Living African

Mental health has always been a topic of interest in our community and several strides have been made to have open conversations and address mental issues head-on. However, mental health amongst teens is not as discussed especially due to the stereotypes that come with being a teenager, especially in the African community. The mental health issues that teenagers encounter nowadays are very misrepresented by what our community considers “the teenage experience” and this makes it easy for their mental wellbeing to be ignored just because they are teenagers.

Today, our focus on teenage mental health will give you insight into what goes on in a teenager’s mind as well as what they really think about the community’s outlook on them. In this very resourceful episode, our guest Jada Yudom, a teenager and author, will break down some aspects of teen mental health from her book #TeenMentalHealth. I would love to use this opportunity to call on all parents and teenagers to give this episode a listen and give her book a read, and I hope you get inspired as much as I was. 

 

GUEST:

Jada Atchu Yudom (she/her) is a sixteen-year-old Cameroonian American mental health advocate. She co-founded Revive, a youth-led organization focused on normalizing the conversation around mental health. With her business partner Sania Ahmad, she also co-authored a book around the same topic and more. One day, she hopes the future generations will be able to speak up about their feelings without the stigma holding them back.

CONTACT:

Instagram - @reviveorg; Her personal insta - @jadayudom; Sania Ahmad’s Instagram - @saniafahmad. Their podcast - @thrivewithrevive, and chronicles - @revivechronicles. Their book: #TeenMentalHealth  & Their website - www.revivementalhealth.org

 

Things You Will Learn in This Episode:

[00:01 – 12:00] Introduction to Teen Mental Health

• What really is Teen Mental Health?
• Preface of Jada's Book

[12:00 – 26:00] The Motivation Behind the #TeenMentalHealth Book

• Experiences  & stories  that motivated Jada
• The culture of silencing mental health issues
• Ways in which we misunderstand teenagers
• The importance of learning general skills

[26:00 – 44:00] Teenagers & Mental Health Awareness

• Mental health challenges teenagers face
• The negative and positive sides of peer-pressure
• Summarizing some chapters in Jada's book
• The perception of teenagers as "hormonal"

[44:00 – 56:00] Jada's Inspiration

• How Jada's sister autistic inspired her journey
• Anyoh shares her experience with her brother 
• Cancelling the subscription to Peer Pressure
• We need to listen to our children 
• Bullying and all that comes with it

[56:00 – 1:10:00] More Chapters on Jada's Book

• Relationship experiences as teenagers
• Guiding your emotions and learning from your experiences
• Teenagers need to seek help and empower each other
• The need to create a safe space and listen to our teenagers

[1:10:00 - 1:18:00]  Final Words

• How to support the mental health of teenagers
• How to reach Jada and support her charity
• Final words from Anyoh.

 

TWEETABLE QUOTES:

“For sure, our African parents want to keep doing what they know based on their upbringing, but that isn't not working in these times. Times have changed and the issues we're facing as African teens in America is different and so we expect our community to change to meet our needs.”- Jada Yudom

“As teenagers, the time we spent as teenagers is basically the trial. These are issues and complications we have to face in order to transition into adulthood so it is important to know about these issues and equip yourself with all the tools needed to overcome such issues when they come up.”- Jada Yudom

“Sometimes, the best solution is to give teenagers some space, then sit them down, try to listen to them when they're ready, and make time for them. Don't force past solutions on them because it may not work.”- Jada Yudom

 

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

You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, or send us an email at [email protected]. Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more.

You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

A wise person once said - in life, everyone should have a mentor and a sponsor. Each one of us has been influenced by someone before with or without even knowing it. Most often than not, we get to every stage we find ourselves in life with the help of someone, or we have helped someone get to some stage in their lives as well.

In our African community, the concept of mentorship is seldom discussed or practiced. The level of competition, expectation and sometimes hate, makes it somewhat difficult to support and uplift each other. But we fail to understand that it usually takes a village to reach higher heights in life. So, let me ask you - who is YOUR Village?

This week, I will be speaking with two very vital members of my village - my mentors - to break down the importance of mentorship and why we all need mentors in our lives, and to mentor someone else. If you don’t know where to start when it comes to mentorship, or if you want clarity on the expectations of a mentor-mentee relationship, then this episode is for you.

MEET OUR GUESTS: 

Dr. Sidonie Niba is a Cameroonian who currently serves as the Director of US Field Medical Excellence at Pharmacosmos Therapeutics, Inc. and has worked in a variety of roles with progressive experiences across clinical, academia and pharmaceutical industry settings. As a career strategist and mentor for underrepresented Medical professionals, Sidonie has spent the last 5 years helping dozens of clients transition into life-changing career and growth opportunities. She is an avid advocate for mentorship and coaching within both the professional and personal domains. 

Sidonie is a registered nurse, residency-trained Pharmacist and also holds a Master’s in Business Administration. 

Sidonie is married and lives in the Dallas, TX area with her husband and two young kids. In her spare time, she enjoys engaging in positive and progressive discussions, investing, shopping and traveling.

