LOS ANGELES: For the seventh consecutive year, Muslims observing the Holy Month of Ramadan in United States obtained the maximum spiritual benefit by serving "a forgotten humanity," the homeless. ILM Foundation sponsored Humanitarian Day is now responsible for expanding Humanitarian Day into two African countries.Ayub Salih Harun, Chairman of the Islamic Bureau for the Disabled of Ghana, made the announcement at the press conference held in the capital city of Accra.

Others present were Naim Shah Jr. Executive Director of ILM Foundation and F.N. Chartey, CEO of Mammocare. In Africa, Humanitarian Day took place in Ghana on September 29, and in Niamey, Niger on September 30.Humanitarian Day is a day that reflects unity through diversity.

It highlights Muslims from all ethnic backgrounds working together with non-Muslim partner organizations to serve food and other much-needed items during Ramadan, "The Month of Giving".Recipients in the US received a warm greeting, meals and gift packages consisting of hygiene and emergency kits, bath towels, clothing, blankets, ponchos, and toys for children. In addition, free of charge HIV/AIDS screenings, flu vaccinations, educational materials and referral information for additional services were also given to the needy.

In Accra, Ghana Humanitarian Day focused on providing over 300 free breast cancer screenings for women in the very highly populated poverty stricken area of Accra. "Breast cancer is the most devastating silent killer of West Africa. It get no press like HIV/AIDS or Malaria and often times when detected incurable." said F.N. Ghartey CEO Mammocare. "Serving the homeless and the needy is our duty as Muslims.

We are not doing anyone any a favor, and do not desire any thanks. We pray God simply accepts our noble effort" says Imam Saadiq Saafir, Founder of the ILM Foundation and Humanitarian Day. "After 9/11 we witnessed Muslims all over the world characterized as terrorists, well after seven years of Humanitarian Day in the US and now abroad. We hope the public will begin to realize our true identity as humanitarians not terrorist," said Naim Shah Jr., Executive Director of ILM Foundation.