Mojatu Gambia Magazine G001

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Contents

editor’s Welcome Welcome to the first edition of Mojatu Gambia magazine, Issue G001. We are very grateful to you our first readers and to all those who have supported this magazine here and overseas.

Thanks for welcoming us and for

agreeing to walk with us in this great journey.

News & Sports

Hon. Omar Sey shares his vision and focus of Keeping Gambia Healthy in page 4. Mojatu Foundation also outlines our global focus and outlines how we will engage with the Gambian’s in page 5. Read pages 8 to 15 on how the UK team is working and seeks to learn from you in tackling Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) globally. Blue Mountains work in supporting women in page 12/13 is a must read for

those interested in women’s health.

FGM Special

The Gambia has many intriguing historical facts - page 16 tells the history of the soldier in town and about the spicy hot Jallof rice! Gambians in Nottingham share their stories

in page 17. Learn how you can get cash for your football

team in page 18 and about Kunta Kinteh Island in page 19.

Origin of Benachine “Jollof Rice”.............................14

Our magazine will be a tool for healthier and more informed communities. Learn how many eggs you should eat in page

20/21 and learn how to write a good CV in page 23. There is advice on problems arising when training health workes and how to avoid them in page 24/25.

How Many Eggs Can You Safely Eat?.............. 18-19

Calling on all of you to join our team in sharing positive and inspirational experiences and stories about The Gambia and Africans. Let us make our country and continent GREAT TOGETHER supporting women and girls and bringing an end to FGM!

Classified

Keeping Gambians Healthy........................................ 4 Mojatu Gambia Magazine Launched...................... 5 OneSight: Sustaining and Restoring Vision.......... 6 Dr Momodou Sallah: Most innovative teacher.... 7 Allies Network by women for women.................... 8

Abdoulie Jah Director and Editor, Mojatu Gambia Email: jah@mojatu.com

editorial Group Editor: Frank Kamau – frank@mojatu.com Managing Editor: V Nkoyo – valentine@mojatu.com Gambia Director / Editor: Jah Abdoulie Graphic Designer: Robert Borbely Contributors: Bai Mass Mbye | Mustapha A. Njie | Vincent Mendy | Musa Darboe | Nyima Touray | Adama K.S. Jawara | Mariama O. Touray | Leikeisha Walters | Kris Gunnars IT: Michael Grant | Jahvan Newland-Redmond Social media: Fiker Saifeselassie Accounts: Yemane Kidane Admin: Penny Cooper - penny@mojatu.com Project Coordinator: Leikeisha Walters – keisha@ mojatufoundation.org

FGM Impact: The feminine Pain..............................12 BMW Transforming Girls & Womens Lives.... 10-11 Eliminating FGM by 2010................................... 12-13

Community History of soldier Town in Banjul............................14 Bringing Senegabians together the ENAM.........15 Football: Proud of being Gambian.........................16

Health & Food Education & Career Top CV Mistakes to Avoid..........................................17 Overcoming Health work training probs...... 20-21

Cover

Hon. Omar Sey Minister of Health and Social Welfare

Mojatu Foundation Disclaimer The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers. Every effort has been made to ensure that the contents of this magazine are accurate but the publisher cannot take responsibility for errors, omissions, nor can we accept responsibility for the advertisements or editorial contributions.

Get FREE magazines from distributors or become a distributor contact or to Advertise and for Stories coverage. Contact Gambia Office: Sight Tech, 7 Kanifing South, KMC, The Gambia.

E: gambia@mojatu.com Online @ www.mojatu.com/magazines Subscribe to get copies posted @ 720 Dalas per year including postage subs@mojatu.com @ Mojatu Foundation Publication 167 Alfreton Road, Nottingham, NG7 3JR +44 115 845 7009, info@mojatu.com Facebook: mojatu Twitter: @mojatumedia

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News & Sports

Honourable Omar Sey:

Keeping Gambians Healthy The Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Hon. Omar Sey has

been active in keeping Gambians healthy through the delivery of effective Primary Health Care Strategies. The health sector has also considered the implementation of health promotion including community participation and empowerment as a priority in addressing health issues concerning the welfare of the Gambian society.

The minister oversees the health of the nation ensuring the sick get the treatment, promoting people’s health, supporting community health, rights for disabled people and equality for women and girls.

