Consider this information from the National Health Service and Patient Plus:“If you’re African or African Caribbean and you live in the UK, you’re more likely than people from other cultures to have certain health conditions, including high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes and prostate cancer. This is also the case for some mixed-race people of African or African Caribbean descent.”
People from African and African Caribbean communities are more likely than others to be admitted to hospital for mental illness. The same is also true for people of white and black mixed ethnicity.
Studies show that if you are black and of African or Caribbean origin you are twice as likely to have a stroke, and at a younger age, than white people. The reasons for this are complex and not completely understood. What we do know is if you are black and of African or Caribbean origin you are more likely to develop high blood pressure or diabetes or have sickle cell disease, which are all risk factors for stroke.
High blood pressure is the most important risk factor, contributing to around 53% of all strokes. In the UK high blood pressure is more common among black Caribbean people than any other ethnic group.
Diabetes is up to three times more common among black African and black Caribbean people compared to the rest of the UK population.
Chinese people report better health.
Experts aren’t sure why these conditions are more common in people of African and African Caribbean origin, but they think it may be linked to diet, lifestyle and different ways of storing fat in the body.”
Developments in the past decade like the interim National Afrikan People’s Parliament, the Afrikan Co-operative Union, Black Mental Health UK, NABSS, GotKush TV, The Reparations March and PowerSis, as well as legal breakthroughs such as those in the Sean Rigg and Azelle Rodney cases demonstrates that the cumulative effect of decades of activism is making some headway in some key areas, challenging the ruthless agenda of white supremacy. In the area of health however, the above statistics suggests that similar headway is not being made even though being healthy must be seen a vital pre-requisite to work effectively in all sectors.
One strategy aimed at offering “awareness and Solutions to health challenges” is the upcoming IAHW & ARM seminar: Holistic Wellness of Systems of the body with focus on The Immune System, The Digestive system, The Reproductive System and The Endocrine System on Thursday 30th April 7pm-10pm. Panel Includes, Dr. Alison Henry, Sis Linda Musoke, Sis Gillian Bolton, Bro. Stephen Ssali & Dr. Mark Walcott @ Mama Afrika 282 High Rd Leyton E10 5PW. Entrance: £3. For more info: Tel: 0208 539 2154, 07939 292 720, 07908 814 152, 077659 61818.
So we ask the question:
Why is our collective health so poor?
- Are the NHS statistics accurate or do they represent a self-fulfilling prophecy?
- If the statistics are accurate what are the reasons the current situation?
- Is our health ok as long as we don’t need to see a doctor ?
- If racism is a factor why are the Chinese unaffected?
- Are our collective liberation endeavours sustainable with such a poor collective state of health?
Our special guests are:
Panellists from the Holistic Wellness of Systems of the body seminar.
Dr. Alison Henry, Dr. Mark Walcot, Ms. Nafula Mukose, Ms. Linda Musoke, Stephen Ssali, Sis Gilian Bolton.
Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and UNIA-ACL Ambassador for the UK. A veteran activist of over 30 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An Africentric Guide To Excellence.
AFRIKA SPEAKS with ALKEBU-LAN Mondays 8-10pm (GMT)Hosted by
Sis Kai Ouagadou-Mbandaka & Bro. Omowale Kwaw
Galaxy Radio | 102.5fm | www.galaxyafiwe.com (To listen live)
4-6 pm Eastern Caribbean Time 12-2 pm Pacific Standard Time 1-3 pm Mountain Standard Time 2-4 pm Central Standard Time 3-4 pm Eastern Standard Time