CONTACT: [email protected]

 

Dr. Zera Hongla immigrated to the US from Cameroon at age 18 and completed her Bachelors in Science in Biochemistry at the University of Maryland. She then completed her Doctorate in Pharmacy at the Notre Dame of Maryland University in Baltimore. Upon graduation, she worked as a retail pharmacist but later moved to work on the Native American reservations in New Mexico as the Pharmacy Director.  Following that position, she now works with the Food and Drug Administration. She has been appointed a clinical adjunct faculty at her alma mater as she established practice sites for students at the reservation and frequently returns to school to talk to pharmacy students about various opportunities. As a commissioned officer in the United States Public Health Service, she is proud to serve and is grateful for the unique opportunities it offers. She credits her journey to the openness of her mentors and sponsors who provided direction and invaluable counsel at crucial stages.

CONTACT: ​​[email protected]

 

Things You Will Learn in This Episode:

[00:01 – 08:00] Introduction

• Introduction
• Guests introduce themselves

[08:00 – 22:00] How I Met My Mentors

• Anyoh's connection with Zera
• Zera share's her story of connecting with Anyoh
• Anyoh's connection with Sidonie
• Sidonie shares her story of connection with Anyoh

[22:00 – 40:00] How Mentorship Impacted The Guests

• Seeking mentorship from close relations
• The value of having a mentor and a sponsor
• Maintaining a healthy relationship with your mentors
• How to approach people you admire to mentor you

[40:00 – 54:00] African's & Mentorship

• Factors that affect networking in the African community
• The culture barriers and imposter syndrome
• Replacing our fear with audacity

[54:00 – 1:06:00] The Mentor-Mentee Relationships

• Having an abundance mentality in the community
• Good character traits that will encourage mentorship in our community
• The struggle older people have with asking for mentoring
• Having each one teach three mindset

[1:06:00 - 1:33:00]  Mentor-Mentee Expectations

• Mentors don't owe mentee's anything
• Mentee's must put in all the work
• Keeping a healthy relationship
• Having measurable expectations

[1:33:00 - 1:41:00]  What Mentorship Is

• Mentorship as an act of service
• Mentorship is a calling

[1:41:00 - 1:49:00] Final Words

• Tips to finding a great mentor
• Dr. Sidonie & Dr. Zera share their last words
• Anyoh's summarization of the conversation

 

TWEETABLE QUOTES:

“I see mentorship as someone that can pick you up when you are down and it is very different from a coach. I see mentorships as lifelong engagements. A mentor is someone that holds your hand and keeps you accountable and really bores into you when you are down and vice versa.” - Dr.  Sidonie Niba

“When you put yourself out there with no expectations, it may be 1 out of 50 people you make an outreach to [who will get back to you], but all you need is one. You can’t handle 50 mentors, coaches or sponsors. You just need one.” - Dr. Sidonie Niba

“If we think with a mind of abundance, that there are plenty of opportunities and enough space for everybody to grow and be the best in what they want to do, there is a benefit for everybody to do well as a community.” - Dr. Zera Hongla

“There is more of an issue with age gaps. I think older people have an issue being mentored by younger people in our culture, which teaches that age is a huge deal. Why will a parent ask a child for advice? That is what I see in those generational gaps and older people thinking that the younger ones cannot bring value to them.” - Dr. Sidonie Niba

“Sometimes we get into this position in a company and we do not put ourselves in a position to have a pull. Sometimes you need to get into a room for reasons beyond yourself because if you cannot make or influence a decision, then how can you help someone else or make an impact?” - Dr. Zera Hongla

 

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

You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, or send us an email at [email protected]. Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more.

You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

In honor of World AIDS Day (December 1st), we will talk about living with HIV. HIV/AIDS has always been one of those diseases that has drastically impacted our community and has been around for as long as I can remember. Growing up in Africa, this disease was synonymous to a death sentence and though there have been great strides and advances towards it, there’s still be a tremendous amount of stigma and stereotypical ideation towards it. With so many scientific developments, the prognosis of HIV/AIDS compared to 20+ years ago has drastically improved and there are lots of HIV+ patients who live their lives as normal as any other person who doesn’t have it. So, our purpose on this episode isn’t only to educate our African community about this disease, but to defy the stereotypes surrounding it.

MEET OUR GUEST:

Honorine Mbibe is a 23-year-old student, model, and an adolescent champion. Moreover, she is currently in a modeling competition where her project is to stand for adolescents and young people living with HIV, as well as fight against the stigma surrounding AIDS and discrimination against HIV/AIDS patients.

