Living African

African immigrants have contributed significantly to the growth and diversity of the overall Black population in the United States. As an immigrant, I know how hard it is for someone to come to the United States with nothing but a dream and work hard to see their dreams come to pass.

The story of Solange Che is that of challenging oneself to become their best version. To quote Solange  – “failure is a state of mind that if not handled with care can destroy one's personality. It took acceptance, goal setting, revamping my self-confidence, sacrifice, resilience, and vulnerability to come to the realization that I can start all over again and be my best version.”

Join us on this episode as she takes us through all the turns in her life journey – from her upbringing to education, traveling to Germany for her master's in linguistics, having a baby unplanned, moving to the United States, and how she was able to turn around her life (with the help of God Almighty) to become her best version. This journey will be motivating, inspiring, and emotional. Welcome to episode twenty-one(21). 

Meet Our Guest :

Solange Che is the fifth of a family of seven born in Cameroon. She did her Bachelor's and Masters in Linguistics at the University of Buea in Cameroon and later had a scholarship to study applied linguistics at the University of Cologne in Germany. 

She is a mother, a linguist and Salesforce consultant by profession, and a podcaster. She is an 8x Certified Salesforce Administrator/Consultant and Scrum certified with so many years of experience working in an agile environment. 

She is the host of the “You Can Be Anything Podcast’ where she shares her inspiring journey with her listeners. On her podcast, she shares real-life experiences and lessons learned and chats with people with similar stories so that listeners will have a wide variety of content to draw from.

Contact Our Guest:

• E-mail: [email protected] 
• Facebook: Solange Che
• Instagram: @Solange Che
• Podcast: You Can Be Anything Podcast

Things You Will Learn in This Episode: 

[00:01 – 05:00] Introduction

• Getting to know our guest

[05:00 – 25:00] Upbringing & Education

• Growing up in Akum (Cameroon)
• Going to the university to study linguistics
• Becoming an exceptional student
• What studying linguistics entails
• Studying extinct languages 
• Traveling to study in Germany

[25:00 – 38:00] Coming To America & Becoming A Salesforce Consultant

• Settling in America and finding her place
• Doing survival jobs during her early days in America
• How Solange got into salesforce and her progress now
• Solange shares inspiring words with the listeners
• How to reach Solange and her podcast

[38:00 – 40:00] Final Words

• Solange’s final words
• Anyoh's final words

Quotes

“Believe in yourself. Believe in yourself that you can become anything and put in the work needed to actualize that belief. Always remember that you can become anything.” – Solange Che

“failure is a state of mind that if not handled with care can destroy one's personality. It took me acceptance, goal setting, revamping my self-confidence, sacrifice, resilience, and vulnerability to come to the realization that I can start all over again and be my best version.” – Solange Che

LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you!

Connect with Living African Podcast: You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at [email protected].

Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more. Connect with host, Anyoh: You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

Thank you.

In the last episode (019),  I briefly stated my first encounter with Alzheimer’s Dementia through my grandfather. Despite the popular belief that this disease was a right of passage for every old person, I have come to learn that this myth is still very prevalent in our African communities. Some people even attribute Alzheimer’s to witchcraft or a curse. I suppose it is still difficult to understand and, most importantly, accept that it is nothing other than a disease. Therefore, I have invited a familiar face to this platform in the person of Dr. Leonard Ngarka (neurologist), and Vivian Ngang (aka Aunty Vivian) to have an in-depth discussion on Alzheimer's Dementia and give us more insight from a healthcare provider and caretaker perspective. 

Dr. Leonard Ngarka will focus more on educating our community about Alzheimer's Dementia while Vivian Ngang will share her first-hand experience on how she applied the knowledge shared with respect to caring for her mother (listen to her story in episode 019). I hope you learn and pick some key points from this episode, and as always, I hope the conversation continues within your circles. Thanks for listening. 

Meet Our Guests:

Vivian Ngang is a Registered Nurse with a doctorate degree in Nursing and a Master's degree in Nursing Science. She is a Clinical Nurse Manager in one of the hospitals or one of the units at the Veterans Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. She has been married for 25 years – blessed with four beautiful children and one grandchild.

