New Media Awards 2008

Dr Syed Nayyer Abidi

Nominated in category.

Dr Syed Nayyer Abidi is a senior health professional, working as the founder director of a registered Community-Interest Company called CHIEF - Community Health Involvement & Empowerment Forum. He is also known as a social entrepreneur, a healthcare writer, a bilingual author, and a well-known public health campaigner in the United Kingdom. He also leads M.E.H.A Group of Health Promoters that has recently been highly recommended for Queen`s Award for Voluntary Service - 2008.

3 nominations from readers

  • Dr Syed Nayyer Abidi is a senior health professional, working as the founder director of a registered Community-Interest Company called CHIEF - Community Health Involvement & Empowerment Forum. He is also known as a social entrepreneur, a healthcare writer, a bilingual author, and a well-known public health campaigner in the United Kingdom. He also leads M.E.H.A Group of Health Promoters that has recently been highly recommended for Queen`s Award for Voluntary Service - 2008.

    A national health awareness project, the M.E.H.A project UK, was launched in February 2002 in Manchester. This unique project is supervised by a group of native health professionals, working in the NHS. He was selected to work as National Co-ordinator. Its aim is to provide latest healthcare information in the individual's native language and raise health awareness mainly in the minority ethnic communities of the UK. He became the author of the UK's first-ever Urdu healthcare book, 'Solution to Common Health Issues', in 2000. The Department of Health later approved this book for wider circulation in the UK. So far, four editions of the book have been published and distributed in the United Kingdom. In April 2002, his UK's first-ever bilingual (English/Urdu) healthcare book was published in the UK. 'Prevention is Always Better than Cure' is being supplied to public libraries, hospital libraries, community centres, and G.P surgeries for the benefit of wider community. He regularly writes health awareness articles for local Urdu and English community newspapers. He also organises monthly health education seminars, radio talks, and health awareness meetings for the benefit of wider community.

    Nominated by Humera Shah, 18 February 2008

  • Key Achievements:

    1-Successful launch of CHIEF`s interactive and informative website: www.chiefcic.com in June 2007, received more than 20,000 hits each month;

    2-CHIEF received funding from Big Lottery for its health awareness project: `Building Healthier Communities` in July 2007;

    3-Successful distribution of weekly E-newsletter to more than 10,000 online subscribers since August 2007;

    4- Successful launch of `Promoting effective use of Internet in BME communities` project: http://www.chiefcic.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=vi...

    5- Associated Group, Minority Ethnic Health Awareness Group ( M.E.H.A group ) has been short-listed for Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2008 in November 2007;

    6. Six leading U.K health and social care experts joined CHIEF`s National Advisory Council NAC );

    7- CHIEF becomes the Affiliated Member of following national organisations: Social Enterprise Coalition, Attend, NHS Networks ( Heath & Social Care ), National Council of Voluntary Organisations ( NCVO ), and National NGO Forum.

    Nominated by Dr Syed Abidi, 17 April 2008

  • On the basis of his following admirable voluntary contributions towards wider community, I strongly believe he is the most suitable person for such award:

    A national health awareness project, the M.E.H.A project UK, was launched in February 2002 in Manchester. This unique project is supervised by a group of native health professionals, working in the NHS. He was selected to work as National Co-ordinator. Its aim is to provide latest healthcare information in the individual's native language and raise health awareness mainly in the minority ethnic communities of the UK. He became the author of the UK's first-ever Urdu healthcare book, 'Solution to Common Health Issues', in 2000. The Department of Health later approved this book for wider circulation in the UK. So far, four editions of the book have been published and distributed in the United Kingdom. In April 2002, his UK's first-ever bilingual (English/Urdu) healthcare book was published in the UK. 'Prevention is Always Better than Cure' is being supplied to public libraries, hospital libraries, community centres, and G.P surgeries for the benefit of wider community. He regularly writes health awareness articles for local Urdu and English community newspapers. He also organises monthly health education seminars, radio talks, and health awareness meetings for the benefit of wider community.

    In June 2003, he initiated a unique national project 'Building Healthier Communities'. So far has had successfully organised 25 health awareness -raising seminars. In December 2003, he was appointed as member of the North Manchester PCT Patient and Public Involvement Forum by the Patient and Public Involvement in Health Commission. In September 2004, he was appointed as the Forum Media Spokesperson to raise awareness about the Forum's vital role and its activities in the media. From January 2003 till November 2006, Dr Abidi served as the founder Chief Executive & Media Spokesperson of BEHAF trust. He is currently affiliated to ‘Make it Happen' Consultancy` as Associate Consultant in Equality, Diversity & Health Promotion.

    Fellowship/Membership:

    1- The Royal Society of Arts, London

    2- Association of Pakistani Physicians & Surgeons in the U.K;

    3- Manchester Medical Society; Manchester

    4- Pakistan Medical Association; Blackpool

    5- The Pride of Pakistan Forum, Glasgow

    6- Cheetham & Crumpsall Welcome Centre, Manchester.

    Thank you for your kind consideration.

    Best Regards,

    Mrs Humera Jaffri

    Nominated by Humera Jaffri, 08 May 2008

4 comments from readers

  • Well Done!!

    Submitted by Sameera Mehdi, 08 May 2008

  • Very well deserved nomination, I fully support it as Dr Abidi`s colleague - Keep it Up!

    Submitted by Ihsan Ullah Niazi, 13 May 2008

  • Having read the nomination above and that of the other nominees, based on Dr Abidi's many voluntary contributions, I feel he is deserving of this reward.

    Submitted by Zahieer, 18 June 2008

  • Given the quality and the quantity of work he has rendered consistently for developing health and educational awareness among minority communities in the UK, I strongly recommend him for the award.

    Submitted by Ali Ahmad, 02 March 2009

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