CONTACT:

Email: [email protected]

Things You Will Learn in This Episode:

[00:01 – 07:00] Introduction

• Some statistics on HIV/AIDS
• Introducing the guests

[07:00 – 17:36] Honorine's Story

• How she found out she was HIV positive
• How she came to accept her status
• Trying to live a life of purpose with an HIV diagnosis
• The harsh reality of stigmatization
• Using her story to impact her community 

[17:36 – 24:22] Advancements in The Fight Against HIV/AIDS

• Dr. Grace Fombad shares her thought on the advancements made through the years
• The importance of sensitization and creating awareness
• Fighting stigmatization against HIV patients
• How Sub-Saharan Africa is fighting HIV/AIDS

[24:22 – 40:28] Honorine's Therapeutic Regimen and Accessibility of HIV/AIDS Medication

• Honorine talks about how important medication is
• The shortage and accessibility of medications
• Benevolence from international communities

[40:28 – 50:26] The Stigma Associated with HIV

• The lack of empathy towards HIV patients
• The lack of education on the disease
• Dating with HIV

[50:26 – End] Final Words

• The importance of Educating our Community on HIV/AIDS
• Dr. Grace & Anyoh's last words.

 

Tweetable Quotes:

“It wasn’t easy growing up knowing that I was HIV positive because I experienced stigma from the society. I was very pale and people around me will be like “you look like an AIDS patient”, even when I [or they] didn’t know my status. This made me go into my shell and just stay there” - Honorine Mbibe

“When the HIV positive diagnosis was disclosed to me, it wasn’t easy, but I had to use it as a stepping stone in my life. I told myself that I would never let others have the wrong information about this disease. So in my domain, I try to educate others on the basics of HIV.” - Honorine Mbibe

“When we stop labeling people and calling people names, then we show love. People commit suicide because they cannot bear the amount of stigma that exists in the community [towards HIV/AIDS]. Showing empathy [towards HIV patients] is very important in every situation and when you show empathy, you show love.” - Dr. Grace 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!

You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, or send us an email at [email protected]. Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more.

You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

 

In this episode, we have Dr. Sheila Enoh and Dr. Idris Yakubu back with us to continue the conversation on their road to success as international students with the focus on how they got into professional school in the US. Being African and an international student trying to get into Pharmacy or Med school definitely presents the case of a double minority as a foreigner and not eligible for financial aid. Most Pharmacy and Med school programs will not even look at your application if you are an international student and that obviously decreases your odds. Nonetheless, if you can dream it, you can STILL achieve it. And that is what we are here to speak about today.

 

Dr. Enoh and Dr. Yakubu will hopefully inspire and encourage you with their story of blood, sweat and tears, but what is most important is that they didn’t give up. You, too, can make it if you don’t give up. As a wise woman once said, your dreams are valid. We hope this episode encourages anyone who has hopes of achieving their dreams even when all odds seem to be against them.

 

MEET OUR GUESTS:

Dr. Sheila Enoh, MD MPH was born and raised in Yaounde, Cameroon. She moved to the US at the age of 18 to attend college as an international student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for her undergraduate studies. She majored in Biology and Psychology with a minor in Chemistry. She then completed a Masters of Science in Public Health with a focus on International Health at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. She is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and currently pursuing a residency in Internal Medicine at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. She is passionate about all things medicine and global health.

Contact: 

Website: www.sheilaenohmd.com

Email: [email protected]

 

Dr. Idris Yakubu, PharmD is a solid organ transplant pharmacist specialist at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System and a clinical assistant professor at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy. He earned both his Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from the University of Toledo College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. He completed a PGY-1 pharmacy practice residency at the University of Toledo Medical Center and a PGY-2 solid organ transplant pharmacy residency at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Dr. Yakubu was born and raised in Nigeria and passionate about assisting international students in navigating and overcoming barriers in the United States  educational system. 

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

 

Things You Will Learn in This Episode:

[00:01 – 04:42] Introduction

• Introducing the guests

[04:42 – 24:36] The Journeys, Challenges & Successes

• Dr. Enoh and Dr. Yakubu share their unique journeys 
• The habits and tools you need to succeed
• The Importance of having mentors
• Why you need to put networking first
• Having multiple plans & being resilient

[24:36 – 39:22] The Application Process

• Dr. Enoh and Dr. Yakubu share their experience with the application process

[35:40 – 53:28] The Stress of Being a Med/Pharmacy Student

• The financial challenges and expansiveness of Med/Pharmacy School
• Time management & Scheduling
• The importance of family in our journey

[53:28 – 1:09:26] The Residency Stories

• Dr. Enoh and Dr. Yakubu share their residency stories 
• The H1B visa complications 
• Finding employment in America after graduation

[1:06:20 – 1:15:30] Final Words

• Build networks and have mentors
• You need mentorships as you need air
• Being honest with yourself and the people around you
• Guests shared advice and wisdom prospective students

 

Tweetable Quotes:

“Your international experience [from coming into a new country at a young age] helps you mature significantly and you need to speak to that. That level of maturity is going to help you as your classmates will benefit from that, and you also need to take it further to show how the institution will benefit from that.” -  Dr. Idris Yakubu

 

“You are a student first. Regardless of how strong you may be in other areas, if your grades aren’t good enough, you are not making yourself competitive enough. At the bare minimum, make your grades competitive and that may increase your chance of someone looking at your application.”  - Dr. Idris Yakubu

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

You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, or send us an email at [email protected]. Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more.