Dr. Leonard Ngarka is a Neurologist who works at Yaounde Central Hospital, Cameroon. He is also a Lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaoundé, Cameroon. 

Contact Our Guests:

• E-mail (Dr. Leonard Ngarka): [email protected]

• E-mail (Vivian Ngang): [email protected] 
• Facebook: Vivian Ngang

Things You Will Learn in This Episode: 

[00:01 – 03:00] Introduction

• Getting to know our guests

[03:00 – 30:00] Remembering Maa Lucy & Learning About Alzheimer's Dementia

• Remembering Mama Lucy 
• Mama Lucy’s battle with Alzheimer's Dementia
• What is Alzheimer's Dementia?
• Signs & Symptoms of Alzheimer's Dementia
• The different types of Alzheimer's Dementia
• The risk factors that cause Alzheimer's Dementia

[30:00 – 40:00] Prevention & Treatment

• Changing diets & eating habits
• Importance of exercising and reading
• Indulge patients in activities they loved to do before their diagnosis
• Patients must follow their drug prescription
• Make patients feel seen, loved, and appreciated

[40:00 – 1:00:00] Elaborating On Some Important Key Points

• Being respectful and patient with people battling Alzheimer's Dementia
• Ms. Vivian shared some important tips to help caretakers
• How Vivian improved her mental health being a primary caregiver
• Advice to our community and caretakers of dementia patients

[1:00:00 – 1:13:00] Final Words

• Dr. Leonard’s Final Words
• Vivian's Final Words
• Anyoh's Final Words

Quotes

“Remember that these elders going through Alzheimer's Dementia are used to giving instructions, giving orders, and doing what they want so we must learn to speak with them calmly, be patient, and be respectful with them in order for them to allow us to offer them the care they need.” – Dr. Leonard Ngarka

“When people start having these memory problems – sometimes, we caretakers are so impatient with them that we end up frustrating them. Frustration and becoming depressed even makes their symptoms worse. So we need to be tactful and make them see the need for medical advice rather than making them feel they’re close to madness or making them feel they’re so bad.” – Dr. Leonard Ngarka

 “What are the things we should do to prevent Alzheimer's Dementia? We should eat healthily, engage in sporting activities often, and if we are sick of any chronic condition then we should take our drugs well, and make sure we are well controlled.” – Dr. Leonard Ngarka

LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you!

Connect with Living African Podcast: You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at [email protected].

Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more. Connect with host, Anyoh: You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

Thank you.

Over 2  million people lived with dementia in sub-Saharan Africa in 2015 and numbers are projected to nearly double every 20 years, increasing to almost 3.5 million by 2030 and 7.6 million by 2050.* 

My late grandfather died of a broken heart, but he also had mild symptoms of Alzheimer’s dementia. That was my first encounter with this disease and I remember as a kid, struggling to understand why a grown man will forget things so easily or walk out of the house without knowing where he was headed, and getting lost. I remember most people calling it “Old age” and we were made to understand that it was a right of passage for every old person, and that made me even more scared to get old. 

Our community has normalized the ideology of defining people’s lives by the disease they are battling - in this case, Alzheimer’s Dementia. We tend to easily forget that these were humans - family, friends, etc - behind the disease. So this week, we discuss Alzheimer’s Dementia from a caretaker's perspective. We will be having Vivian Ngang (aka Aunty Vivian) discuss her experience while taking care of her lovely mother (Mama Lucy) who battled this disease until her demise.

This episode is heavy, emotional, and educational, and sheds more light on how we can help our senior relatives encountering this disease. Hope you learn and pick some key points from this episode – remember to share within your circle.

* Data From Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI)

Meet Our Guest :

Vivian Ngang is a Registered Nurse with a Doctorate degree in Nursing and a Master's degree in Nursing Science. She is a Clinical Nurse Manager in one of the hospitals or one of the units at the Veterans Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. She has been married for 25 years – blessed with four beautiful children and one grandchild.

