PACA Brings Preventive Care and Political Education to Southeast D.C.

March 9, 2026

Health advocates and medical professionals in Washington D.C. have launched a community-based wellness initiative to address severe health disparities in Southeast D.C., an area marked by racial and economic segregation. The Pan-African Community Action organization introduced the People's Pan-African Wellness Front, a monthly program offering free health screenings and education while teaching residents to manage their own health outside the traditional profit-driven medical system. The initiative recognizes that health problems in these communities stem from systemic issues like substandard housing with mold, food deserts, and limited healthcare access rather than individual patient failures.

Who is affected

Residents of Southeast D.C., particularly low-income and predominantly Black communities
Patients lacking health insurance or facing high co-pays
People living in substandard housing with environmental hazards like mold
Residents in food deserts with limited access to nutrition
Community members at increased risk of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease
Dr. Chaand Ohri and scores of medical professionals providing services
Pan-African Community Action (PACA) members and organizers like Bree Hemphill
Attendees like Georgette Gray who received screenings

What action is being taken

PACA is running the People's Pan-African Wellness Front as a monthly initiative on every fourth Sunday
Medical professionals are providing free blood pressure screenings, glucose tests, hygiene products, medical supplies, health information, and preventive care guidance
Organizers are delivering political education to help residents understand health metrics and root causes of illness
Dr. Ohri is conducting glucose tests and meeting patients in their neighborhoods
Community members are receiving direct services at the R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center

Why it matters

This initiative addresses decades-long systemic health disparities caused by structural barriers rather than individual failings. Research from 2004 through 2024 demonstrates that Southeast D.C. residents face disproportionate disease burdens due to environmental factors like food deserts, substandard housing, and limited healthcare access. The program challenges the profit-driven medical system by proving communities can manage their own health needs, potentially breaking cycles where the same system that creates health problems profits from treating resulting illnesses. By combining direct services with education about root causes, the initiative empowers residents toward long-term self-determination and community control over healthcare.

What's next

The event will recur every fourth Sunday as part of PACA's survival program, continuing to provide free health services and education to Southeast D.C. residents.

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer