A Conversation About Health Education
The Executive Director of B.L.A., Cleophace Mukeba, invited Alicia Belay, Assistant Director of the Community Engagement Unit at the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, discussed to Congolese Refugee women about health education and general health among children.
The presenter began by discussing the overall importance of health education for children. First, it is important for creating a path for lifetime wellness. Second, it helps women maintain their own health.
The group discussed the biggest health issues among youth. Alcohol and tobacco were mentioned as problems among the youth. Nutrition habits were discussed, and the speaker discussed the impact of her children’s eating habits on her own eating and the importance of creating routines (such as eating a meal while sitting down versus snacking before the meal), and how these habits set good examples for children as well as helping our own health. The group also talked about the individualized nature of kids’ nutrition—every child has different nutritional needs and doctors can guide this (for example, for some kids, eating more red meat might be important while for others, the extra fat in red meat should be avoided). The group talked about changing only one or two things at once to make sustainable changes in health behaviors.
The presenter stressed the importance of regular testing for HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI). While we may not want to think about the behaviors leading to the need for testing, the current recommendation is to test every year. Just do it as a regular part of a child’s physical, don’t think too much about it-she emphasized! Things like HIV are no longer a ‘death sentence’ they are very treatable and manageable, and there is support for individuals living with HIV. Further, STIs can cause children to become infertile. 24,000 women every year become infertile because of an untreated STI, so provide annual testing for your child to ensure you don’t lose a chance for grandchildren!!!
It is also important to have clear communication channels with our kids. One-way adults close communication channels are when they react strongly to something a child says. The speaker gave an example of her child saying something that upset her about ‘not liking grandma’ and instead of reacting—which she wanted to do—she managed her reaction. She asked more questions, finally learning more about why the child said this. If we want our children to share what they are doing so we can help guide them, we need to have this clear communication where they know the parent will not react strongly.
In addition to making, it easier for our children to talk with us, it is also important to encourage children to talk to other adults. Annual exams are important for kids, and you should provide time for your child to be alone with the physician during the annual exam, in case they have issues to discuss privately. Allowing them private time with their doctor is one way to open communication for the child, in case they need to share something important with another adult and don’t feel comfortable telling you.
The speaker discussed being sure to tell the child about the values of the home and how these relate to expectations around behavior. Tell the child before the behavior occurs what the consequence will be. Kids are learning about many behaviors much earlier than we expect. The group also shared examples of young children learning much more about relationships, alcohol, and smoking than we thought possible. Talk to them EARLIER than you think you need to!
The speaker ended by discussing the availability of immunization and HIV/STI testing from the Division of Public Health. Testing events can be scheduled at a place that is convenient and people could bring their children and family and friends for free testing and immunizations.
In a conversation with four women who attended Alicia’s presentation, Cleophace Mukeba learned that women loved the presenter’s approach. Alicia used a participatory approach and women expressed their satisfaction stating that they felt included and valued as people who can also have an opinion, ideas, and suggestions.