Racial Disparities in Healthcare in Maine: A Conversation with Hibo Omer, Executive Director of the New Mainers Public Health Initiative (NMPHI)

Description

Please join us, for a conversation with Hibo Omer, Executive Director of the New Mainers Public Health Initiative (NMPHI) on the racial disparities in healthcare in Maine. This event is organized by the Racial Equity Working Group, and hosted by the Jesup Memorial Library.

 New Mainers Public Health Initiative (NMPHI), is an ethnic-based organization in Lewiston, Maine. Fluent in French, Somali, Amharic, Oromo, and Adera, Mrs. Omer has extensive experience as an interpreter and cultural broker in Lewiston. She earned her undergraduate degree from University of Southern Maine (USM) and her master’s from University of New England (UNE). Mrs. Omer has led weekly workshops for over a decade on taboo topics such as cancer, women's health, and autism through the Women's Health and Developmental Delay Awareness program at NMPHI. Her passion is promoting health literacy and encouraging healthy choices among New Mainers. In her spare time, Mrs. Omer enjoys spending time with her family, cooking traditional Somali and Ethiopian dishes with healthy alternatives, and working as a Public Health and Diversity Consultant for the NH-ME Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Program. She previously served as Program Director at New Mainers Public Health Initiative, focusing on Health Literacy and the inclusion of children with disabilities.

 This presentation will delve into the racial disparities in healthcare in Maine, highlighting how these disparities affect the health outcomes of communities of color. Attendees will learn about the root causes of these disparities and explore potential solutions for addressing them. This presentation aims to raise awareness of the issue and inspire action toward creating a more equitable healthcare system in Maine.