Events

Overcoming Healthcare Barriers for Eritrean and Ethiopian Women

Published

12 years ago

February 11, 2014

Over 60 people attended the first Habesha Women’s Health Expo (HWHE) last weekend at the African American Art & Culture Complex, an event designed to raise awareness in the Eritrean and Ethiopian community about healthy living.

The groundbreaking event was organized by and for women in the Habesha community, a term that refers to anyone from Ethiopia or Eritrea, and featured doctors of Habesha background who gave health seminars on breast cancer, sexually transmitted diseases, mental health, nutrition and pharmacy information.

The presentations were in both English and Tigrinya, a language spoken mainly in Eritrea. Translated health informational packets were also available.

Event organizer Almaz Nigusse said the group hopes to host another health expo later in the year that is translated in Amharic, a mainly Ethiopian language. A social worker and mental health therapist, Nigusse has yet to have a Habesha client.

She says it is difficult to give people facts about the health concerns of Habesha women when no concrete research has been done to address their issues.

“When I would take my mother to the doctor, I noticed that she would shy away from fully disclosing her health concerns, partly because of the language barrier and not feeling comfortable speaking to a non-Habesha doctor,” said Nigusse. “I had to be there to translate the conversation. In many cases, trust, cultural differences, and a lack of understanding stop Habesha women from asking questions.”

During a break in the event, free lunch was provided. A nurse checked vital signs check, and massages were available throughout the day. Financial support for the event was provided by San Francisco Mental Health Education Fund.

Members of the audience praised the committee members for their efforts to bring awareness of health concerns to a community that is often overlooked due to language barriers and cultural differences.

“Thank you for providing a stage where the women of our community felt safe enough to be vulnerable and share personal stories about their physical and mental illness,” said Luwam Ghebreab, a local resident. “It is encouraging to see how we as a community are finally talking about mental health openly and freely without fear of being judged.”

A presentation on mental health by the committee resonated with the audience when they shared experiences dealing with stress and other factors, such as immigrating to the Unites States and the struggle of finding balance between traditional values and western traditions.

“We wanted to normalize for everyone learning about health services as well as talking about the struggle of being an immigrant,” said Nigusse. “Mental health is a topic that isn’t usually discussed in the community, which is a big problem because many Habesha women may experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, whether it was from fleeing civil wars or losing loved ones.”

For more information, visit www.habeshahealth.com or email habeshahealth@gmail.com.

Oakland Post

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Related Topics:African American Art & Culture Complex Eritrean Ethopian Habesha Habesha Women’s Health Expo

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of December 24 – 30, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – December 24 – 30, 2025

Published

4 days ago

December 25, 2025

Oakland Post

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Activism

Lu Lu’s House is Not Just Toying Around with the Community

Wilson and Lambert will be partnering with Mayor Barbara Lee on a toy giveaway on Dec. 20. Young people, like Dremont Wilkes, age 15, will help give away toys and encourage young people to stay in school and out of trouble. Wilkes wants to go to college and become a specialist in financial aid. Sports agent Aaron Goodwin has committed to giving all eight young people from Lu Lu’s House a fully paid free ride to college, provided they keep a 3.0 grade point average and continue the program. Lu Lu’s House is not toying around.

Published

1 week ago

December 20, 2025

Oakland Post

Tania Fuller Bryant, Zirl Wilson, Dremont Wilkes, Tracy Lambert and Dr. Geoffrey Watson. Courtesy Oakland Private Industry

Special to the Post

Lu Lu’s House is a 501c3 organization based in Oakland, founded by Mr. Zirl Wilson and Mr. Tracy Lambert, both previously incarcerated. After their release from jail, they wanted to change things for the better in the community — and wow, have they done that!

The duo developed housing for previously incarcerated people, calling it “Lu Lu’s House,” after Wilson’s wonderful wife. At a time when many young people were robbing, looting, and involved in shootings, Wilson and Lambert took it upon themselves to risk their lives to engage young gang members and teach them about nonviolence, safety, cleanliness, business, education, and the importance of health and longevity.

Lambert sold hats and T-shirts at the Eastmont Mall and was visited by his friend Wilson. At the mall, they witnessed gangs of young people running into the stores, stealing whatever they could get their hands on and then rushing out. Wilson tried to stop them after numerous robberies and finally called the police, who Wilson said, “did not respond.” Having been incarcerated previously, they realized that if the young people were allowed to continue to rob the stores, they could receive multiple criminal counts, which would take their case from misdemeanors to felonies, resulting in incarceration.

Lu Lu’s House traveled to Los Angeles and obtained more than 500 toys
for a Dec. 20 giveaway in partnership with Oakland Mayor Barbara
Lee. Courtesy Oakland Private Industry,

Wilson took it upon himself to follow the young people home and when he arrived at their subsidized homes, he realized the importance of trying to save the young people from violence, drug addiction, lack of self-worth, and incarceration — as well as their families from losing subsidized housing. Lambert and Wilson explained to the young men and women, ages 13-17, that there were positive options which might allow them to make money legally and stay out of jail. Wilson and Lambert decided to teach them how to wash cars and they opened a car wash in East Oakland. Oakland’s Initiative, “Keep the town clean,” involved the young people from Lu Lu’s House participating in more than eight cleanup sessions throughout Oakland. To assist with their infrastructure, Lu Lu’s House has partnered with Oakland’s Private Industry Council.

For the Christmas season, Lu Lu’s House and reformed young people (who were previously robbed) will continue to give back.

Lu Lu’s House traveled to Los Angeles and obtained more than 500 toys.