You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

 

Last week’s episode was about giving a holistic experience on what it takes to be a successful international student in the US and diaspora as a whole. In this episode, we dive deeper into resources that are available to prospective students in Africa to use if planning to apply to schools in the US. Our guest Richard Ewane, founder of The Student Advisor, explains the entire process of applying to college as an international student successfully with an emphasis on making it through the complex process of the F-1 visa interview at the US Embassy. If you are a student or parent of a prospective student who is confused and/or overwhelmed by the complex process of applying to college in the diaspora, then this episode is for you.

Meet Our Guest

Born in Cameroon, Richard Ewane attended primary school in Yaoundé and secondary school at Sacred Heart College Mankon, Bamenda. He then went to college in America, studying International Business and Economics at Ohio Northern University (ONU). Upon graduation, Mr. Ewane was hired by his alma mater, ONU, as an Admissions Counselor. After working at ONU, Mr. Ewane decided to return to Cameroon.

He worked at the S. T. Muna Foundation for a few years and then he was recruited by the U.S. Embassy in Yaoundé as the EducationUSA Advisor, working with prospective students, their families, and other stakeholders to gain admission to U.S. institutions. During his tenure at the U.S. Embassy, Mr. Ewane recorded a seventeen percent (17%) increase in the number of successful applications from the country, the largest increase in over a decade!

Driven by his desire to improve the lives of his fellow Cameroonian youth, Richard left his position at the US Embassy and went to work as the Chief of Staff to the international lawyer and anti-corruption champion, Akere "Mr. Clean'' Muna, a candidate in Cameroon’s 2018 presidential election. Simultaneously, he launched The Student Advisor to continue the work he has been doing for a decade – effecting change by providing educational opportunities to Cameroonians.

Today, he continues to work with the then-presidential candidate on matters of good governance and anti-corruption across the globe, as well as run The Student Advisor. All with the goal of bringing positive change to his community.

Contact Richard: 

Website: www.thestudentadvisor.com

Phone [whatsapp]: +1 614 697 4455

Phone: +237 680 230 570

Social media platforms: The Student Advisor

 

Things you will learn in this episode:

[00:01 – 07:54] Introduction

• Introducing the guests
• The guest summarize his journey

[07:54 – 20:05] Coming to America to Study

• The application process
• Arriving in America
• Culture shock experiences
• Richard's first experience with American students
• Adapting to the America system

[20:05 – 23:00] Working in America after Graduation

• Working as an Admissions Counselor
• Setting up orientation for foreign students

[23:00 – 30:00] Coming back to Cameroon

• Finding a job
• I regretted my decision when things got difficult
• Working in an orphanage & starting a record label
• Working at the United States Embassy

[54:35 – 46:26] How The Student Advisor helps Students

• Guiding students through the entire F-1 visa application process
• Advising students on how to select schools
• Launching a bootcamp to help students 
• How The Student Advisor was started
• The abundant scholarships available

[46:36 – 48:04] Get in Touch with The Student Advisor

• Contact us through our website
• Getting in touch through Whatsapp & Social Media

[48:04 – 55:13] Lessons & Final Words

• Two important things to note 
• Anyoh's  final words

 

Tweetable Quotes:

“After doing this several times, I can today look at a kid’s document and ask them how the interview went and know exactly what happened. So what we do is consulting for students who have been denied visas or about to go for an interview and steer them in the right direction.” - Richard Ewane [Founder, The Student Advisor]

“A lot of students will stand in their own way. This is because they work with- and receive advice from people who have no idea what they are talking about.” - Richard Ewane [Founder, The Student Advisor]

“There could be way more [international students studying in America]. We have so many more qualified students who just fall through the cracks because they don’t have information. When I started working at the US Embassy, I did a full media bliss and we ended up having a 17% increase in the number of Cameroonian students studying in the US.” -  Richard Ewane [Founder, The Student Advisor]

“Disseminating correct information is really important for our students because they don’t know. You have all these kids who got 5As in Advanced Level, they should be going to MIT and Stanford and Berkeley, but they don’t know they can. And even when they've seen other people do it, they don’t know how to go about it.” - Richard Ewane [Founder, The Student Advisor]

“Life would have been way easier and better if I had this kind of opportunity [with The Student Advisor] prior to coming to the United States as an international student. It is really amazing how much we just try to figure it out by ourselves because we don’t have any guidance.” - 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!

You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, or send us an email at [email protected]. Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more.

You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

This week’s episode is dedicated to all international students and any African who has hopes to migrate to the US (and the diaspora as a whole) for studies. We have two very knowledgeable guests Dr. Sheila Enoh, MD MPH and Dr. Idris Yakubu, PharmD who both started off as international students in the US. They share their experiences from applying to college, going to the US embassy for their F1 visa interview, migrating to the US, as well as valuable lessons they learned in college. If you or anybody you know plans on migrating to the US but doesn't know where to start, then this episode is for you!

We hope that this episode is very resourceful to you and your loved ones. As former international students, these are definitely things that we wish we knew prior to migrating to the US and we hope that these experiences can help someone in the pursuit of their dreams in the US. 

