FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CCN SCREENED OVER 300 ISNA ATTENDEES, REGISTERED OVER 600 PEOPLE IN BONE MARROW REGISTRY, COLLECTED 30 PINTS OF BLOOD AND HOSTED FIRST EVER ISNA CONFERENCE HEALTH SEMINAR

(Chicago, IL – July 6, 2011) ISNA Conference attendees from across the country benefited from the ISNA Health Fair on July 1-3. The health fair was hosted by local Illinois nonprofit organization, the Compassionate Care Network (CCN.) CCN volunteer physicians provided medical care and consultations to whoever needed medical care and attention throughout the 3 days of the convention.

CCN hosted a session dedicated to medical issues, which was brand new in the 48 year history of ISNA. The medical session covered Diabetes, Coronary Artery Disease, Obesity/Weight Management, and Depression. Speakers were Drs Alvia Moid, Nausheen Akhter, Ehtesham Ghani and Shabbir Zarif respectively. CCN’s Executive Director, Dr. Azher Quader, said, “These four major illnesses account for 75 percent of the $2.3 trillion dollar cost of health care in America. Prevention and treatment for these conditions is anchored in life style modification which is applicable to everyone in the community.”

Over 300 people benefitted from Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Obesity, Stroke Risk and Dental Health screenings. Results were evaluated with those who were determined to be at health risk for followup. Those uninsured and needing followup were offered access to affordable health care services thru CCN's wide network of primary care physicians and specialists in the Chicagoland area.

In addition to the health screenings, over 30 units of blood were collected with the help of the American Red Cross and 600 new donors were added to the National Bone Marrow Donor registry with the support of the Mallick Family (who recently suffered the loss of a child to leukemia) and Be the Match organization. “Bone marrow transplants have the potential to save lives if available in time. Availability of a good match is usually within the same racial and ethnic community. At present there are not enough donors in the registry who are from a South Asian or Arabic or Afro American ethnic background. Hence the effort to promote this registration,” says CCN President Dr. Mohammad Gafoor.

About CCN

Founded in 2004 by Chicago doctors Azher Quader, M. Gafoor & Ayesha Sultana, practicing physicians and community activists, Compassionate Care Network (CCN) is a not-for-profit organization that conducts free health screenings around the Chicagoland area and offers access to affordable health care for the uninsured. Currently, CCN serves over 2500 Illinois residents. For a small annual fee, the uninsured enrolled in the network have access to over 120 physicians, 6 medical labs, 13 imaging centers, and other health care services like Dentistry, Optometry, Chiropractic care, Physical Therapy and Podiatry who support the notion of “compassionate care” and voluntarily offer services to the uninsured at discounted rates. For more information please visit www.ccnchicago.com or call 773-775-3600.