For the past four years, the Three Meem Health and Wellbeing programme, one of our key initiatives, has strived to dovetail with the health policies of the NHS. Our mission is to blend health and wellbeing in an integrated, holistic manner. Through our partnerships with NHS institutions and healthcare providers, we champion the pursuit of prime health outcomes and encourage individuals to play an active role in their healthcare trajectories.
We advocate for health throughout the community, particularly emphasising individuals from the BAME community. Health conditions like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, mental health issues, and dementia impact minority ethnic groups disproportionately.
The Covid-19 pandemic has also disproportionately affected ethnic minority communities, leading to higher infection and mortality rates than the white population. The gravity of this health burden has underscored the need for active local community involvement to enhance health and life quality. We facilitated talks on Covid-19 and spearheaded a prominent Covid-19 vaccination campaign on social media and TV.
Our charity fosters patient-centred care principles, focusing on physical, mental, and social health determinants while emphasising preventive steps and early intervention. The Three Meem Foundation has launched a health awareness program to restore trust between ethnic groups and health service providers, encouraging them to seek help as soon as possible proactively. This program involves monthly presentations by a diverse team of volunteer health professionals. In 2021, we expanded our community wellbeing clinics to include face-to-face group consultations and virtual mental health consultations.
Through education and awareness initiatives, we aim to empower individuals and communities to make knowledgeable decisions regarding their health, boosting health literacy and self-care. We fervently advocate for equal access to healthcare services, striving to diminish health inequalities and ensure vulnerable populations receive the necessary resources and support to improve their wellbeing.
Healthy Hips and Hearts Exercises
The “Healthy Hips and Hearts Exercises” program was established through a collaborative effort between Public Health England, Sheffield Hallam University, the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine, and Sport England. This initiative falls under the broader “Active at Home” campaign, designed to foster physical activity amongst individuals in quarantine due to COVID-19. The exercise regimen involves structured, progressive routines performed while seated, using a chair for support. This makes it accessible to individuals across all disability levels.
These exercises are particularly advantageous for individuals who have arthritis, specifically those with knee or hip complications and those facing cardiovascular and respiratory issues—the diverse props utilised throughout the program help to fortify muscles. During the pandemic, Sister Ibrat Naeem conducted a weekly social group for women over Zoom to facilitate community interaction and support mental health. This online gathering was incredibly beneficial during the lockdown, providing a much-needed outlet for social connection and mental wellbeing. We will be restarting the in-person exercise preprogramme; watch the space!
COVID-19 Awareness Campaign
The Three Meem Foundation has actively spread awareness about the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly among the most susceptible communities, such as the ethnic and BAME groups. Our first community address about Covid-19 was given by Dr Amir Hannan MBE, a notable General Practitioner and the Chair of multiple medical committees, in March 2020, just before the initial lockdown.
We have ardently endorsed the application of masks, regular hand hygiene, and social distancing, incorporating these measures into our initiatives. Dr Amir Hannan issued a public update emphasising the hazards of Covid-19, which we highlighted in our newsletters. Our newsletter, distributed to over 200 local households and shared broadly on our social media platforms, allowed us to reach an extensive audience.
Recognising the profound impact of the pandemic, we prioritised launching an awareness campaign at the earliest stage. The campaign was met with significant acclaim and has become one of the most viewed videos on our YouTube channel. To further support our communities, we established a help group to offer expert advice and assistance to needy families.
COVID-19 VACCINE CAMPAIGN
 When the Covid-19 pandemic was declared, vaccine development began in earnest. The UK took the lead among Western nations in licensing the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine, launching an extensive vaccination programme. This feat was achieved within a year by pharmaceutical companies, which was seen as a significant milestone.
However, concerns arose around the quick pace of the vaccine’s development and testing. These concerns were especially prominent within the Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) communities. When data on Covid-19 infection and death rates became available, it showed a disproportionately high death rate and severe illness among BAME populations. Concurrently, the data underscored the vaccine as the most effective form of Covid-19 protection.
Despite this, a notable level of vaccine hesitancy was observed in some BAME groups compared to their white ethnic counterparts. In response, the Three Meem Health and Wellbeing team initiated a campaign promoting the Covid vaccine. We utilised gatherings (when not in lockdown) to distribute pamphlets, advocated for vaccination on social media, and partnered with the British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) to host several English and Urdu workshops.
In our inaugural online session, we assembled an expert panel including virologist Dr Muhammed Raza Naqvee, acute medicine physician Dr Muhammad Salman Rashid, BIMA’s vice president Dr Wajid Akhter, and GP Dr Amir Hannan. The live Facebook event attracted a substantial online audience who actively participated by asking challenging questions. Based on recent research data, the panellists assured the audience of the vaccine’s safety and efficacy. As a result, the audience was left with a strong, clear message: the vaccine is safe.
BBC Northwest recognised our work in promoting the vaccination programme, which interviewed Dr Tariq Razzaq about our endeavours to encourage vaccination and dispel circulating myths. We conducted more Urdu webinars on the Covid vaccine to keep the campaign’s momentum. Our panel included GP Dr Salam Shahid, Dr Mohammad Tayyab Haider, MBE, for his services to the NHS and Covid-19, and Medical Director and trial investigator Dr Iftikhar Hussain. The sessions were broadcast on multiple UK-based Urdu-language TV channels. We were honoured to host Lord Wajid Khan as a guest speaker, who passionately advocated for the vaccine.
SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN COVID VACCINE
We were thrilled to announce that our Covid-19 vaccine awareness campaign has expanded across multiple social media networks. The support we received was extraordinary, demonstrating our community’s unity and shared commitment.
Dr Tariq Razzaq, a Trustee of Three Meem, was a key figure in our campaign’s success. Dr Razzaq was among the early recipients of the Covid-19 vaccine and shared his experience publicly, setting a solid example for our community. His active endorsement significantly boosted confidence in the vaccine, leading to increased participation in the vaccination program.
Further enriching our reach, our dedicated multi-lingual team gave talks in both Urdu and English at various mosques. Their presentations aimed to deliver accurate information about the Covid-19 vaccine, debunking myths and fostering informed decision-making within the community.
Looking back, we are profoundly grateful for our progress and the campaign’s positive impact. As we tackled this public health challenge together, we remained committed to promoting vaccine awareness and safeguarding the health of our community.
Mental Health Initiative Adults and Youth
Statistics show that 1 in 6 adults experience a common mental health issue weekly. When analysed by ethnicity, south Asian women have a higher prevalence of anxiety and depression at 63.5%, compared to 28.5% of white women. Afro-Caribbean men also have a higher rate of psychotic disorders at 3.1%, compared to 0.2% of white men. Additionally, ethnic minorities are less likely to contact their GP about mental health than their White British peers. Cultural barriers and stigma, especially within BAME communities, make addressing these issues even more challenging. Furthermore, a 2020 article highlighted that 1 in 6 children aged five to sixteen have probable mental health issues, affecting all ethnic groups equally. To address these concerns, the Three Meem Foundation is conducting workshops, including Anger Management, mental health challenges in BAME women, and one-to-on online counselling during a pandemic, to help recognise and address these challenges.
Health and wellbeing Counselling
The term “counselling” often carries negative connotations within the BAME community, leading to damaging stigmas for affected individuals and families. Mental health institutions have adjusted their services to better cater to the BAME community’s cultural and religious beliefs to address this. The Three Meem Foundation aims to mitigate health inequalities that marginalised ethnic groups face in accessing mental health support. They collaborated with Ayesha Baig, a local registered counsellor from Sale. In partnership with Lingua GM, Baig organised a ‘healthy hearts and healthy minds’ self-care workshop. The workshop aimed to equip attendees with practical well-being tools for daily life, covering topics like self-identity, emotional boundaries, self-compassion, grounding techniques, and breathing exercises. The female participants quickly found a connection with the content, especially noting the therapeutic potential of their Muslim faith and culture. Baig’s session, conducted in English, successfully provided valuable insights into the mental health and well-being of the attending women.
Developmental Disorder in Children (ADHD)
The incidence of developmental disorders in children appears to be on the rise within the UK population. However, within BAME communities, these disorders are less frequently diagnosed. This discrepancy can be attributed to a lack of awareness, cultural challenges, and religious beliefs contributing to delayed diagnoses. Additionally, parents from these communities may not be fully informed about the NHS’s care and services.
Dr Bushra Rauf, a consultant psychiatrist specialising in learning disabilities, delved into the spectrum of learning disabilities, emphasising ADHD, Autism, and other related conditions. This enlightening session taught parents and the broader community about various disorders and gave practical advice on addressing associated challenges. This session raised public awareness and guided the BAME community to relevant information and support resources.
Social Prescribing
The Three Meem Foundation is actively involved in the innovative practice of social prescribing. Social prescribing, often referred to as community referral, is a means of enabling healthcare professionals to refer patients to a range of local, non-clinical services. These services can benefit individuals with social, emotional, or practical needs.
In alignment with this initiative, the foundation collaborates with local General Practitioners (GPs). Such collaboration ensures that GPs are informed about the foundation’s resources and support services. The foundation aims to facilitate holistic patient care by working closely with local doctors. Instead of solely relying on medical treatments, patients can be ‘prescribed’ social interventions like joining a community group, engaging in physical activity, or accessing mental well-being resources. This interconnected approach ensures that patients in the community receive comprehensive support, catering to their physical and emotional needs.
Collaboration with other health groups
The Three Meem Foundation recognises the significance of partnering with other healthcare entities to enhance the reach and quality of healthcare services. We are actively involved in health initiatives and are committed to bringing crucial information directly to the community. Alongside our initiatives, we also actively promote NHS England campaigns to ensure broader community awareness. Our Health and Wellbeing Service wholeheartedly acknowledges and stands behind the commendable efforts of the Greater Manchester Infant Circumcision Quality Assurance Group. In partnership with VOCAL, we’ve conducted workshops focusing on liver diseases. Additionally, we are proud to collaborate with the SAHARA initiative by the Alzheimer Society UK, supporting their endeavours to address dementia within the BAME community. In line with this, we are also teaming up with the Royal Society of Osteoporosis for upcoming workshops.
Women’s Health Programme
Recent data indicates that Asian women aged 65 and above experience the highest incidence of limiting chronic illnesses, with a rate of 64.5%. This starkly contrasts the 53% observed among all women within the same age bracket. In response, Three Meem assembled a team of specialists to develop a women-centric health program. Identified challenges encompass general health disparities, cancer screenings, cultural hesitations in seeking medical attention, mental health concerns, and a deficiency in support regarding healthy lifestyles and physical activity. A dedicated team of healthcare experts from the community has volunteered to facilitate bi-monthly educational sessions to increase awareness among BAME women. Topics already addressed span female-specific cancers, bowel cancer, menopause management, gynaecological issues, and many more.