Meet Our Guests

Dr. SHEILA ENOH, MD MPH was born and raised in Yaounde, Cameroon. She moved to the US at the age of 18 to attend college as an international student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for her undergraduate studies. She majored in Biology and Psychology with a minor in Chemistry. She then completed a Masters of Science in Public Health with a focus on International Health at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. She is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and currently pursuing a residency in Internal Medicine at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. She is passionate about all things medicine and global health.

Contact: 

Website: www.sheilaenohmd.com

Email: [email protected]

 

IDRIS YAKUBU, PHARMD is a Solid Organ Transplant Pharmacist Specialist at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System and a Clinical Assistant Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy. He earned both his Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from the University of Toledo College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. He completed a PGY-1 pharmacy practice residency at the University of Toledo Medical Center and a PGY-2 solid organ transplant pharmacy residency at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Dr. Yakubu was born and raised in Nigeria and is passionate about assisting international students in navigating and overcoming barriers in the United States educational system. 

Things you will learn in this episode:

[00:01 – 04:42] Introduction

• Introducing the guests

[04:42 – 21:32] The F1 Visa & College Application Process

• Dr. Enoh, Dr. Yakubu and Host, Anyoh share their stories
• Highlighting the importance of mentorship 
• Dealing with visa rejection 
• Advice on how to successfully get an F1 visa

[21:32 – 35:40] Coming to America 

• Dr. Enoh, Dr. Yakubu and Host, Anyoh share their experiences
• Host, Anyoh shares her story of getting lost at the airport
• Experiencing the American educational system

[35:40 – 54:35] Culture Shock 

• The guests and Anyoh share their culture shock experiences
• The importance of networking & having positive friends
• The importance of being an all-around person 
• The importance of taking opportunities & taking up leadership roles
• How to deal with being homesick
• Networking with other Africans
• Dr. Yakubu talks about getting to know the system

[54:35 – 1:09:26] The Expenses of Studying in America

• Dr. Enoh, Dr. Yakubu and Host, Anyoh share their experiences
• The pressure to succeed that international students feel because of the humongous tuition expenses
• Taking up opportunities and working to manage expenses
• Getting a scholarship and taking advantage of your networks

[1:09:36 – 1:23:04] Dealing With Negative People & Challenges

• Avoiding the noise and negativity
• Dr. Enoh talks about resilience
• Having a good support system is important
• Being careful of what advice you take

[1:23:04 – 1:35:28] Lessons of Survival & Independence

• Lessons learned from being an international student
• The importance of getting mentors and sponsors
• Having the support from family
• Qualities you need to be successful as an international student in the US

[1:35:28 – 1:35:28] Projects & Final Words

• Guests shared their personal projects
• Dr. Yakubu and Dr. Enoh give their final words of advice to prospective international students
• Host, Anyoh shares words of advice and action steps

 

Tweetable Quotes:

“To me, the top 3 things that are very important when coming to the US as an international student:

1. Prove that you have strong ties to your country by convincing them that you are going to return
2. Show them that you can cover your [school and living] expenses throughout your stay in the US
3. Know what you want to do/study - your immediate, midterm and long term goals.” - Anyoh Fombad

“One thing that I had to learn coming here in addition to networking was doing extracurricular activities. You can study all you want - that’s great, but if you want to go to amazing places you will have to join organizations and have leadership opportunities so that they can see that you are an all-rounded student.” - Dr. Sheila Enoh 

“Going to school abroad [the US] is not just for academics. You really should take advantage of the experience… be open-minded, take advantage of the campus activities, build networks with people from different countries as an international student, and be very intentional about building relationships with the Americans as well. Learn about the system because that is what will really allow you to thrive” - Dr. Idris Yakubu

“Being an international student has pushed me beyond my limits. It has allowed me to mature quicker; I have had to put myself in very uncomfortable situations not knowing what to expect but just having faith and trusting that whatever it is, there is something in it for me to learn.” - Dr. Idris Yakubu

“In order to be successful, you have to work really hard. You have to be ready to fail and get back up. You have to be really humble. You have to be open-minded. It is ok if you come to the US and you are like “hey I want to do this”, but it is ok if you realize that this is not your passion and you change your mind, as long as it is truly something you want to do.” - Dr. Sheila Enoh

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

You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, or send us an email at [email protected]. Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more.

You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

I come from a family of 6, and you must have seen and heard from 4 of my family members - mom, dad, my older sister Leslie and younger brother Musaga. However, many of you have never heard about my other brother Bayong, who is the youngest sibling.

Bayong was born just like any of us but had a seizure disorder, which changed the trajectory of his life, as well as the rest of our lives. Today, we sit down for the first time to share his story and also open up about our experience growing up with him and how that has impacted our lives. This is definitely a vulnerable moment like never before. If you think you knew me, well, you will get to really know me through this conversation. Heck, I also got to learn a lot about my family like never before.

For the first time on this platform, I was the host and guest at the same time. It felt great to bare my emotions all out with my family and I hope that our story doesn’t only inspire families going through a similar experience, but encourages us all to be sensitive to what these families with special needs children are going through. In honor of National Epilepsy Awareness Month, here is to Bayong and every other special needs child who has been impacted by epilepsy! We love you!

