Being a new organisation in St Kitts and Nevis and keen to make a positive contribution to improving the health and wellbeing of our community, over the past year we have been exploring the public health landscape in our Federation and started developing a strategy around the pressing issue of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) with a focus on childhood obesity and women’s health.

In today’s blog, we’ll be discussing our decision to tackle women’s health and in a future blog, we’ll explore childhood obesity.

Our decision to focus on women’s health was an evidence-based decision. Data from the Ministry of Health has demonstrated that women living in the Federation face a number of health challenges.  In St Kitts and Nevis, women are disproportionately affected by some NCDs. For example, 71% of diabetics in St Kitts and Nevis are women and 65% of cancer patients are women.

Non-communicable diseases are a significant issue for St Kitts and Nevis with 83% of deaths being due to these conditions. Driving the rise of non-communicable diseases is the high rate of overweight and obesity. In women, the rates are extremely high. Data has shown that 74% of females in St Kitts and Nevis are either overweight or obese.

We need to tackle these issues in order to improve the health and quality of life of women and prevent them from dying prematurely from diseases that are mostly preventable. Therefore, we are working towards developing a women’s health programme that will initially focus on awareness and education.

Our Plan

Over the next year, our plan is to host a series of women’s health events entitled ‘Girl Talk: Informative, Informal and Empowering Discussions About Women’s Health.’

These events will aim to inform and empower women enabling them to take control of their health and therefore not only improve their own health and wellbeing, but the health and wellbeing of their families, and by extension build a stronger, healthier nation.

The series began on 30^th March 2019 with Girl Talk: Fibroids and following this there will be regular events covering a range of women’s health issues.

Healthcare professionals, particularly female healthcare professionals, will be invited to give engaging presentations on health topics, and women affected by conditions will be invited to share their experience and what they have learnt from it.

Additionally, we will invite health and wellbeing brands (particularly those owned by women) to showcase their services at each event so that women can have easy access to relevant services. We will also invite female medical students to take part in this event giving them relevant real-world experience of women’s health. We are pleased to have formed a partnership with Because We Care at the University of Medicine and Health Sciences to achieve this.

As well as covering the most common NCDs, we need to focus on providing support and information for women in St Kitts who are affected by women’s health issues that tend to be overlooked such as fibroids, endometriosis and PCOS.

Additionally, childhood obesity is another significant challenge with 1 in 3 children in the Caribbean being overweight or obese. In St Kitts, the statistics are more alarming with 46.9% of secondary school children being overweight or obese. Studies have shown that children who are overweight and obese tend to become adults who are overweight or obese, and this puts them at risk of developing NCDs like diabetes, cancer, heart disease and more.  We believe that women can play an instrumental role in tackling childhood obesity by creating a healthy environment for their children, our lecture series will educate mothers on easy, practical ways to do this.

The key objectives of our women’s health event series will be:

1. To raise awareness of and create an understanding of women’s health issues to facilitate early detection and prevention
2. To provide a safe, informal platform where women can come together, receive expert advice and have an honest open discussion about important health issues and therefore reduce isolation, stigma and create a support network for women.
3. To empower women with the information to create a healthy lifestyle for themselves and their families to improve their general health and wellbeing

As mentioned previously our first Girl Talk event was on 30^th March 2019 and we were so pleased with how it went. Look out for a future blog post summarising this event.

We are really excited about our strategy for the next couple of years and hope you’ll follow us on our journey.

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References

1. UNICEF, Situation Analysis of Children in the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis, UNICEF Office for the Eastern Caribbean Area and the Government of St Kitts and Nevis, Christ Church, Barbados, 2017
2. PAHO, Health in the Americas, 2012: St Kitts and Nevis, PAHO, 2012
3.  WHO, Diabetes Country Profile: St Kitts and Nevis, WHO, 2016

In today’s blog, we’re delighted to have spoken to author and writing coach, Greta Solomon.

Greta talked to us about the health benefits of journaling and how she’s helping women tap into this empowering and therapeutic pastime through her new book Heart, Sass & Soul. 