Contact Our Guest:

• E-mail: [email protected] 
• Facebook: Vivian Ngang

Things You Will Learn in This Episode: 

[00:01 – 03:00] Introduction

• Getting to know our guest

[03:00 – 30:00] Remembering Mama Lucy & The Beginning Of Alzheimer's Dementia

• Who is Mama Lucy?
• Mama Lucy getting diagnosed with dementia
• The timeline of the disease and how it progressed
• Sending her to a nursing home and bringing her home
• Some of the challenges faced taking care of Mama Lucy

[30:00 – 55:00] Events That Happened Before Mama Lucy's Passing

• Sending Mama Lucy's back home to Cameroon
• The few weeks before her passing
• How taking care of Mama Lucy impacted Aunty Vivian
• The impact Mama Lucy's death had on the family

[55:00 – 1:15:00] Elaborating On Some Important Key Points

• Celebrating Mrs. Vivian Ngang
• Researching the disease, changing diets, and other important things you can do for dementia patients
• How Aunty Vivian improved her mental health being a primary caregiver
• Advice to our community and people taking care of dementia patients

[1:15:00 – 1:25:00] Final Words

• Aunty Vivian's Final Words
• Anyoh's Final Words

Quotes

“There's this stigma that someone having Alzheimer's means they're crazy which makes most Africans not want to talk about it so when I started sharing how my mum was dealing with hers, it inspired others to share how their parents were dealing with the same disease. So we must talk and share with others in order to raise awareness and educate our community.” – Vivian Ngang

“I want all your listeners to know that God won't give them challenges they don't the strength to handle so they must keep on and not give up.” – Vivian Ngang

LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you!

Connect with Living African Podcast: You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at [email protected].

Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more. Connect with host, Anyoh: You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

Thank you.

Jehovah Has Healed is a book that was born out of a mother's journey through loss, faith, and the Supernatural. Like every newly married couple, Carine and Victor Njoh dreamed of a happily ever after life, but God had other plans. In Carine’s words – “It looked like I'd never see the dawn of the day. I asked many questions, but the answers didn't seem forthcoming.” 

In the book, Carine walks us through her experiences, but in this episode, we go deeper into how Victor was also impacted by the multiple loss and how God revived their faith and healed their hurt. 

Today, we continue from where episode seventeen(17) ended. I hope the conversation inspires you as it did me. This is such an important topic in our community, as it could lift up the spirit of someone going through something similar. It is therefore my greatest hope that the conversation doesn’t end here, and that we can keep it going within our circles. Thank you for listening. 

Meet Our Guests :

Victor is the 3rd child (first set of twins) from a family of 8. Born in Kumba, Cameroon to Mr. Christopher Njoh & Mrs. Ruth Njoh née Tabod, both of blessed memory. He relocated to the U.S in 1996 where he attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU )  in Weatherford and graduated in 2003 with a Doctorate in Pharmacy. 

Carine is the 5th of 6 children. Born in Buea to Mr. John  Ndeh & Mrs. Hilda Ndeh née Asanji. She relocated to the U.S in 2000 where she started College at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, as well. She graduated in 2010 with a Doctorate in Pharmacy. 

Victor and Carine met at SWOSU. At the time, Victor was President of Southwestern International Students Associations (SISA), and so was instrumental in helping her navigate the (school) system. Their relationship kicked off a couple of years later. They got married in 2008 and that's where their story begins.

Contact Our Guest:

• Facebook: Carine Ndeh Njoh
• E-mail: [email protected] 
• Buy Book On Amazon Now: Jehovah Has Healed

Things You Will Learn in This Episode: 

[00:03 – 10:00] Empathizing With People & Supporting Your Spouse

• Anyoh empathizes with Carine and Victor
• Why our community needs to be more sensitive
• People need to stay out of other people's life
• Victor talked about how he supported Carine 

[10:00 – 20:00] Going Through Life While Facing These Challenges

• Working on their expectations for life in general
• Holding onto each other in the midst of the challenges
• Victor shares one particular experience in the hospital with Carine
• Dealing with grief and not getting stuck

