Birmingham Law Firm Joins Forces With SAFSS For Second Time
Solicitors at Irwin Mitchell are joining forces with the Sandwell Asian Family Support Service (SAFSS) for a second time this year to offer a free event for the Birmingham Sikh community to highlight a number of different health issues, including the shortage of Asian bone marrow donors.
Set to take place on 26 February from 10am to 2pm, the Health Awareness Day at Ramgarhia Sikh Temple in Birmingham will see organisations including Anthony Nolan, Breast Cancer Care, Headway West Midlands, the Birmingham & District Tinnitus Group, Aquarius and the British Heart Foundation on hand to offer health-related guidance to visitors.
It is hoped the event will raise awareness of the substantial shortage of Asian bone marrow donors on both the national and international registers. On the Anthony Nolan register only four per cent of those registered are Asian.
Ophthalmologists, audiologists and dental surgeons will be offering free eyes and hearing tests and oral hygiene checkups.
The event is one of the latest to be organised by Irwin Mitchell in partnership with SAFSS, which provides care and support to South Asian children, young people and adults in the West Midlands who have a disability.
Satinder Bains, a Birmingham-based Partner in Irwin Mitchell’s Workplace Illness Team, helped organise the event along with a number of groups across the firm. She said: “We are delighted to once again be working with SAFSS on this free open day designed to offer the local community a chance to come along and learn more about a range of health issues.
“Irwin Mitchell is committed to being a socially responsible organisation and staff take part in a variety of projects as part of a comprehensive community programme that includes raising attainment in schools, supporting vulnerable groups and offering pro bono support to those who need it the most.
“It can sometimes be difficult to come to terms with health issues and even approach a doctor for general health and lifestyle advice, but we hope this informal open day will provide many people with a prime opportunity to come along and learn more about different conditions and other related issues.
“We are offering the Asian community a chance to have one to one contact with charities that are very relevant to health issues prevalent within our Asian community.
“We are really pleased to be joined for this event by Anthony Nolan, which is a charity doing some really important work saving the lives of people with blood cancer.”
Satinder said there are a range of health issues that are common in the South Asian community such as high cholesterol, diabetes and raised blood pressure. She added: “The advice on offer on the day is always underpinned with the message that people need to speak with their GP’s before they embark on any changes to their lifestyle or if they are worried about any specific health issues.”
The SAFSS Chief Executive Parpinder Dhatt, said: “Sandwell Asian Family Support Service (SAFSS) is pleased to be working in partnership with Irwin Mitchell again, reaching into the Asian community to promote health awareness and health, social care and preventative services.”