Tell us about your new book

Heart, Sass & Soul is a warm, honest, deeply supportive guide to journaling your way to a life that not only looks good – but feels good. One where you’re not trying to be an all-round girl boss / vixen / superwoman who rises at dawn to slay like Beyoncé. Instead, you’re aiming to be more and more YOURSELF, because that’s where your true power lies.

There has never been a better time to be your own guru. Freewriting and journaling in the ways laid out in this book can be life-changing – for all the right reasons. They put you in charge of what YOU think and feel, which is a welcome relief in this hyper connected world. And while there are lots of beautiful journals on the market, there are very few comprehensive guides on how to USE them to create magic and meaning in your life.

Why did you write this book?

I wanted to show people exactly HOW to journal. Not in a 1-2-3 step kind of way. But how to access the deeper parts of you, and how to clear the creative blocks that may stop you from journaling in the first place.

Writing has unlocked so many doors for me (and not just because I became a journalist who got paid to interview celebrities, go to events and drink champagne at parties)! Through my life and work I realised that through writing I ask for things that I wouldn’t dare speak out loud. Better still, I could write things into existence. Things that were never there before, except for wishes or dreams in my head. And when there were very dark, difficult times, writing has been a helpful friend. My mother committed suicide 11 years ago and writing helped me to heal and chart a new path.

From a professional point of view, I began writing this book in 2016 at a time when I needed a break from my business. I had spent four years pitching, developing, creating and delivering business writing workshops (alongside being pregnant and then a new mum).  And I needed to get back in touch with myself. I cleared my schedule with the aim of doing nothing in particular. And that’s when the yearnings, inklings and frantic writing began. After years of writing to order, I finally wrote what I wanted to write. At first it was like clearing the phlegm from my writing throat. But soon, the channel was open, and the essence of this book flowed. As did a workshop in writing for creative self-expression which sold out within hours. I knew I was onto something and I began to realise the true power of writing for creative self-expression.

We didn’t realise that writing and journaling could be so empowering. What are the other health benefits of journaling?

 Psychologists have found that expressive writing (where you write about thoughts and feelings) results in fewer doctor visits and can even boost the immune system in the short-term. It can help you to recover from depression, find happiness and make you feel better about yourself and your life. In Heart, Sass & Soul, I show readers exactly how to journal in order to overcome self-doubt and develop a new creative identity; transform dark times into something beautiful; find moments for healing themselves without judgement and to become empowered with uninhibited self-expression. I also love the fact that all you need to journal is a notebook and a pen. Journaling is cheap and can pretty much be done anytime and anywhere. It literally puts the power of self-care and wellbeing into your own hands.

What is your link with St Kitts and Nevis?

 My dad and his family are originally from St Kitts and my dad grew up in Nevis. We actually lived in Nevis for a year when I was five before returning back to the UK, to London. So these island have always been an integral part of my life.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell our readers?

 My mission is to build a thriving community of empowered, self-expressed women, who know exactly what they think and feel, who can face uncomfortable emotions head on, access their higher wisdom and tap into the creative current of life.  Meaning is made from walking through loss and grief, not from dancing around it. And a joy-filled life is not only possible, but inevitable when you are creatively free. When you are ready to answer the call, I’d be honoured to be your guide.

Where can our readers order a copy of Heart, Sass & Soul?

Heart, Sass & Soul by Greta Solomon is published on 15 April 2019, and is available to pre-order now on Amazon.

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Special Offer!

We’re delighted to say that Greta is offering a free writing masterclass worth £77 for everyone who pre-orders Heart, Sass & Soul before 15 April. To claim that gift please visit https://www.gretasolomon.com/preorder-gift-with-heart-sass-soul

About Greta Solomon 

Greta Solomon is a British journalist turned writing coach and the author of Heart, Sass & Soul: Journal Your Way to Inspiration and Happiness. In 2006, she discovered a talent for helping people overcome the blocks, fears and shame that stops them from fully expressing themselves. Through talks, workshops and online programs, she teaches real-world writing techniques and inspires others to live rich, full lives. Her work has been featured in Forbes.com, The Numinous and The Huffington Post. She is a published poet and songwriter, a psychology graduate, certified life coach, trained lifelong learning teacher and holds a specialist certificate in lyric writing from Berklee College of Music. She lives in London with her husband and their daughter.

