Health & Wellness

A key goal of AZIF is to provide much-needed information on health issues and healthful living in order to reduce healthcare disparities in the Black and African-American community, which makes up under 10 percent of the population. We disproportionately are dying from heart disease, cancer, injury, stroke and diabetes – and now the coronavirus pandemic. We also have higher rates of HIV/AIDS, infant mortality, hypertension and kidney disease, according to state health department records.

VSP Vision Care

In a collaborative partnership with VSP Vision Care, AZIF is helping to detect signs of serious health conditions including diabetes by increasing access to eye care for those who are low income, uninsured and underinsured. VSP Mobile Eyes gift certificates provide no-cost eye care in a VSP doctor's office.

To qualify for a free comprehensive eye exam and glasses, adults and children must be U.S. citizens or documented immigrants with a Social Security Number, a family income no more than 200 percent of the federal poverty level, and no vision insurance or eye care through a VSP program in the last 12 months. Gift certificates are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

To date, AZIF has provided – through the VSP Mobile Eyes program – free eye care and eyewear for more than 1,200 adults and children in need. VSP – the largest not-for-profit vision benefits and services company in the world with 71 members – has invested nearly $167 million for more than 915,000 people.