[20:00 – 30:00] Spiritual Encounters & Advices

• Victor shares his spiritual encounter for the first time
• Carine shares more light on her spiritual encounter as seen in her book – "Jehovah Has Healed"
• Victor talks about how God answered them by giving them, Josiah (their son)
• Ask your friends about what you can do to help them
• Victor talks about how to deal with negative comments

[50:00 – 53:54] Final Words

• Carine prays for the audience
• Final words from Carine and Victor
• Anyoh's final words

"Since you can't control what people say about you – to keep your peace of mind, please learn to filter out what you give your ears and attention to.” – Victor Njoh, on how to deal with negative comments

“If you are really concerned about someone having their own child then pray for them. Because when prayers go up, blessings come down. So instead of talking about them, pray for them.” – Carine Njoh

LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you!

Connect with Living African Podcast: You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at [email protected].

Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more. Connect with host, Anyoh: You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

Thank you.

Jehovah Has Healed is a book that was born out of a mother's journey through loss, faith, and the Supernatural. Like every newly married couple, Carine and Victor Njoh dreamed of a happily ever after life, but God had other plans. In Carine’s words – “It looked like I'd never see the dawn of the day. I asked many questions, but the answers didn't seem forthcoming.” 

In the book, Carine walks us through her experiences, but in this episode, we go deeper into how Victor was also impacted by the multiple loss and how God revived their faith and healed their hurt. 

I hope the conversation inspires you as it did me. This is such an important topic in our community, as it could lift up the spirit of someone going through something similar. It is therefore my greatest hope that the conversation doesn’t end here, and we can keep it going within our circles. Thank you for listening.

Meet Our Guests :

Victor is the 3rd child (first set of twins) from a family of 8. Born in Kumba, Cameroon to Mr. Christopher Njoh & Mrs. Ruth Njoh née Tabod, both of blessed memory. He relocated to the U.S in 1996 where he attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU )  in Weatherford and graduated in 2003 with a Doctorate in Pharmacy. 

Carine is the 5th of 6 children. Born in Buea to Mr. John  Ndeh & Mrs. Hilda Ndeh née Asanji. She relocated to the U.S in 2000 where she started College at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, as well. She graduated in 2010 with a Doctorate in Pharmacy. 

Victor and Carine met at SWOSU. At the time, Victor was President of the Southwestern International Students Association (SISA) and was instrumental in helping her navigate the (school) system. Their relationship kicked off a couple of years later. They got married in 2008 and that's where their story begins.

Contact Our Guest:

• Facebook: Carine Ndeh Njoh
• E-mail: [email protected] 
• Buy Book On Amazon Now: Jehovah Has Healed

Things You Will Learn in This Episode: 

[00:01 – 03:00] Introduction

• Getting to know our guests

[03:00 – 30:00] The Beginning Of Challenges

• The first pregnancy
• Reme's life. And death 
• Baby Nasia
• Searching for answers and finding your peace
• Leaning on God and holding onto their faith
• Answering the question – why do bad things happen to good people?

[30:00 – 55:00] Dealing With The Challenges

• How they worked to keep life going
• Dealing with grief and not getting stuck

[55:00 – 1:00:55] Empathizing With People Going Through Challenges

• Why our community needs to be more sensitive
• People need to mind their business and stay out of other people's life

Quotes

“I found a hobby that I enjoyed so much, gardening. And I tell people all the time that If you are going through stuff and you need something to help you out, put your hand in the dirt. Put a seed in the ground and nurture that seed to grow, it will do an amazing thing to your psyche.” – Victor Njoh, on how he coped 

“Our community needs to do better to be sensitive. Be sensitive to people going through issues – people finding it difficult to give birth or have kids with special needs. Remember that you don’t have to say everything that comes into your mind, especially when the person is around.” – Carine Njoh

“I know what I went through and I know without God, I couldn’t have survived. I believe that He was my strength when I was weak and he encouraged me when I lost all hope.” – Carine Njoh

LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you!

Connect with Living African Podcast: You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at [email protected].

Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more. Connect with host, Anyoh: You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

Thank you.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) –  in 2019,  reports showed that 38.2 million children under the age of 5 years were estimated to be overweight or obese. Once considered a high-income country problem, overweight and obesity are now on the rise in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in urban settings. In Africa, the number of overweight children under 5 has increased by nearly 24% since 2000. 