And, you can find Greta on Instagram and on twitter

We recently came across the video below created by BuzzFeed which explores the experience of three women with fibroids. We thought it was an excellent exploration of the impact of fibroids.

Our Thoughts

These stories give viewers an insightful look at the impact of fibroids and highlighted some of the same issues raised in a recent book of short stories that we read, Invisible Not Imaginary by the Barbados Association of Endometriosis and PCOS.

The women bravely discuss heavy menstrual bleeding, anaemia, painful periods and their concerns about fertility.

As we watched the video, what struck us was the way in which all three women continued with their daily life despite their symptoms and seemed to almost normalise them until they could no longer bare it. The reason why they did this, as articulated by one of the women, was the expectation that women should pretty much ignore their own health and wellbeing, press on and continue with all their many obligations.

Another issue that was raised was recurrence, which is very common and can be quite frustrating for women who, after their initial surgery, will have moved on with their life and have put their experience of fibroids behind them. Having to deal with fibroids once more can be devastating.

The video ends with some useful tips and advice from each of the women based on their experience.  Participants encouraged women to:

• Prioritise their health,
• Seek help as soon as they notice symptoms that don’t seem right
• Be informed about fibroids
• Reach out to family and friends and talk about what you’re going through

Final Thoughts

We thought this video was a really effective way of raising awareness of fibroids and its impact. It identified areas that need to be addressed. These include the need for:

• Greater awareness of the symptoms of fibroids
• Greater awareness of what normal/abnormal periods are
•  Less pressure to be placed on women to try to continue as normal when they feel unwell
•  Research on whether  lifestyle changes may reduce a woman’s risk of having a recurrence after treatment
• More research to understand the prevention of fibroids
• More research to confirm the incidence and prevalence of fibroids, particularly in black women

More Information

For more information on fibroids, you can:

• Visit our fibroids blog and fibroids news sections
• Read through our My Fibroid Story section
• Read through the highlights of our fibroids Twitter chats
• Send a question to our Fibroids Ask the Expert panel
• Listen to our fibroids podcast interviews
  • My Ten Year Journey With Fibroids 
  • Fibroids, Hormones, Diet and Lifestyle
  • The Emotional Impact of Fibroids

The Barbados Association of Endometriosis and PCOS (BAEP) recently published ‘Invisible Not Imaginary’, a collection of short stories that aims to put the spotlight on endometriosis, fibroids, PCOS and dysmenorrhea. The book seeks to raise awareness of the impact of these conditions on the lives of those directly and indirectly affected.

This mostly fictional book invites you to dive into the lives of a variety of people as they navigate life with one of the above-mentioned conditions. Through Invisible Not Imaginary we explore the experience of adolescents, young women, mothers, working professionals and fathers.

Why We Love this Book

We thought Invisible Not Imaginary was a powerful and insightful read. It bravely explores issues like heavy menstrual bleeding, painful periods and infertility – common symptoms of these conditions. It also identifies the insensitivity, lack of empathy and the insecurities that women with these conditions encounter and experience.

Furthermore, the book causes the reader to reflect on the wide-spread normalisation of abnormal menstrual symptoms, the enormous pressure women feel to keep going despite feeling unwell and how invisible and misunderstood many women with these conditions feel.

The stories are very moving providing an honest, open account of the pain, isolation, upheaval, disruption and uncertainty caused by these gynaecological conditions which tend to be trivialised and disregarded because they are not life-threatening but as these stories clearly demonstrate, they significantly affect the quality of life, health and wellbeing of the many women who are affected.

We could relate to many of the experiences and believe the stories will resonate with most, if not all, women because of our shared menstrual experience.  Many women have a story about their menstrual health which they are hesitant to talk about; this book tells our story and gives us all a voice.

This collection of short stories is an excellent and creative way of raising awareness. It really brings the issues to life in a powerful way and leaves the reader feeling disturbed by the challenges faced by those affected by these conditions.

This Book Challenges Us All

This book challenges society to address the health inequalities that exist in public health where conditions like these receive little attention, yet affect so many.

Sadly, discussions about women’s health or reproductive health tend to omit conditions like fibroids and it’s time for a greater focus on these conditions and more balance so that all women’s health issues are deemed important.