A reflection of his work since 2013 shows that he has been working towards health sector in the Gambia to have a healthy population for national development.

The minister acknowledges that his work is in line with the government’s strong concern for the health and welfare for all Gambians.

Citing those that work with him, there is a consensus that “by being a caring individual with medical history, Mr. Sey is able to promote health and wellbeing of all”.

He has been instrumental in developing networks and partnerships to safeguard the health of the nation through development of national health planning, costing, policies and legislation. He has also helped the government to develop priorities for meeting health goals for primary health care services.

To increase health accessibility, the government has implemented local community access health care services in every 25km within the country. These will be supported by better equipped medical networks within every 50km to offer patients accessibility to functional operation theatre.

In addressing eye sight health issues, the minister said that, “I recently launched ‘Campaign to Eliminate Cataract Blindness from The Gambia by 2018’. Our success in this area is evidenced by the fact that the

National Eye Health Programme has helped reduce blindness prevalence from 0.7% to 0.4%, a level comparable to European countries despite a growing increase in the population. Eye clinics are available throughout the country and that there is no need to walk more than 3 kilometres to reach an eye care worker/facility. Our services are of high quality and they use modern technology including microsurgery with intraocular lens implant for cataract”.

Hon. Omar said, “Though the government continues to support these health institutions, there is continued need for more resources including medical equipment, medication and beds. It is important for private sector, non-governmental organisations and those of you able to support the government in these areas to play your part”.

“There is need for more research, data collection and scientific approaches in understanding health implications so as to develop the suitable policies and solutions. Engaging more widely with civil society, NGOs and our local universities is important in capturing more data that is meaningful, accurate and reliable in implementing the necessary changes”, said Mr. Sey. “We need to join hands and address issues affecting our people by increasing knowledge and information about healthy living. Healthy nation requires partnerships and collaboration with all stakeholders to share knowledge, research and experiences which will help us to use both local and international knowledge in improving our health”.

Mr Sey has been a Board Member of WHO since 1993.

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Gambia connected

Mojatu Magazine Mojatu Foundation in partnership with Sight-Tech Foundation (STF) will launch Mojatu magazine titled, Mojatu Gambia, at Seaview Gardens Hotel on 20th February 2016.

This community magazine will support girls and women in their dayto-day lives and help them make their voices heard. It will support female genital mutilation (FGM) survivors, safeguard girls and women against (#endFGM) and work with the cutters who abandon the practice in promoting healthy lives.

Mr Abdoulie Jah the director of STF will be the managing editor of Mojatu Gambia. “We want to learn from one another. The magazine is the first step for us to bring our wide knowledge and understanding gained from various parts of the world back to The Gambian. Having Gambians tell their positive and inspirational stories and share good practices will help the world learn and make lives better for all”.

Valentine Nkoyo, the managing director of Mojatu magazines and director of Mojatu Foundation notes that, launching a Mojatu Gambia is an important step for supporting education, training, health, gender equality information and media, girls and women”.

Dr Boly Barry, who is from Burkina Faso and supports Mojatu Foundation develop the strategy for entry into West Africa thanked all involved and noted that this is a proud day for all Africans. “We thank the Hon. Omar Sey and all those who have supported Mojatu and other partners in this process. Let us use Mojatu Magazine and the online, mobile, print and audio tools to strengthen peace and positive actions throughout Africa and beyond”.

News

launched in The Gambia informed and knowledgeable communities. As Africans, we are very proud of this huge step in our work of empowering women and supporting education and skills development”.

Mojatu Gambia will be printed four times a year as A5 coloured publication which will also be available in mobiles and in digital format as an e-magazine. Daily updates of stories, contents and activities will be available online at www.mojatu.com.

Over the last three years, Mojatu Magazines have developed a unique model of working with local women, girls and younger people in launching and running local Mojatu magazines. It will offer businesses, organisations and individuals opportunity to advertise local services. This which includes articles, local advertising, a letters page and events listings.

