slowed and more people are unemployed and without health coverage. Second, health care costs are rising at double-digit annual rates, making health coverage increasingly unaffordable for employers as well as individual consumers Third, as states experience fiscal shortfalls, they are cutting back on public health coverage programs, such as Medicaid, causing some low-income families to lose health coverage. Given these trends, the problem of the uninsured promises to grow worse, not better, in the coming years.

"Mary Jane O'Neill RN will make a great addition to the Board of Directors bringing her insight and assistance in the mission to help the uninsured", said Julie Jernigan President of the Board of Directors for Z.I.A.D..

Z.I.A.D. Healthcare for the Underserved Inc. is holding an Annual Dinner Dance on September 19th at Burton Manor in Livonia. Healthcare for the Underserved is looking for Corporate and individual Sponsors at all levels as there are many sponsorship opportunities. Some of the many Guests will be : Jennifer Granholm-Governor of the State of Michigan ,Robert Ficano-Wayne County Executive, Dorothy Gonzales,Dr Aneheid Kluwicki,Dr Ruby Westley from Health and Community Services Wayne County,Dr. Noble Mesaru from Public Health City of Detroit, and Patti Kukkula Executive Director- Detroit/Wayne County Mental Health Agency.

For information on Z.I.A.D. Healthcare for the Underserved Inc. call Dr Ibraham Ahmed RN-Executive Director at 313-815-8767 or visit web site: www.ziadhealthcare.org