Well Done BAEP!

We applaud BAEP on all the great work they have conducted to add some context and depth to the discussion on these women’s health issues and believe this will be an effective resource for awareness and educational work in a range of settings – schools, colleges, medical schools, book clubs, the health sector’s continuous professional development programme and more.

More Information

For more information on Invisible Not Imaginary and how you can order copies, please visit BAEP’s website here or you can send them an email

Also, you can read a summary of our fibroids and endometriosis Twitter chat with Julia Mandeville the co-founder of BAEP here

Lake Health and Wellbeing is delighted to invite women in St Kitts and Nevis who have been affected by fibroids to attend our upcoming event ‘Girl Talk: Fibroids.’

We have teamed up with Because We Care, a student group at the University of Medicine and Health Sciences, to organise a new series of women’s health events  entitled ‘Girl Talk: Informal and Empowering Discussions on Women’s Health’

This first event in our series will focus on fibroids, a common but overlooked women’s health issue that is estimated to affect 80% of black women.

Girl Talk aims to overcome the stigma associated with fibroids by creating a safe space to discuss fibroids, its impact on women and solutions.

We’ll have a panel of esteemed speakers covering various aspects of fibroids, a wellness market featuring St Kitts’ leading health, wellbeing and wellness brands, fantastic raffle prizes, free health checks, food and more!

Confirmed Speakers

Confirmed speakers include:

• Dr Hazel Laws, Chief Medical Officer, St Kitts – Fibroids and Women’s Health in St Kitts
• Dr Deborah Williams, Professor of Pathology – What Are Fibroids?
• Dr Lescott,  Medical Doctor – Fibroids and Nutrition
• Dr Pereira, Clinical Psychologist –  Living well with fibroids and chronic illness
• Dr Lawrence, Medical Doctor – The treatment of fibroids

Confirmed Vendors

We have some great organisations taking part in our Wellness Market. You can treat yourself to a range of products all aimed at improving your wellbeing.

Some of our confirmed vendors include:

Mother Becky Bush Tea – Mother Becky Bush Tea is named after owner Jermine Mike’s great grandmother who lived to be close to 100 years of age. Recognized as the matriarch of her community, Mother Becky hailed from a generation which drank bush tea daily. The Mother Becky Bush Tea brand aims to honor and revitalize the bush tea tradition of St. Kitts & Nevis and offer an authentic product to visitors and residents alike.

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Sugar Town Organics – Sugar Town Organics is a natural products manufacturer and distributor that offers high end botanical beauty (Yaphene) and wellness (Flauriel) products featuring the finest natural Caribbean materials. With a commitment to ethical manufacturing and promoting environmental sustainability, good health and wellness, the firm is family-owned and employs all-natural methods that celebrate the host of rich ingredients plentiful throughout the region.

 

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Pure Niceness by Winnielle – HANDCRAFTED on the island of St. Kitts amidst the natural wonders of the West Indian land, using all – natural, effective, aromatic, superior ingredients, sourced from the gifts of mother nature🍃and handmade with love and pure good vibes by island girl Winnielle. Her brand of hair and skin care promotes self-love, self-care, good vibes and a wellness lifestyle. SHOP Made in St. Kitts – Nevis, Shop Small… Experience Pure Niceness!

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Love the Skin You Wear – Love the Skin You Wear offers a range of services designed to help you relax and focus on your total wellness, these include massages and facials. They also sell natural handmade hair and body products.

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Prices

Join us this International Women’s Month on 30th March for this empowering and informative women’s health event.

Early bird tickets are just $30EC  for a regular ticket and $20EC for students.

You can book your place below and then pay at the event. Early bird tickets are available until 15th March 2019 so if you register before this date you’ll secure the early bird price, registrations after this date will be $35EC.

Registration Form

The information provided in the form below will enable us to contact you about the event regarding updates and important information.

We look forward to seeing you on 30th March and if you have any questions, please email  us or call 668 1518.

We are absolutely delighted to have been invited to become a member of the St Kitts and Nevis Bureau of Standards Technical Committee for Labelling.

