Muslim leaders in Central Florida opened a new free clinic that will cater to the health needs of the low-income and uninsured citizens.
American Muslim Community Centers Clinic Opens Next Week
The American Muslim Community Centers Clinic in Longwood will start seeing patients next week. The facility will open initially every Friday and will eventually grow to three days per week in a month or two. From here, officials confirmed that it will operate five days in a week. The health clinic is located at 588 Wilma St., just off State Road 434.
"Our goal is to serve humanity - no strings attached. Everyone is welcome," confirmed Atif Fareed, AMCC chairman. "We have over 40 physicians who come to our mosque, and we have 11 of them signed up to volunteer here. So we are very, very blessed."
Health services shall be offered to uninsured individuals coming from Orange, Osceola or Seminole counties who are earning below 200 percent the federal poverty line. This figure estimates to earnings equivalent to $23,760 per person annually and $48,600 for a family with at least four members.
Book Appointments To The Clinic Online
Appointments can be made online thru amssclinic.org. Fareed further confirmed that Longwood Pharmacy will fill most of the common prescriptions without a fee. "It's a blessing," said Senior Pastor Joel Hunter of Northland. "The way you build trust in the community is that you serve everyone. I think anyone who comes to this clinic will leave with a favorable view of Islam."
Longwood Commissioner John Maingot confirmed the facility will do its best to sustain the community's need."We know there are thousands of people in Central Florida who could use a facility like this," Maingot said. "And if they don't get help here, they tend to wind up in our emergency rooms."
Moazzam Adnan Raja confirmed that there are no specific expectations on the number of potential patients. However, based on turnout at public health fairs sponsored by the community centers, the clinic could end up serving hundreds of individuals.
"We'll do what we can to serve as many as possible," Raja said. "Our mercy should not be constrained." According to Raja, Muslim doctors in the area are already active volunteers for other non-profit clinics in Central Florida, like Shepherd's Hope. Other volunteers will serve as staff in the various positions in the clinic.
The centers have raised $250,000 in buying and refurbishing the clinic building which happens to be a previous doctor's office. The area consists of two exam rooms and a space for laboratory work. This new move will hopefully bring change and counter the negative stereotypes about their faith.