Things you will learn in this episode:

[00:01 – 04:42] Introduction

• Introducing the guests and sharing a brief background on the topic.

[04:42 – 24:32] Mom & Dad Share The Story of How it All Began

• The troubling pregnancy
• Childbirth and issues afterward
• Pressure to look for a solution to Bayong's health
• Finding hope and faith in God
• Going through depression
• Finding support and peace

[24:32 – 36:40] Sharing Our Experiences as Siblings

• Anyoh shares her experience
• Leslie shares her experience
• Musaga shares his experience

[36:40 – 50:30] Dealing with Societal Pressure & Questions

• People advised that we abandon Bayong
• Dealing with the social pressure and family
• Mom shares an emotional story of a childhood talk between Bayong & Musaga
• The support system that positively impacted the situation

[50:30 – 1:02:31] Our Fears & Hope

• Anyoh shares her fears and worries
• Leslie talks about keeping hope when Bayong is going through seizure episodes
• Musaga shares his fears, hope, and gratitude
• Mom & Dad share their fears, finding inspiration and giving back to others

[1:01:31] – 1:07:44] Lessons Learnt & Final Discussions

• Mom and Dad share words of wisdom to other families
• Anyoh urges the society to be kind and supportive
• Last words and final thoughts from Anyoh

Tweetable Quotes:

“One of the [traditional] doctors told us that he was a snake and that if we are tough enough, just gather all his things and go and keep him by the riverside and I am going to transform him back into the snake so that he can go. At that point, we made that decision that we have had enough!” - Dr. Grace Fombad

“Growing up and to this day, with [Bayong] being my only brother, I always felt that void. There was always that hope that one day he will even be able to say a word back, or play with me or just me wondering what life would have been like if things were different for his health.” - Musaga Fombad

“A lot of times as I have grown up, there is also that feeling of guilt because that could have been me. I feel like I get to experience all of these things that he never got the opportunity to. It is tough just thinking about it and being helpless.” - Musaga Fombad

“Sometimes you can’t help but feel that he is just suffering too much and you mostly just pray but it has just been difficult and a bit rocky. One minute you think he is fine, and the next minute he is back to a stage where you really don’t know what is going to happen to him.” - Dr. Leslie Fombad

“[Bayong’s story] changed our lives completely and we are better people as we can adjust to any condition in life. Most people will not accept that type of condition but we did and we are still going on strong, and we will encourage other families to emulate our example.” - Dr. Rudolf 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!

You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, or send us an email at [email protected]. Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more.

You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

In this episode, we bring two experts in Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB-GYN) to discuss everything you need to know about infertility in men and women. Dr. Temitope Ekwo and Dr. Nicole Plenty will be shedding more light on what infertility truly is, the prevalence, risk factors with more focus on fibroids, as well as medical advice on taking the Covid-19 vaccine while pregnant.

We will also address some myths and facts that are common in our community and action steps that can be taken by our community to support those experiencing infertility. There is so much to unpack in this episode, and I truly hope that you learn from it and put a lot of the lessons into practice.

MEET OUR GUESTS

Dr. Temitope Ekwo is a board-certified OB/GYN who was born and raised in Providence, RI where she lived until moving to Washington D.C after high school. She frequently participates in activities within the community to increase patient awareness and education regarding woman’s health issues. Dr. Ekwo is a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, as well as a member of the Association of Nigerian Physicians and Texas Medical Association. Her clinical interests include adolescent and teen gynecology, high-risk obstetrics, minimally invasive procedures, outpatient surgeries, contraception, pelvic pain, menopause, health maintenance, and general gynecology. Dr. Ekwo and her staff take pride in providing extraordinary care to their patients during all stages of a woman’s life.

Dr. Nicole Plenty is a double board-certified OB/GYN and Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist, blogger, public speaker, and patient advocate. After experiencing a difficult pregnancy herself, to increase her advocacy efforts, she launched Pregnancy Pearls with Dr. Plenty, a vlog and podcast she created to help patients advocate for themselves by providing pre-/post-conception advice and education regarding complications of pregnancy. She has received local, state, and national honors for her involvement in health policy, mentorship, and work in health advocacy.  Among those, she has received Top 40 under 40 recognitions from the National Minority Quality Forum, the National Medical Association, the Indianapolis Business Journal, as well as her alma mater, Xavier University of LA.

Things you will learn in this episode:

[00:01 – 04:42] Introduction

• Introducing the guest and sharing a brief background on the topic.