Veronica Barnes, the director of Blue Mountain Women, an organisation that supports women’s health said that “This approach is important in alleviating poverty and giving people voices. Mojatu do not just publish and distribute the magazines but instead trains and supports local people to have ownership in what is said and written about them” Mr Jah said that “Mojatu Gambia has been launched in response to demand from local people and businesses in the Gambia who are struggling to reach the customers and service users on their doorstep. The brand has been adopted because of its unique approach in supporting grassroots groups and sustenance of professional and positive messages”.

Other than in the UK, Mojatu Magazines have presence in Kenya and Somaliland. French and Arabic versions of Mojatu magazines will be launched this year in Burkina Faso and Chad. The expansion is in line with the increasing demand for quality and authentic African voices and desire for businesses and organisations to access African market within and outside the continent.

“Having run a successful organisations and consistently working with local groups in tackling FGM, I find it hard to get true reflection of what is happening in the community and have the message reach a hyperlocal audience. Mojatu magazines have succeeded in other countries and cities. We believe Mojatu Gambia will deliver advertiser’s message straight to customer’s homes, train local people and change the community for the better”. Said Mr Jah.

Mrs Mariama Touray, Chairperson of STF outlined the benefits the Mojatu magazine in Gambia will bring.

She said, “The magazine will promote better practices, shared learning and more collaboration in our work. This will help in the development and sustenance of healthy,

Mojatu Gambia will train local people to source local articles which maintain positive and inspirational themes with tips, ideas and partnership opportunities rather than a focus on local news.

Our contact: gambia@mojatu.com

mojatu.com

News & Sports OneSight: Sustaining and Restoring Vision in the Gambia

By Mustapha A. Njie OneSight, a charitable organisations that provides access to quality vision care and eyewear in underserved communities worldwide has been very active sustaining and restoring vision in The Gambia.

The need for vision care globally is staggering, with over 2.5 billion people needing glasses worldwide, 1.1 billion of whom cannot access the glasses. Things have been slightly better for the Gambians because of the OneSight’s Sustainable Vision Care Project launched in 2013 between Ministry Of Health of the Gambia and OneSight. Before this project was launched, one third of the Gambians had refractive This vision care project led to the launching of vision centres in Gambia, with overall goal of achieving, accessible, affordable and sustainable refractive error correction among the local population.

OneSight provides access to quality vision care, eyewear and sun protection to those in need around the world.

OneSight Gambia and the National Eye Health Program have launched six well equipped vision centres since 2013 providing access to 1.9 million people in the six administrative Regions in the country. These vision centres care for about fifty thousand Gambian’s, eighteen percent refracted and issue five thousand quality eye glasses at an affordable price. The profit generate form the sale of these glasses is reinvested in the National Eye Health Program to make the project sustainable.

Mustapha is the Outreach Manager of OneSight The Gambia.

Cancer in The Gambia- by Bai Mass Mbaye

Cancer continues to claim many lives in The Gambia where the most common types of cancer are liver, cervical, breast, prostrate, lung, stomach, and cancer affecting the lymph nodes (lymphomas).

Around the world, over 11 million people are diagnosed with cancer every year. 7 million people die from this disease which is more than the combined total deaths from HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria.

The exact reason why a person develop cancer are usually unknown. But we do know some of the things that cause, or influence, our risk of developing cancer.

Lifestyle choices such as smoking, use of tobacco, alcohol, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity are widely identified as core causes. Other causes include infections and environmental exposures to chemicals and radiation.

You can reduce your risks of getting cancer by making positive lifestyle choices. Not smoking, eating a healthy diet and keeping physically active are some of the ways you can do this. But there are some risk factors you can’t control. Age is a major risk factor for cancer.

63% of people who get cancer (more than 3 out of 5) are over the age of 65.

Making changes to your lifestyle doesn’t guarantee that

you won’t develop cancer. Cancer develops because of many different factors, many of which we cannot control.

Cancer patients in The Gambia seek medical assistance often too late, thereby making it difficult to get cured.

This is mainly due to a lack of awareness about the disease and its symptoms, and the existence of opportunities for proper medical check-up, attention and inadequate health care services.

We commend the continued work of the Gambian government of promoting healthy lifestyles, timely check-up and accessibility of healthcare facilities and professionals. Gambians nowadays have more access to healthcare, vaccines, know-how and health choices, thanks to Government intervention.

We recommend you adopt good healthy lifestyle and listen to the government’s messages on good healthy living. Keep abreast with more information on healthy living by reading future Mojatu magazines and visiting www.mojatu.com.