The St Kitts and Nevis Bureau of Standards has the responsibility of protecting the environment, health and safety of consumers. They focus on preparing, promoting and adopting standards on a national, regional and international basis with respect to the structures, commodities, materials, articles and other products and services offered to the public commercially. Through their work they promote standardization and quality assurance in industry and commerce.

One of the areas that the Bureau focuses on is ensuring the proper labelling of pre-packaged food items. Currently, the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality is updating the regional standard for the labelling of pre-packaged foods. The updated standard includes the introduction of front-of-pack labelling .

Front-of-pack (FOP) labels are just one of several strategies being used worldwide to tackle obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This type of labelling aims to provide the public with a quick way to assess the health of the foods they purchase and consume, making it easier to identify which foods are high in salt, saturated fat and sugar. It is also hoped that manufacturers will take notice of the labelling of their products and be encouraged to reformulate their products and reduce the amount of salt, sugar and saturated fat in them.

As part of our role in the SKNBS Technical Committee for Labelling we will be providing input on the need for FOP labels as a useful tool for the public to make healthier choices and for the government to tackle NCDs, a significant challenge in St Kitts and Nevis causing 83% of the islands’ deaths.

Last month we attended our first meeting of this committee and were delighted to have had the opportunity to have a productive discussion on FOP labels.

We’d like to thank the committee for inviting us to be a member of this group and are very much looking forward to making a positive contribution going forward.

The World Cancer Research Fund recently published a very informative and useful report on the lessons learnt globally from implementing front-of-pack (FOP) labels.

This report is the second report in their Building Momentum series and aims to provide policymakers with evidence-based advice on the design and implementation of FOP labelling.

FOP nutrition labelling is just one of several strategies being used worldwide to tackle obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This type of labelling aims to provide the public with a quick way to assess the health of the foods they purchase and consume, making it easier to identify which foods are high in salt, saturated fat and sugar. It is also hoped that manufacturers will take notice of the labelling of their products and be encouraged to reformulate their products and reduce the amount of salt, sugar and saturated fat in them.

Currently many countries are exploring the introduction of FOP labels so the WCRF’s report is very timely. It covers the following areas:

• Why FOP labels are important in tackling NCDs
• A summary of the research on the effectiveness of FOP labels
• The history of FOP labels and current status of FOP labels globally
• The different types of front-of-pack labels
• Developing a clear strategy for FOP labels that considers the following
  • The local context
  • Ensuring strategies are based on evidence
  • Having clear aims and objectives
  •  Carefully design of labels
  •  Good stakeholder engagement
  • Monitoring and evaluation are included at the early planning stage-
• Defending FOP labelling

The report includes case studies from countries who have already implemented front-of-pack labelling providing very useful real-word examples of the challenges involved in introducing FOP labelling and how to overcome them.

With the Caribbean currently exploring the introduction of FOP labelling we believe this report is a must-read for policymakers throughout the region.

The report can be downloaded below and for more information on the WCRF please visit their website here

We had the pleasure of reading Women in Black, a new book by IC Blackman. This book was an insightful, emotional and thought-provoking journey of the intergenerational trauma caused by slavery.

An Overview of Women in Black

Women in Black consists of a collection of short stories connected by family (the Nesbitts and the Tibbins), a much-loved brand of chocolate (Nesbitt’s Chocolate), delicious sweet potato pone and an old colonial home (Halycon’s Crest). This connection was a nice surprise, one we weren’t expecting at all, but really liked as it brought some intrigue to the stories. So much so that once we noticed these links, we stopped and re-read a few chapters to make sure we understood the various different connections that explored the experience of several generations of a family.

The book starts with ‘The Baying of the Bloodhounds’ which is set in Trinidad in the late 1700s and follows the story of Ezra Tibbins, a runaway slave making her way to freedom while being pursued by her owner’s bloodhounds. As Ezra tries to make her way to freedom we’re swept along her emotional journey of strength, hard decisions and her commitment to finding freedom on her own terms.

From there we move on to ‘Bridal Shop’ which takes us forward in time to Trinidad in the 1950s/60s. Here we are met with Chief Bridal Shop Assistant Pamela Tibbins and read about her humble beginnings, hunger for the good life, grand ambitions and explore how she navigates her life. Will she break free or succumb to the challenges of her lot in life?