[04:42 – 19:32] Understanding Infertility & Its Causes

• Understanding fertility in Men & Women
• Some common causes of infertility
• How mental health can affect fertility in marriage
• Why you need to 'relax' 

[19:32 – 42:10] Myths, Misconceptions & Fibroids

• The effect of aging on infertility in men & women
• Fibroids and its related issues with infertility in women
• Are there ways to manage Fibroids?
• Why African Women are hesitant when it comes to surgery
• Secondary infertility and its issues
• How to support couples facing infertility 

[42:10 – 54:30] Covid-19 Vaccine & Pregnancy

• Education on the Covid-19 vaccine & pregnancy
• Some myths and conspiracies about the vaccine
• How covid is affecting unvaccinated pregnant women
• Read & listen to experts for advice

[54:30 – 1:01:31] Remedies & Therapeutic Measures for Infertility

• Consultation & medication
• Don't be anxious and nervous
• Seek knowledge & find options

[1:01:31] – 1:07:44] Final Discussions

• Advising the community on how to be supportive
• Anyoh shares her last words
• How to connect with the guests

Tweetable Quotes:

“Stay out of women's uteri! Don't ask them when they're going to get pregnant. Don't ask them why they haven't gotten pregnant don't ask them when they're having another child! Just mind your business!” – Dr. Temitope Ekwo [on how the community can stay supportive towards women dealing with infertility]

“Everybody always points a finger at the woman when men make up 48% of the cases of infertility. So, the infertility rates for men and women are almost about the same. I have seen people not be pregnant for years on end and then all of a sudden they do a work up and lo and behold the man has a low sperm count but never wanted to do a sperm sample” – Dr. Nicole Plenty

“Secondary infertility is a real thing. People think that if they have one baby that means they are fertile and so they have all the time in the world. But we as women have all the eggs that we are born with and over time, our fertility rate gradually decreases because we lose an egg every time we ovulate. Men are also not off the hook here. As they age, their quality of sperm also decreases.” – Dr. Nicole Plenty 

“The amount of miscarriages and stillbirths that I have seen [in pregnant COVID-19 patients] since this pandemic has started is more than the amount I have seen in my 10 years of practicing, but people don’t want to talk about that. Having COVID-19 while pregnant is a prenatal complication.” – Dr. Temitope Ekwo

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 Dr. Temitope Ekwo:

 

Phone: (713) 799-9900

Address: Specialists in Obstetrics and Gynecology

7400 Fannin St Ste 1200

Houston, TX 77054

Physician loactions

Connect with Dr. Nicole Lee Plenty, MD, MPH, MS, FACOG:

Facebook: @pregnancypearls

Instagram: pregnancy_pearls

Twitter: @NicoleLeeMD

Youtube: youtube.com/pregnancypearlswithdrplenty

Website: www.pregnancypearls.com

Email: [email protected]

 

You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, or send us an email at [email protected]. Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more.

You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

 

 

We continue our discussion on breast cancer and this time we talk extensively about the history and science of cancer treatment. Using Akwi's and Gwendolyn's cases, Dr Foma explains treatment procedures and medications used for different kinds of cancer. 

We talk about the healthcare system in Cameroon, where Dr. Foma started practice. Akwi and Gwendolyn present their different non-profit organizations that work with cancer patients in Cameroon and advocate for cancer awareness. 

[00:01 - 02:40] Opening segment

[02:40 - 08:21] Akwi's Experience with cancer treatment

• The diagnosis and testing process
• The steps she had to take before starting treatment
• The treatment process and reaction to medications

[08:31 -  10:33]  Discussion on Breast Reconstruction

• The healthcare factors of breast reconstruction

[10:33 - 25:00] Preparing patients for treatment, different cancer medications and their applications

• Kinds of cancer and treatment methods
• Different drugs, uses and side effects
• Comparing and contrasting Gwen and Akwi’s cancers and treatment processes

[25: 01 -  38:22] History of Cancer treatment and myths

• Evolution of cancer treatment
• Improvements in chemotherapy
• Scientific developments in cancer treatment
• Treatment practices
• Alternative treatment myths

[38:23 - 50:45] Life with and after breast cancer (Akwi’s Story)

• Emotional factors
• Physical and lifestyle changes

[50:46 -  58: 15] Best practices or habits for cancer patients

• Advice from Dr Foma on how to cope with cancer
• Dealing with the community
• Working with medical staff

[58:16 - 01: 07: 05] Resources for Cancer patients

• Available resources
• Life for cancer patients in Cameroon
• Cancer and Cameroon’s healthcare system

[01:07:05 - END]  Akwi and Gwendolyn’s work with cancer patients in Cameroon

• Gwendolyn’s Royal Warrior foundation’s activities
• Akwi’s  Dare to Live with Anjoh foundation
• Dr Foma’s work in Cameroon and suggestions for health administration.

 

Quotable Tweets

"My advice usually to those back home overall is  that prevention is better than cure. The way Africa is, the way Cameroon is, the way our healthcare system is, prevention is the best tool we have." - Dr Munoh Foma

"Sustainability is something we should always think about.  All the organizations going to Cameroon should actually have that as part of their mission - whatever advocacy your are going in to provide. If you are providing machines, you want make sure those machines  are friendly in the tropical region, you have people who are able to repair them, and also that they are machines you can find replacement parts for." - Dr Munoh Foma

"Hospice is one thing we do not have and we are not even welcoming in our society. Fortunately, I am a hospice nurse and I have helped a lot of people transition. We are all going to die but there is nothing better than helping somebody or seeing your family member transition in a more peaceful or pain free way." - Gwendolyn Ngu

"When I shared my story I had a couple of women reach out to me from Cameroon to tell me that they were either in treatment or were survivors and it really took me by surprise because back home I knew only of one person that had breast cancer. A lot of young women reach out to me and I tried to get more information about how their treatment process was. It was when I realized I was really lucky to have had to deal with cancer in America and have good insurance; back home, it is a jungle. That is why decided to  create the foundation, so I could help." - Akwi Tah

Referenced Material:

Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer

 

You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, or send us an email at [email protected]. Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more.