What makes this worse is the fact that most African countries have this mindset that being overweight has been associated with richness, health, strength, and fertility, whereas in the Western world, the slim body size is widely idealized. So children and teens with obesity are considered nourished and nice hence their obesity is less diagnosed.

Today, we have with us Dr. Judwin Ndzo to share her experience as a pediatrician who deals with cases of child obesity on a daily basis. This episode is focused on the causes of child obesity, myths surrounding child obesity, and preventive measures we can put in place to ensure our children don't become obese. We also discussed the impact obesity has on children's mental health. I hope you learn and pick some key points from this episode – remember to share this episode and the lessons learned with your circles.

Meet Our Guest :

Dr. Ndzo is a UK-based pediatrician who is passionate about helping children grow, thrive, and achieve their maximal potential in life. Early in her career, after graduating from the University of Buea, Cameroon, she worked at Solidarity Clinic in Buea, where she developed a passion for managing children. Her interest in nutrition led her to her job with MSF Swiss and later the French Red Cross in Garoua-boulaï, Eastern Cameroon where she worked in a refugee camp for almost 2 years, looking after malnourished kids.

Following this, she won a Chevening scholarship to study for a master's in Public Health Nutrition at the University of Southampton, UK. The following year, she decided to start her residency in Paediatrics and became a member of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in 2021. She is keen to mentor and help other young Cameroonians pursue their career goals. 

When not working, she enjoys traveling, working out, hiking, cooking, socializing, and hanging out with friends!

Contact Our Guest:

• Instagram: @aliehjudwin
• Linkedin:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/judwin-ndzo-16317b70

Things You Will Learn in This Episode: 

[00:01 – 03:00] Introduction

• Getting to know our guest

[03:00 – 15:00] Understanding Childhood Obesity

• What is childhood obesity?
• Understanding BMI & Growth Charts
• Obesity in Africa & risk factors
• Demographical data on obesity
• The impact of obesity on children's health

[15:00 – 30:00] Mental Health of Obese Children & Myths of Obesity

• Mental health issues children face due to obesity
• The effects of bullying on obese children
• Myths surrounding obesity in Africa 
• The importance of eating healthy diets

[30:00 – 42:00] Advise, Recommendations & Ways Out of Obesity

• Prioritizing breastfeeding and proper weaning
• Practice exercising and healthy meal habits in the family
• Advice to the teens facing obesity
• The importance of being sensitive when addressing obesity
• Being a good example and positive role model for our children
• Importance of family therapy and creating safe spaces for discussions around obesity

[42:00 – 46:55] Final Words

• Dr. Ndzo’s final words
• Anyoh’s final words

Quotes

“Yes, the most important thing is that babies eventually have food. But it's important to talk about the importance of breastfeeding. So we know that babies who are bottle-fed are much more likely to develop obesity in the future and alongside diabetes and or whatnot.” – Dr. Judwin Ndzo

“I see children with diabetes, with hypertension, with low self-esteem, all those things. It really bothers me to see obese children suffer such health problems, especially at such a young age and I think we need to start with the adults, we are we need to be role models to our children. Let's have healthy families because healthy families would lead to healthier communities.” – Dr. Judwin Ndzo

“I see a lot of Cameroonian men who are obese and some of them don't even realize that until they get diagnosed maybe with hypertension and diabetes, and then they start making an effort to want to lose weight. So I think we need to start by looking at our own selves as adults. We cannot be telling a child, you're obese and things when yourself you've not started with yourself.” – Dr. Judwin Ndzo

“So do that BMI test, look at a BMI chart, calculate your BMI, you can literally do it at home, measure your child's height and measure your child's weight. I think anything over 25 is overweight and then obese or morbidly obese. So if your child is falling within that range, then have an honest conversation with them. And you don't necessarily have to be condescending, but just try to see things that you can start by changing in the household. And also having that conversation with them.” – Anyoh Fombad

LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you!