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News & Sports

Dr Momodou Sallah: Most innovative teacher

Dr Momodou Sallah a Gambian who is a Senior Lecturer at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) was named the Most Innovative Teacher of the Year in 2015 and awarded the United Kingdom’s most highly-prized higher education awards.

Congratulations Dr Sallah!

Momodou Sallah from De Montfort University won Dr Momodou Sallah, who is a senior lecturer in youth, community and education at DMU was recognised for taking classroom learning into the real world. The Most Innovative Teacher of the Year title was awarded at the Times Higher Education Awards 2015, held in association with Santander Universities.

The awards, now in their eleventh year, are widely recognised as the Oscars of the higher education sector, shining a spotlight on the outstanding achievements of institutions, teams and individuals in the UK higher education sector.

Over the year Dr Sallah led three field trips to Gambia, allowing third-year undergraduates to take part in community development work and to observe at first hand some of the globalisation challenges that they had been studying. The students helped to build the Manduar Development Hub, a business incubation and training centre for young Gambians. They also had placements with organisations such as health centres, women’s rights groups and the British Embassy.

The trips were supported by the university’s international experience programme and Global Hands, a non-profit social enterprise, which Dr Sallah founded and chairs. But they were paid for by students’ own fundraising, including a charity race in Leicester, Run for Africa.

The initiative has now been extended beyond Dr Sallah’s own classes to allow other students to take part in community development that is linked to their own studies. For example, media students have gained experience at Gambia’s only non-state radio station.

The judges said Dr Sallah’s teaching was best summed up by one student’s observation: “It changed my life.”

“An excellent case of truly innovative curriculum design, engaging students in deconstructing and reconstructing the curriculum, pushing the boundaries, and deepening students’ understanding and appreciation of globalisation,” the panel added.

Dr Sallah’s victory was witnessed by more than 1,100 people, who gathered at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane for the awards last night, hosted by comedian Rory Bremner.

FGM Special

FGM CONFERENCE

Theme: Youth development and Women empowerment Date: Sat 20th Feb 2016 – 9.00am to 4.30pm Venue: Seaview Gardens Hotel

LAUNCHING Sight-Tech Foundation (STF) and Mojatu Gambia Magazine

UK Partners will be joining Gambians for this one day FGM Conference titled Youth Development and Women Empowerment. The conference is aimed at helping the Gambians and their UK partners to share experiences in tackling FGM and supporting youths. Sight-Tech Foundation (STF) and Mojatu Gambia Magazine will also be launched during this conference.

The UK team include volunteers and project managers who have worked in supporting women, girls and youth in various projects within and outside the UK. These partners have experience in tackling FGM, supporting women and girls and engaging young people and youths in social and community development programmes.

mojatu

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Allies Network by women for women

Allies Network is a community organization set up by women for women that provides culturally sensitive support, advice and an advocacy services on a wide range of issues and concerns faced by ethnic minority women.

We offer a supportive environment in which they can explore and deal with issues in a confidential and safe setting.

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We are a vehicle for inter-racial, inter-generational and multi-cultural dialogue. We empower women, support a better wellbeing and assist life changes.

We are currently campaigning to STOP FGM within a generation. We are working in partnership with Ministry of Justice, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner and West Midlands Police. We are raising awareness within the practicing communities and training professionals in the health and education sectors etc. We aim toward changing the mindset of vWe provide: * FGM workshops for communities * FGM workshops for professionals * One-to-one advice, guidance and support service for FGM Survivors For more information contact us on: www.info@allies-network.com www.allies-network.com Twitter: @Allies_Network / Facebook: Allies Network

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Nottingham connected Gambia connected

FGM Impact: The Feminine Pain Dahabo Ali Muse is a Somali poet and female genital mutilation (FGM) survivor.

‘The Feminine Pain’ expresses the agony of the procedure and the multiple ways in which the practice damages the health of women.

The poem describes two universal moments shaping many women’s lives; having their first sexual experience and childbirth.

Muse brings out the tragedy of FGM by contrasting how she imagines these events to happen, and then how they really happen. Muse makes you imagine how differently such basic experiences would have been for if you’d gone through them while experiencing the intense pain caused by female genital mutilation.