 

Contact Akwi Tah:

Instagram - DARE TO LIVE WITH ANJOH

Facebook - Akwi Anjoh

Website - www.daretolivewithanjoh.org and via WhatsApp +19802728050.

 

Contact Dr Foma:

Dr Foma Munoh Kenne, MD, MPH

Richmond University Medical

Center for Cancer Care

1000 South Ave.

Office Tel: (718) 816-4949

[email protected]

Staten Island, NY, 10314

 

Contact Gwendolyn Ngu:

Facebook: Royal_warriorr

Instagram: Royal Warrior Cancer Support

Web: www.royalwarrior.org

Email: [email protected]

 

You can connect with Anyoh on: Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

SHOW NOTES

We continue our conversation on breast cancer awareness. In this episode, Gwendolyn Ngu joins us again, this time with two other special guests; another breast cancer survivor and a medical doctor. We dive deeper into the topic of breast cancer with greater emphasis on the science. Akwi Tah also shares her gruesome journey battling cancer while Dr Munoh, an oncologist, gives us more insight into the disease from a medical perspective.  You will learn a lot about Breast cancer in this episode; the different types that exist and how they are classified, the causes, genetic features, etc. You will also learn about different treatment options and the future of treatment in general.

 

[00:01- 02: 02] Opening segment

 

[02:03 - 08:30] Introduction of Topic and Guests

• An overview of breast cancer
• Important facts and statistics
• Prognosis and prevalence in Africa

 

[08:31 -  12:30]  Breast cancer and race

• Prevalence of breast cancer in black women vs white women
• Some statistics
• Prognosis in black women compared to other races
• The case for black women in Africa

 

[12:31 - 17: 30] Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer

• Screening
• Diagnosis

 

[17: 31 -  23:20] Preventive Care

• Cancer risks
• Medical recommendations
• Common screening practices
• Genetics and family history

 

[23:21 - 30:30] Akwi Tah’s Breast Cancer Story

• Getting diagnosed
• Getting the news of a cancer diagnosis
• Dealing with the knowledge of her new health status
• Her treatment process

 

[30:31 -  35: 22] Revisiting Gwendolyn’s Story

• Getting diagnosed
• Difference between her case and Akwi’s case
• Her treatment process

 

[35:23 - 46: 40] Classification of Breast Cancers

• Dr Munoh reacts to both Cancer stories
• The role of patients in diagnosis and treatment
• Kinds of breast cancer
• History of cancer treatments
• Scientific progress and evolution
• Treatment options

 

[46: 41 - 54: 10]  Breast Cancer/Cancer treatment in Cameroon and Africa

• The healthcare system for cancer
• Availability of cancer treatment specialists

 

[54: 11- END] Breast Cancer in Men

• Prevalence
• Classifications
• Treatment

Part 3 to come

 

Quotable Tweets

“Breast cancer is actually the most prevalent cancer in women and at any given time, there are about 8 million women living with breast cancer in the world. With advancements in science, a lot of those women are getting to live with breast cancer and survive with breast cancer.” - Dr Munoh Foma

“The prevalence of breast cancer is a bit skewed in African because we have problems with screening. From all the history we know about cancers till date show that that if we start screening for cancers early, we will catch them early and we are going to be able to cure them early. So public health education and screening is so important.” - Dr Munoh Foma

“Breast cancer is slightly more prevalent in black women below the age of 50 years. Black women tend to have it early, they tend to have the more sever forms of it and also tend to to not respond to treatment as much as women from other races. After the age of 50 or 60, the prevalence is the same amongst black and white women.“ - Dr Munoh Foma

“It is very common for us physicians to actually downplay the symptoms of patients especially if we are  dealing with situations we are not used to. That is why I always say patients should be their own advocate. At times you would have something that no one else knows about and you will know about it better than your doctor because there are so many diseases out there.” - Dr Munoh Foma

You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, or send us an email at [email protected]. Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more.

 

Contact Akwi Tah:

Instagram - DARE TO LIVE WITH ANJOH

Facebook - Akwi ANJOH

Website - www.daretolivewithanjoh.org and via WhatsApp 9802728050.

 

Contact Dr Foma:

Dr Foma Munoh Kenne, MD, MPH

Richmond University Medical

Center for Cancer Care

1000 South Ave.

Office Tel: (718) 816-4949

[email protected]

Staten Island, NY, 10314

 

Contact Gwendolyn Ngu:

Facebook: Royal_warriorr

Instagram: royal warrior cancer support

Web: www.royalwarrior.org

Email: [email protected]

 

You can connect with Anyoh on: Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).