In ‘Bitter Dark Chocolate’ we’re transported to Trinidad in the 1990s and join widowed, retired nurse Selma Nesbitt-Payne who makes her regular visits to Ward 504 to visit its patients. This story isn’t what is seems and is best described by the author herself:

“This story takes us into the world of a retired psychiatry Sister who once worked on Ward 504. It uses surrealism to explore the unappreciated outcomes of unchecked privilege: guilt, suspicion and ultimately a tortured existence, despite the best intentions and material comforts.”

 From here we are introduced to the mother and daughter calypso duo, Big Titi and Little Dee, in ‘Big Titi and Little Dee’s Grand Piano.’ Here we meet two generations of the Tibbins family, whose poverty and what appears to be the Tibbins curse leads them to a turbulent life. Sadly, despite all the talent and potential in the world, they too are unable to break free of the intergenerational trauma inflicted on their family.

Then we get to the final story  in Women in Black, ‘Housewife – The Five Acts of Elspeth Sweetening.’ Will there be redemption for this troubled family, will they finally break free from intergenerational trauma. We’ll let you find out 😉

Our Thoughts on Women in Black

 This was an emotional and, at times, difficult read providing insight into the intergenerational trauma caused by slavery. A trauma that has not been sufficiently addressed.

As we read this book, we were reminded of Dr Joy DeGruy’s Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome (PTSS) theory, a topic that we were introduced to many years ago.

IC Blackman very emotionally and poetically gives an illustration of Dr DeGruy’s theory of how: “Slavery produced centuries of physical, psychological and spiritual injury” and highlights the importance of understanding PTSS and the themes raised in IC Blackman’s book so that we can lay: “the groundwork for understanding how the past has influenced the present, and open up the discussion of how we can use the strengths we have gained to heal.”  (Dr DeGruy).

This is a good read, that challenges us in many ways, both in the subject matter and in the way it is written – this is a complex and deep writer who uses satire, dark humour, magic realism, surrealism , Trinidadian folklore and an advanced writing style, so you do have to engage your brain from the very beginning. Once you do, you’re in for an interesting literary experience.

More Information

To find out more about Women In Black you can visit Amazon or IC Blackman’s website, and you can follow IC Blackman on Twitter .

Additionally,  you can check out other books we’ve read here.

Lake Health and Wellbeing is  happy to support Dafina Malovska’s campaign calling on the UK’s Department of Health to introduce annual gynaecological check-ups for every woman in the UK. We believe a policy like this will save many lives by enabling the early diagnosis of gynaecological cancers that have no screening programmes – ovarian, womb, vulval and vaginal cancers.

Also, annual check-ups can assist in the early diagnosis of a range of conditions that significantly affect women’s quality of life, such as fibroids and endometriosis.

You can show your support by signing Dafina’s petition here and please read the article below to find out more about this issue.

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At the age of 35, Dafina Malovska was diagnosed with stage 2 womb cancer which had spread to her ovaries. Her only option, at the time, was to have a total hysterectomy (the removal of her womb and both ovaries) which sadly deprived her of having her own children and plunged her into an immediate surgical menopause.

Dafina was lucky that her cancer was diagnosed at a fairly early stage and she survived, but many women are not so lucky and are diagnosed at a late stage when it is too late for successful treatment.  The late diagnosis of these gynaecological cancers occur, in part, because there is no screening programme for most of these cancers.

Currently in the UK cervical cancer is the only gynaecological cancer with a screening programme and this has successfully reduced the incidence and mortality rates for cervical cancer.

Developing a cancer screening test is challenging and researchers across the world are working tirelessly to develop screening tests for those cancers that require one.  Until then, when it comes to womb, ovarian, vulval and vaginal cancers, women have to be aware of the signs and symptoms, but this can be problematic as it can be hard to identify symptoms as the symptoms of these types of cancers are similar to a range of other conditions which can lead to misdiagnosis.

For example, in February 2014, before Dafina was diagnosed with womb cancer she started experiencing extreme bloating and visited her doctor almost monthly. Eventually her symptoms were wrongly attributed to gluten-related bloating and by November of that year Dafina became very unwell while abroad and it was subsequently discovered that she had 14cm tumour weighing 500g .

