Introduction:
Activities involved planning community health activities geared at improving understanding good nutrition practices; health seeking practices for quality healthy outcomes; conducted 208 Focus Group meetings; conducted 120 meetings with Key Informant; Local/Loci exploration of Health-related resources; generating reports.
Venues:
Fremont, Richmond, Antioch, Moraga, San Leandro, Pittsburg, Dublin, Lafayette, Bakersfield, Berkeley, San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Oakland, San Jose, Pasadena, San Bernardino, Fremont, Ventura, Glendale, Stockton, Silver Spoons-24th/Mission San Francisco; Balboa Restaurant San Francisco; Ashkenaz in Berkeley; San Leandro, Castro Valley, Richmond; Van Nuys, Vacaville, Santa Rosa, Antioch, San Rafael; Berkeley, Oakland; San Jose; Nigerian/Ghanaian/Sierra Leonean/Gambian Communities; Lutheran Church in Oakland;universal Unitarian Church SF; Islamic Mosques in Oakland and Berkeley.
Numbers reached:
Adults: 8,000
Children (9-21 years): 1,250
Households visited: 350
Challenges:
Small community organizing among African-born immigrants in USA has its challenges;
i). Africa-born immigrants live in community settings where pioneer peers settled first. Through peer-to-peer networks can one generate consensus and motivation for many to participate in meetings or community activities such health seeking activities. Examples of peer-to-peer networks range from: ethnicity-based groups; gender-based groups; trauma support based-groups; faith-based groups; place of origin-based groups; year of arrival-based groups; job specification-based groups; and abilities-based groups (sports, recreation, music, dance and drama). These are all social matrices in which African-born immigrants identify and socialize. It requires dedicated time to engage, create rapport and develop a working relation with African-born immigrants. It requires a funded organization to lead this kind of work.
ii). Africa-born immigrants live in different cities. Whereas it is possible to meet with them through peer-to-peer networks, one has to have reliable transportation as well as means of abode such as a hotel which can also act as a meeting venue.
iii). A common admission among many African-born immigrants is: perception that health seeking as a practice is alien to them. There are two entwined beliefs; the tendency of invincibility and inability to link behaviors to vulnerability and risks.
iv). Subsistence is an important aspect to livelihood. Work is a major source of income or resources. However, some Africa-born immigrants have disabilities and traumatic pasts. Many have not sought professional support. This has led to some instabilities, substance-abuse and homelessness.
v). Africa-born immigrants have not positioned themselves as full beneficiaries of services in USA. The 8 D’s is a simple range of themes under which organization can be analyzed and they are: Dance themes, drama themes, dress, dialogue themes, dietary themes, disease coping themes, documentation/Civic Duty themes, development themes.
Solutions:
i). Africa-born immigrants live in community settings where pioneer peers settled first.It requires dedicated time to engage, create rapport and develop a working relation with African-born immigrants. It requires a funded organization to lead this kind of work.
ii). Africa-born immigrants live in different cities. Reliable transportation as well as means of abode such as a hotel which can also act as a meeting venue.
iii). The tendency of invincibility and inability to link behaviors to vulnerability and risks requires planned community interventions by use of peers; testimony giving; providing resources in form of culturally and linguistically appropriate education materials.
iv). Seeking mental and health professional support and interventions helps improve one’s adjustment skills in society.
v). Africa-born immigrants need to position themselves as full beneficiaries of services in USA. The 8 D’s is a simple range of themes under which organization can be analyzed and they are: Dance themes, drama themes, dress, dialogue themes, dietary themes, disease coping themes, documentation/Civic Duty themes, development themes. These can be used to access logistical support from different service provision points.
Conclusion:
Support groups among African-born immigrants is an opportunity to engage in practices that improve on their health seeking practices and general quality of health.
Support funds received from January-August 2016:
1. Tom Rogers Muyunga-Mukasa $1,800.00
2. Moses Kiyemba $ 100.00
3. Borbor Goma $ 50.00
4. Anna L. $ 20.00
Total $ 1,970.00
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