Connect with Living African Podcast: You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at [email protected].

Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more. Connect with host, Anyoh: You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

Thank you.

It is well reported by the WHO that more than 66% of the 120 million people affected worldwide by sickle cell disease live in Africa. Approximately 1,000 children are born with the disease every day in Africa, making it the most prevalent genetically-acquired disease in the region. More than half of these children will die before they reach the age of five, usually from infection or severe anemia.

What makes this worse is the fact that most African countries do not have the necessary resources to provide comprehensive care for people with sickle cell disease despite the availability of proven cost-effective interventions for prevention, early diagnosis, and management of this condition. This is why we need more advocacy, raise awareness and vigorously educate our community on this disease.

Dr. Ojong Bate is here to share her experience living with sickle cell. This episode is heavy, emotional, educational, and sheds more light on how we can help our community to battle Sickle Cell. Hope you learn and pick some key points from this episode, and please remember to share within your circle.

Meet Our Guest :

Dr. Ojong Bate is a Clinical Pharmacy Manager with Walmart Health and Wellness. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy Degree (PharmD) from the University of Charleston College of Pharmacy and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics at the University of Delaware. She is passionate about health education and Sickle Cell Disease Advocacy. She is also the Founder of Brightstar Foundation; a non-profit foundation in Cameroon, Africa. The Foundation focuses on sickle cell disease education and empowerment. She is a health outcomes enthusiast and she enjoys promoting lifestyle modification in chronic disease management. Her personal interests include traveling, health education, Health strategy coaching, and business intelligence exploits.

Contact Our Guest:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram:@dr_ojcorner
• Facebook: Ojong Bate
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ojongbate
• Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/lessons-uncovered-6967423372620181504/

Things You Will Learn in This Episode: 

[00:01 – 06:00] Introduction

• Getting to know our guest
• Background research on sickle cell in West Africa

[06:00 – 30:00] Diagnosis & Living With Sickle Cell As A Teen

• Getting diagnosed with sickle cell anemia at (age) 9 months
• Going through episodes and complications as a teen
• Encountering challenges in finding a school as someone living with sickle cell
• Being intentional about her health as a sickle cell patient
• Living authentically and in her truth

[30:00 – 1:00:00] Thriving With Sickle Cell

• Traversing the challenges of school and work 
• Dating and love life
• Being her best advocate for herself
• Her sickle cell advocacy and the need to create more awareness
• Dr. Ojong's advice for young people and people living with sickle cell

[1:00:00 – 1:13:55] Final Words

• Dr. Ojong’s final words
• Anyoh’s final words

Quotes

“Yes, sometimes you might take longer to accomplish the things you want but that doesn't mean you will not accomplish it, it means that it's okay to pace yourself. It's okay to ask for help. It's okay to seek your truth, your authenticity. And in that process to not devalue your worth.” – Dr. Ojong Bate

“In Cameroon, sickle cell disease is not very rare. It's just stigmatized so much that people hide it. And the synopsis and prognosis and outcomes are really poor so a lot of times patients go on to be diagnosed until they're three, four or five, and even six years old. And before some even get diagnosed, they have already lost their lives.” – Dr. Ojong Bate

“Know your self-worth, don’t center your life around sickle cell disease, ask for help, know your needs, be consistent with your drugs, and be your best advocate. Take your medications consistently and take good care of yourself so you don’t blame the disease for everything that happens to you health-wise. Simply, be there for yourself every day.” – Dr. Ojong Bate

LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you!

Connect with Living African Podcast: You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at [email protected].

Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more. Connect with host, Anyoh: You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

Thank you.

The topic of fibroids is one thing that we will never stop talking about to raise awareness about the disease in our community. As time goes by, I have gotten to know more women who have struggled with fibroids and I have come to the realization that it is far more common than being spoken about. 

Data from Michigan Medicine shows that “Nearly a quarter of Black women between 18 and 30 have fibroids compared to about 6% of white women, according to some national estimates. By age 35, that number increases to 60%. Black women are also two to three times more likely to have recurring fibroids or suffer from complications.”