Female Genital Mutilation Poem

Community FGM Special

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ArtsSpecial & Culture 1032FGM

Transforming Girls and Women’s Lives Using Media, Heritage and Art & Craft

By Veronica Barnes

seminars and workshops. Citing the establishment of the group mountain and the choice of its name, Ms Barnes associated the menopause with something like climbing.

“Menopause she says can be like this … on some days it’s like climbing a mountain and on other days it makes you feel so blue. When a woman is going through these phases, there is little consolation when information or support is not readily available. Very few people really understand about menopause”, said Veronica.

“As a community based organisation, Blue Mountain Women’s Group has been active in Nottingham area supporting women with information, in a confidential, supportive and non-judgemental manner. Our work is based on promoting women’s right to health information and choice. We support women and girls through self-help and sharing of experiences among women which affirm women’s Many women and girls find themselves facing own experiences.” issues in life. Ranging from gender stereotyping and alienation in male dominated culture, their Local women in Hyson Green and the surrounding biological functions - puberty, monthly periods, areas commended Blue Mountain Women’s Group for pregnancy, childbirth and menopause – can providing information, leaflets, books, literature and sometimes cause some women to develop mental audio visual aids to inform them about their health and physical health problems. This is worsened by and better lifestyles. “Blue Mountain has helped me the limited knowledge by men and women on how and my friends to understand better about Caribbean to deal with some issues such as menopause. culture and life as an African Caribbean woman”, said a Hyson Green resident.

In 2008, Veronica Barnes founded Blue Mountain Women’s Group so as to help women going through In addition to organising seminars and workshops, menopause to get help and support to cope with Blue Mountain Women’s Group also carries out the changes they experience. Working mainly with researches into the health and social needs of African and Caribbean communities, she used her disadvantaged African and Caribbean women in life long experience in teaching, culture, Caribbean the region. They also help in collections and storing history, heritage and arts & craft to develop ways in cultural materials for and on African and Caribbean which to support women. communities in Nottingham.

Blue Mountain Women’s Group established networks and groups that meet regularly to discuss women issues and empower each other to transform their lives. The group brought together many women from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds in its many artistic and cultural activities including talks,

Veronica explained that the women “organise trips and activities to familiarise ourselves with our history. This has helped us to amass a huge wealth of contents, especially literature, photos and artefacts on Jamaican people in Nottingham. Our work with women extends to understanding and researching

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Nottingham connected Gambia connected on the historical engagements of our women in the local communities. We are currently researching the role of Caribbean’s who were enlisted in the Royal Air Force in World War 1 and 2”.

Arts & Culture FGM Special

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place processes to help FGM survivors to understand how to deal with complications arising from FGM, dealing with menopause and engaging with other women from similar cultural background. This has led to exciting developments with partners in UK Supporting disadvantaged groups is best done by and Kenya looking at how to expand our women working hand in hand with them and letting them engagement operations in Kenya to help the two drive the agenda. communities to share their experiences.

“Our work in arts and craft has seen many women and We are putting in place processes that will help us to young people engage with one another and get more support women on issues relating to menopause and involved with the communities. We help women and addressing FGM using media, group activities and girls to feel comfortable and respected whenever arts and craft. We are working in partnership with they meet to work on their arts and craft activities. other voluntary organisations, statutory agencies and They feel more engaged and driven to share their organisations in laying the foundation of this work experiences and express themselves through art and which will be launched in June of this year. Our aim is to craft. Most women feel more comfortable using their support the disempowered women and girls by helping hands and to help one another to create artefacts, them understand how to develop their capabilities and crafts and products, such as sewing clothes. They are empower themselves and change their lives. especially delighted when they help guide what is happening in the group activities.”

“Our media, arts and craft activities supported with ongoing seminars, workshops and experience in “In the last year or so, we have widened our sourcing and managing literature will enable us to participation by forming partnerships with provide a firm foundation for empowering these organisations locally, nationally and internationally women and girls”. to expand our services and advance our service provision. We are working on engaging younger This project will help affected women and girls to people, especially girls, in the day-day operations and become active members of the decision making in our work. This is in activities such as exhibitions, processes locally by participating in consultative talking about women’s health, engaging in group health forums and panels while airing their views discussions, reading activities and trips to local and opinions through media and multiple advocates. historical sites.”

