DETROIT — Arab Americans are visiting the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) mobile examination center to participate
in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in Wayne County which
is being conducted until the end of July.

The CDC’s mobile examination center at the Double Tree Hotel located at 5801 Southfield Expressway, Detroit Michigan, 48228. Several Arab Americans have been spotted there participating in the CDC’s national health survey by going through a series of heath tests.

Participating Wayne County residents learn about the center
through CDC representatives who have went to homes in the region asking
questions about one or more residents, and scheduled follow-up appointments for
them at the center. The homes chosen are randomly selected, and CDC doesn’t
accept volunteers.

The center is a large trailer. Up to 15 types of tests are
performed inside it by a highly trained medical staff of 17 that has a medical
doctor and dentist on board.  There
are hearing, muscle, height and weight, dental, blood pressure, blood draws,
personal questioner, nutrition, urine sample and breathing tests among other
types of exams that are performed. 

The tests are age dependent, so not every participate is
required to go through each one. An infant may complete exams in 30 minutes as
opposed to an elderly person who may take up to three hours.

Participants could receive free health tests of up to $4,255
in value. Financial incentives are also involved. Adults get $125 before
leaving the center, and children are entitled to $40. Some test results are
available at the center for participants, while other data could take 10-12
weeks to arrive.

The presence of Arab Americans in the U.S. is strong which
is why it’s important that those in the community become actively involved in
the survey. Participating Arab Americans represent the healthcare needs of
their community, which is addressed to government agencies and the private
sector. 

NHANES Study Manager Janis Eklund says the problem with Arab
Americans not participating is when trends within that population are being looked
for the CDC won’t have data to show. “They represent 60 to 65,000 other
Arab Americans just like them. We can’t replace them. And the bottom line is if
they don’t participate, then when the CDC is looking at the data they are not
going to have the information they need to look at trends in the Arab
community,” Eklund said.

Those selected should not worry about any benefits they
receive such as Medicaid or unemployment being terminated. It will not affect
the immigration status of an individual either.  Information about a person isn’t recorded, and no other
entity would know unless the participant said something.

Results from the survey help the CDC decide what to spend
its money on. If it notices a high trend of diabetes it may spend money to
concentrate on exercise. The CDC’s mobile examination center is located at 5801
Southfield Expressway, Detroit Michigan, 48228. To reach NHANES Study Manager
Janis Eklund call 800.398.1394.