There is definitely a dire need for more education and discussion on this topic to help raise awareness and sensitize our community. So, today, our guest will give us a different perspective on her personal experience with fibroids. Be inspired!

Meet Our Guest :

Our guest for Episode 14 aka “A Different Perspective of Healing from Fibroids” is Mane Ndoping. Mane was Born and raised in Cameroon and came to the US when she was 18. Studied psychology in undergrad 2012. Obtained MSc in Occupational Therapy 2015. She is a health and wellness enthusiast focusing on mental wellness and functional nutrition.

She started a journey of self-healing in 2009, which has morphed through the years leading to the birth of NannezFruitDlight in 2019; a venture that she's passionate about through which she shares her personal journey of healing as well as information for other health challenges from other health and wellness professionals.

Contact Our Guest:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: NannezFruitDlight and or Mz_Nanne

Things You Will Learn in This Episode: 

[00:01 – 03:00] Introduction

• Introducing our guest - Mane Ndoping

[03:00 – 30:00] Mane’s Entrepreneurship Journey 

• Getting to know Mane Ndoping
• Coming to America
• Health complications after diagnosis
• Continious check ups & diagnosis

[30:00 – 1:00:00] Further Diagnosis & Treatment

• Change of diets 
• Healing from Fibroids
• Recommendations on how to heal from Fibroids
• Words of encouragement to the African community
• How to get in touch with Mane

[1:00:00 – 1:13:55] Final Words

• Mane's final words
• Anyoh’s final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“Some foods that we eat overwork the liver and make it hard for it to eliminate toxins, so it just stays in the body. One thing I learned about fibroids is that people who have fibroids, in most cases, have high estrogen. And the liver helps to excrete the excess. But then if we feed our liver with less optimal food, it's not able to excrete it so it stays in the body, and then it causes [complications].” - Mane Ndoping 

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Connect with Living African Podcast: You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at [email protected].

Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more. Connect with host, Anyoh: You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

African immigrants have contributed significantly to the growth and diversity of the overall Black population in the United States. As an immigrant, I know how hard it is for someone to come to the United States with nothing but a dream and work hard to see their dreams come to pass.

That's the story of Leslie Asanga who is an entrepreneur creating solutions to some of the enormous problems we faced back home in Africa, Cameroon specifically.

Join us now as we deep dive into his journey as an immigrant and entrepreneur

Meet Our Guest :

Dr. Asanga is a pharmacist and an entrepreneur with 10+ years of healthcare and entrepreneurship experience. He is the founder and CEO of Pills2Me - an on-demand prescription delivery service - which was launched at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. He is also the co-founder and CEO of UrPharm (an easy way to search, find, and pay for medications in sub-Saharan Africa). He holds a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree and an MBA from Roseman University of Health Sciences, Nevada, and a Master of Public Health degree from Yale University. He was the winner of the Thorne Prize at startup Yale - Yale University's annual entrepreneurship award for healthcare innovation. He is an innovator and very passionate about using technology to solve healthcare problems, especially in vulnerable communities.

Contact Our Guest:

Things You Will Learn in This Episode: 

[00:01 – 03:00] Introduction

• Introducing our guest - Leslie Asanga

[03:00 – 30:00] Leslie’s Entrepreneurship Journey 

• Getting to know Leslie
• The founding of his two companies
• How his humble beginnings inspired his entrepreneurship journey
• The services offered by the companies Leslie founded
• Where to find Leslie businesses in Africa & America

[30:00 – 1:00:00] Further Diagnosis & Treatment

• Life growing up in Cameroon
• The difficulties he had to deal with growing up
• His education and business ventures back in Cameroon
• The impact family had on him 
• Coming to America for studies
• Finding problems to solve
• Words of encouragement to the African community
• How to get in touch with Leslie

[1:00:00 – 1:13:55] Final Words

• Leslie's final words
• Anyoh’s final words

Tweetable Quotes

“Our people have a lot of potentials but just don't explore them. People just boxed themselves into tiny boxes. They say - I'm doing this, I'm staying on this track, but I think there's a whole lot more that we can do if we just decide to explore, and not be afraid to fail.” - Leslie Asanga

“Focus on the positive side of things, but believe that the negative side can happen so have a contingency plan, knowing that, this can happen, but I know the probability of that worst-case scenario happening is low and I know what do in case the worst-case scenario happens. So be positive all the time even when you have a negative fact.” - Leslie Asanga

“What I will say to anyone is that chase your dreams! Right? I know, it's been said 1000 times before but you know, you don't let your guard down. Forget about the failure, forget about everything else and go chase your dreams!” - Leslie Asanga

LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you!

