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.

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

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Mayor Barbara Lee Proclaims April 9 as ‘100 Black Men of the Bay Area Day’

“Today, the 100th day of the year, I proclaim 100 Black Men Day,” said Mayor Barbara Lee standing with newly appointed Oakland Port Commissioner Derek Mohammad, a 100 Black Men member. “Whereas the 100 Black Men of the Bay Area has demonstrated decades of unwavering commitment to uplifting youth and strengthening families and advancing opportunity and access in Oakland and the greater Bay Area with their signature programs…the chapter has impacted thousands of young people and contributed thousands of hours of community service…”

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Oakland Post

At D. Monaghan’s on the Hill, a resolution declaring April 9 ‘100 Black Men of the Bay Area Day’ was witnessed by (l.-r.) 100 Black Men leaders Maurice Harold, Marco T. Lindsey, Danny Lee Williams, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, Oakland City Council President Kevin Jenkins, Port of Oakland Commissioner Derek Mohammad, and Oakland Councilmember Janani Ramachandran. Photo by Carla Thomas.

By Carla Thomas

When Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee announced that she would proclaim Thursday, April 9, as “100 Black Men of the Bay Area Day,” the organization’s board chairman and owner of D. Monaghan’s on the Hill, Danny Lee Williams knew he wanted to mark the historic moment with fanfare his community could share.

Standing at the podium on the patio of his restaurant in the Oakland Hills, he welcomed about 150 members of the organization and the broader community who gathered to celebrate.

“This is a special day, and we are in the midst of our Economic Empowerment week,” he said. Williams also welcomed four vendors to sell their gifts and accessories during the event free of charge.

Lee shared how as a single parent of two boys, she was grateful to have the organization’s support in mentoring her sons.

“Today, my adult son is a member in Illinois, and I thank the organization for supporting so many Black boys.”

The idea for the proclamation originated with Oakland City Councilmember Kevin Jenkins, who praised the organization for its leadership and contributions to Oakland and the greater Bay Area.

“This work that we do would not be possible without partnerships with organizations like the 100 Black Men,” said Jenkins. “We’re saving lives, restoring communities, and giving people hope and opportunities.”

“This is Oakland,” said Mayor Lee. “This is what we’re about. It’s about new ideas, thinking outside the box and being who we are. It’s about bringing joy. This is our holiday.”

The mayor also thanked the organization for volunteering during Oakland Cleanup days.

Councilmember Janani Ramachandran added that while many complain about problems in the city, “the 100” put in the work.

“It’s hard to be in the community and do the work, but that is exactly what the 100 Black Men does,” she said.

The organization’s economic chair and associate director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion at the University of California Berkeley’s Business School, Marco T. Lindsey, shared his enthusiasm for change.

“Today is the culmination of our work and something special is happening in our organization and our city,” he said. “We have a special opportunity to show up for our community now in ways that we haven’t had in the past. We have a mayor that supports us and it’s important that each and every one of us do our part. We all need our fingerprints on whatever we want to see in our city.”

Lindsey also expressed that if underserved youth and their parents had access to the resources needed for success, “Our youth wouldn’t be breaking windows and joining gangs if they had a pathway to earn $75k to $100k a year.”

The 100 Black Men were hosts of an Economic Empowerment Forum at McClymonds High School on April 11 educating students on entrepreneurship and financial literacy. On Sat., April 18, they will hold their fifth annual Career Expo at Contra Costa College 2600 Mission Bell Drive (G225) in San Pablo from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The 100 Black Men chapter of the Bay Area was established in 1988, one of the earliest in the nation.

For more information visit 100blackmenba.org