If Dafina had access to an annual gynaecological check-up her tumour could have been discovered earlier before it had spread to her ovaries.

In many countries throughout the world, girls and women have annual gynaecological examinations and it’s important that the UK explores this approach as its survival rates for gynaecological cancers such as ovarian cancer are significantly lower than other countries’ rates.

Change is needed and you can make a difference by signing Dafina’s petition which appeals to the Secretary of State for Health, Matt Hancock MP, and the Minister for Women and Equality, Penny Mordaunt, to explore the introduction of annual gynaecological check-ups for women in the UK.

The first target for this petition is 10,000 signatures and her ultimate target is 100,000.  So far, Dafina has been able to secure 3,723 signatures. When her target is achieved, her petition will be presented to Matt Hancock and Penny Mordaunt.

Dafina would be very grateful if you could please sign, share and spread the word and for more information, you can follow her campaign on Instagram

We’re always looking for volunteers so if you have an interest in dedicating some of your time to a good cause, then please do complete the form below.

Our opportunities are very flexible so you can dedicate as much, or little, time as you’re able to. For most of these roles you can work  from anywhere in the world using collaborative tools like Zoom, Google Docs and WhatsApp  to work virtually with team members and other volunteers.

Our current volunteer opportunities include bloggers, social media officers, admin assistants, event assistants and graphic designers. Find out more below:

Bloggers

Do you like writing? Are you interested in health and inequalities? Then why not volunteer to become a Lake Blogger. As a blogger you’ll write articles on health issues that are of interest to the black community and can select health topics or we’ll provide you with a topic list. You can then submit your blog articles when you’re able to, we’ll review your article, provide feedback and then publish it. You’ll be listed as the author and are welcome to share your articles far and wide. After major milestones (e.g. first 10 blogs, volunteering for a year, getting to 1000 blog views) you’ll receive a certificate and the opportunity to be interviewed about some of your stories.

Want to see some of the great blog posts that our previous volunteers have worked on? You can check these out here

Social Media Officers

Is social media your thing? Then this opportunity is perfect for you. You’ll manage our Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts creating engaging content that promotes our work, raises awareness of health issues that are particularly relevant to the black community and assist with developing specific social media campaigns. You’ll also assist with organising our fibroids Twitter chats and explore ideas for social media events.  After major milestones you’ll receive certificates and awards to recognise your contribution to our organisation.

Admin Assistants

Are you able to give just a few hours a week to help us behind the scenes? We’re looking for Admin Assistants who can help with organising and evaluating health awareness events (including liaising with speakers and vendors), being the point of contact for email enquiries, assisting us in writing reports, conducting desk-based research and  assisting with a range of other administrative tasks. After major milestones you will be recognised for your contribution to our organisation.

Event Assistants

In 2019, we’ll be hosting a series of women’s health events in St Kitts  entitled ‘Girl Talk: Informal, Informative and Empowering Discussions on Women’s Health.’ These events are being organised in collaboration with the University of Medicine and Health Sciences and we’re looking for volunteers to assist on event days with the following tasks:

• Setting up the venue
• Assisting with social media coverage of the day
• Helping collect data  (encouraging people to complete feedback forms, encouraging attendees to sign-up to our mailing list, counting the number of attendees etc.)
• Welcoming vendors and speakers and helping them set up
• Handing out promotional material
• Selling raffle tickets
• Clearing up at the end of the event
• Ushering duties (showing attendees to their seats and giving directions)

Graphic Designers

We’re looking for graphic designers who can volunteer for a few hours a week to assist with a variety of design projects. These include:

• The redesign of our fibroids booklet
• The design of our fibroids fact sheets
• Creation of flyers for health awareness events
• Design of social media promotional material for campaigns
• Design of information packs, information sheets, guides, reports etc.
• Creating website images
• Designing infographics and educational material

More Information

For more information about these roles, please email info@lakehealthandwellbeing.com 

Apply

You can apply for any of these roles by completing the form below.

The information that you provide in this form will only be used to help us find the best volunteer opportunity for you and won’t be shared with, or sold to, any third parties.