Connect with Living African Podcast: You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at [email protected].

Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more. Connect with host, Anyoh: You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

As mentioned in episode eight, last year - we got mixed feedback about the series of episodes we did with members of the LGBTQIA+ community to honor Pride Month. But in alignment with the goal of this podcast, not everyone will like every topic we talk about, especially topics that make people uncomfortable. You see, growing up, most of our parents never educated us on sex, relationships, and marriage because they believed that talking about it meant that they were encouraging us to do it. The truth is that as adults, many of us wish we had this education when we were younger. Also, whether they spoke to us about it or not, that didn’t mean sex and/or relationships weren’t still happening behind their backs. Using the same logic as the sex/relationship talk, whether we agree (or not) to educate ourselves about the lgbtqia+ community, or think that acknowledging them means encouraging their “practices” (as some people call it) in our African community, one FACT still remains: the lgbtqia+ community exists in the African community whether we agree or not. They are actually close family and friends and you may not even know it. You don’t have to agree with them or their values, but you should respect them for who they are and how they choose to live their life, just like you will expect to be respected. We can always agree to disagree in love and respect! I learnt a lot from this episode and hope you do too.

Meet Our Guest:

Mr. John Adewoye was born in Kwara State Nigeria and was the last child of the 4 surviving children of his parents. 

“Surviving” characterized his life story from his teenage years till he was 40 years old because of my sexual orientation. The struggle was really intense for him throughout his elementary school years where he was nicknamed "obinrin" meaning a girl because of his effeminate behavior. The teenage years were particularly traumatic for him because neither he nor those who bullied me had a name for what set him apart from other boys. No one addressed this issue with him as would have been today; not even his parents. 

At age 40, he came to the US in pursuit of conversion therapy, where he came to the realization that he needed no cure but self-acceptance. 

As a then-priest, he also got to be aware of the fact that he need to leave the Priesthood to keep his self-acceptance, grow in it and share it. He decided to come out and stay as a visible example for those who may need his evidence in their personal struggles as homosexuals. 

Mr. Adewoye has been happily married to his partner Adebayo John Omoworare since 2016. He is happy with his life and desires the same for everyone.

Things You Will Learn in This Episode: 

[00:01 – 03:00] Introduction

• Introducing our guest - Mr. John Adewoye

[03:00 – 30:00] Mr. John Adewoye Shares His Journey 

• Life growing up in Nigeria
• Going to seminary school
• His work as a priest in Nigeria
• Coming to America
• His work in the LGBTQ+ Community
• Awards & Recognitions

[30:00 – 50:00] Life In America & Activism

• Finding his purpose in America
• Activism and advocacy for African LGBTQ+ people
• Advising the African community
• How to get in touch with Mr. John Adewoye

[50:00 – 57:34] Final Words

• Mr. John Adewoye final words
• Anyoh’s final words

Tweetable Quotes

“When we try to conform to the pressure of the society, it lead to  some women to marry the man they weren't really attracted to. It has led some men to marry women who they aren't attracted and that has led to raise suffering of the people we should love.” - Mr. John Adewoye

“So it is our duty, though we may not accept or support - it's our duty to educate ourselves so that we can respect them, because regardless of our beliefs, we must respect them first and foremost, as humans, we must respect one another.” - Anyoh Fombad

“So either gay or straight - the most important thing for me, is whatever I can do for humanity. And that is what I see many people in our LGBT authority trying to do for the community based on their own limited reality” - Mr. John Adewoye

LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you!

Connect with Living African Podcast: You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at [email protected].

Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more. Connect with host, Anyoh: You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).