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South Asian Health Foundadtion
The South Asian Health Foundation (SAHF) is a UK based health charity established in 2001 that aim to promote health and well-being in the South Asian population.

The need for SAHF
South Asians, by virtue of their genetic and physiological differences are prone to a variety of conditions and disorders more than the native UK population. This population has poor access to health promotion resources which often do not cater to their specific language or cultural differences. SAHF is made up of a large group of health professionals from a variety of medical specialties that work together to address these inequalities.

The work of SAHF

SAHF members work in a variety of ways to help educate the South Asian population about healthy lifestyles, exploding myths, accessing available resources:

Health Promotion Campaigns
Talking directly to our communities

One of the best ways to get important messages across is to talk to communities directly. We host regular meetings in community centres nationwide. They educate our communities about common diseases, and are attended by healthcare professionals to answer any questions you may have

We are developing a national infrastructure to enable ALL South Asian communities to benefit equally and effectively

Healthcare Research in South Asians
Just being of South Asian origin makes you more likely to suffer from common diseases such as HEART DISEASE, STROKE AND DIABETES. We wish to foster continuing research to find out why, and perhaps avoid thousands of deaths in our communities. We also aim to highlight advances in research in the conditions that affect many South Asians and use this to influence medical care Future Projects

The Foundation hopes to help extend research into ethnic health to include populations on the South Asian subcontinent. They are now beginning to suffer from diseases once thought to be absent from the developing world

We also rely on individuals and communities to make us aware of any causes that may benefit from our support. If you are aware of such an area, please contact us

What does the charity need to do to be highly effective?
Disseminate information

SAHF needs to disseminate information and raise awareness of issues pertinent to South Asians at a grass roots level. The charity has identified a programme of education and now needs to assess the availability and effectiveness of the materials used for health promotion

Act as a Pressure group

Research into the health and services available to South Asians is poor. The SAHF aims to become a pressure group to influence appropriate people and bodies. The Foundation aims to be in a position to provide authoritative comment to influence healthcare initiatives

SAHF works closely with the following organisations:

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)

Department of Health

British Heart Foundation

National Heart Forum

British Cardiac Society

Diabetes UK

National Electronic Library for Health

West Midlands Ethnic Liaison Committee (WELCOME)

We will apply pressure to health committees and the Government to investigate the health problems of South Asians. We must also ensure appropriate representation and advice is given for major ventures such as research studies on South Asian communities

Promote scholarship and research

The SAHF aims to continue to host high quality seminars and meetings. The SAHF aims to regularly publish vital and informative literature for academics, healthcare staff and the public, to keep the important issues in our communities in the public arena.

The structure of SAHF
SAHF is organised as a collection of working groups that are composed of experts in a particular specialty. The remit of each working group is to promote research and understanding within their specialist subject. The South Asian Health Foundation is organised as a collection of working groups that are composed of experts in a particular specialty. The remit of each working group is to promote research and understanding within their specialist subject. A core team of Trustees oversee and help co-ordinate the activities of these working groups. The Trustees themselves are also working group members.The Trustees also oversea the running of the SAHF in general such as organising the annual conference, fundraising, distribution of bursaries and awards, etc. Finally a group of patrons provide a guiding role over the direction SAHF is taking.

The Working Groups currently within SAHF are:


 * Cancer
 * Cardiovascular
 * Childrens
 * Diabetes
 * Gastrointestinal
 * Mental Health
 * Musculoskeletal

Bursaries and Awards
The South Asian Health Foundation, a UK charity whose aims are to improve the health and well-being of South Asians, is delighted to invite applications for a medical student elective bursary to the sum of £500.

Submission Deadline: 1st January of year of bursary Award Date: Decision will be made by February 1st by the SAHF Cardiovascular Group Prize: One award of £500 or two awards of £250 Open To: Medical Students

Please submit 250 words on the likely benefit of the elective and to explain why the SAHF should support the application. An application form must also be completed and returned with the 250-word submission.

Successful applicants will be required to provide written evidence of their visit (copies of receipts etc) and to provide a 1500-word report within 3 months of completion of the elective period, which is suitable for publication, on their visit once it has been completed.

Please submit 2 copies of your application and CV (one with and one without your name and institution), and an application form.

Source of funding
Being a charity, SAHF is reliant upon the generosity of organisations and individuals. Over the past ten years funding has been obtained from:


 * British Heart Foundation £30,000 per annum (2004 and 2008-11)
 * Department of Health (2004)
 * Novo Nordisk (2008)
 * Sanofi Aventis (2008)
 * Pfizer (2008)
 * Astra Zeneca (2008)
 * Schering MSD (2008)
 * Daiichi-Sankyo (2008)
 * Takeda (2007 and 2008)
 * Sanofi-Aventis £7500 (2006)
 * National Heart Forum (2005)
 * Department of Health (2004)
 * Pfizer(2004)
 * Schering Plough (2001)

Links
SAHF Website

SAHF YouTube site

Trust The Evidence blog