Health Fairs

Our health fairs  offer free health screening services and referrals to affordable and culturally appropriate healthcare to immigrant communities throughout New York City.. We implement a robust follow-up protocol for all participants in need of further counseling.

Each year, the IHCD Service partners with numerous community organizations to bring health fairs to their constituents. Recent health fairs have served New York City’s Indian Punjabi, West African Fulani-speaking, Arab American, Bangladeshi, and Mexican populations.

Due to the pandemic, health fairs have been suspended until further notice; however, we look forward to a time when we can assist community members through these vital fairs in-person again.

For more information regarding health fairs, contact Bharat Narang at narangb@mskcc.org.

IHCD-RLC Cancer Screening Program

Underutilization of cancer screening services among immigrants and minority populations may prevent early detection of cancer and lead to higher mortality rates among members of immigrant and minority populations in the event of a cancer diagnosis. Immigrant and minority populations can face cultural, linguistic, and financial barriers to cancer screening services. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC)’s Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities (IHCD) Service has identified low rates of cancer screening among participants in community health fairs. To improve the accessibility of cancer screening among NYC immigrant and minority populations, this program will harness IHCD’s existing community partnerships and the robust cancer screening services offered by MSK’s Ralph Lauren Center and external community-based clinics.

• Staff provide health education regarding cancer screenings
• Staff navigate community members to and through cancer screening services, and diagnostics/treatment if necessary
• Staff facilitate the provision of appointments of cancer screening at MSK’s Ralph Lauren Center, or external sites
• Staff follow-up with community members for ongoing (e.g., annual) screening services or additional services as needed

The Taxi Network

The Taxi Network conducts community-based participatory research to reduce health disparities among NYC taxi drivers. There are over 300,000 taxi drivers in the United States and more than 160,000 drivers in the New York City. Taxi drivers are at an increased risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease due to poor diet, exposure to particulate matter, tobacco use and barriers to risk reduction and screening. The Taxi Network was developed by IHCD and its partner, the South Asian Council for Social Services (SACSS). We work closely with an advisory board of taxi drivers- the Taxi Community Advisory Board (CAB)- to address driver health disparities. We provide free health services at NYC taxi garages and community-based organizations.

Our Health Fairs offer an important gateway to the healthcare system for many drivers and have become a central part of the Taxi Network. At Health Fairs, we provide free health screenings and education at taxi garages and community sites throughout the city, where drivers can check their blood pressure, BMI, waist circumference, cholesterol, and blood sugar. In addition, we provide various programs to help drivers manage their health, through clinical referrals, insurance enrollment, and help with health care access(including coordinating medical appointments, cancer screenings, and prescription needs). Our research and programs include:

• Linking drivers to primary care doctors to ensure routine medical care
• Use of pedometers to increase driver activity levels
• At home blood pressure monitoring to help drivers control their blood pressure

For more information about Taxi Network activities, please contact Bharat Narang at narangb@mskcc.org.