Affected women will be able to tell and write their own stories which may enable them to pass on their Books and resource collection experiences to younger women and girls as well as “We have an extensive archive of primary source create employment in literary works. research materials on African and Caribbean literature Our experience in the UK will be enriched by the which is being archived. We ought to archive these experiences of these partner organisations in UK and materials and have young people involved so as to Kenya, thereby making these multiagency project to gain knowledge and understanding of what has be more impactful to the women and girls. This will happened historically. It is also giving these young help the women to make informed decisions about people skills and knowledge on data collection, their health and wellbeing. management and filing processes. This is the only way we can safely store our information and support young people through the learning processes in life.” To learn more about Blue Mountain and to work with us in our UK, Jamaica or Kenyan projects, FGM and working in Kenya contact us on: T: 07790158615 E: info@bluemountainwomen.org Our partnerships and work with disadvantaged W: www.bluemountainwomen.org groups has also given us an insight on dealing with and supporting women with FGM. We are putting in

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Eliminating female genital mutilation by 2030

By Nafissatou J. Diop

The UN’s proposed new development goals include a target to end harmful traditional practices like FGM by 2030. We now know the key steps needed to get there.

A poem by the Somali writer Dahabo Ali Muse expresses the pain caused by female genital mutilation (FGM), a practice endured by more than 140 million girls and women in the world: ‘It is what my grandmother called the three feminine sorrows.

She said the day of circumcision; the wedding night and the birth of a baby are the triple feminine sorrows.’ (See full poem in page 19) FGM, the first of the three feminine sorrows, refers to all procedures involving the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injuries to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.

The practice is life-threatening both during the procedure and throughout the course of a girl’s life.

It is also a reproductive rights violation, as it violates the right to health and bodily integrity and is a form of violence against women and girls.

Most countries have committed themselves to protecting the rights of women and girls by ratifying a number of international and regional treaties. In December 2014, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on ‘Intensifying global efforts to eliminate female genital mutilations’, reiterating the international community’s commitment to eliminate FGM. In the coming months, world leaders will agree on a new set of Sustainable Development Goals to replace the Millennium Development Goals. One of the proposals is to include a target on eliminating all harmful practices, such as FGM, by 2030.

Despite global and national actions to eliminate the practice, FGM remains widespread.

Can this be done? The task seems daunting. Despite global and national actions to eliminate the practice, FGM remains widespread. It is most common in 29 countries in Africa; in some countries in Asia, the Middle East and Latin America; and among migrants from these areas settling in Western countries.

Prevalence of FGM varies across countries, from 96.7 per cent among girls aged 15 to 19 in Somalia to 0.4 per cent in Cameroon. Although FGM prevalence has dropped in many countries, the rate of decline is far below what is needed. If the current trend continues, UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, estimates that 86 million girls born from 20102015 will be at risk of being cut by 2030.

But this trend can be reversed. We need to learn from our experiences and design and scale up programmes

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that have a real impact in the lives of women and girls.

That is why UNFPA and UNICEF are leading the largest global programme to accelerate the abandonment of FGM, which is currently active in 17 countries. So, what have we learnt so far? What works?

1.

Creating a movement to eliminate FGM There is a need to reach out to the girls and women whose rights are violated by FGM, while engaging governments and other parties that have the responsibility to eliminate it. It is important, in particular, to sensitize political leaders on FGM, to cultivate networks of supporters and activists and to disseminate information about local, regional and global developments.

2.

Translating Legislation into Action States must ensure adequate national provisions to stop FGM, including through criminalization, appropriate enforcement and prosecution. Countries are reporting varying degrees of law enforcement, and many stakeholders say the existence of anti-FGM laws provides them with leverage and legitimization for their advocacy work. Similarly, the process of informing the population about a new law offers opportunities to publicly discuss FGM, thereby raising awareness. Media coverage of prosecutions and court public hearings can also further inform people about legislation.

3.

Engaging health workers in the elimination of FGM Health workers, fully aware of the considerable consequences of FGM on sexual and reproductive health, are increasingly standing up against the practice. Their advanced skills in the prevention and provision of care to girls

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The value of public declarations Facilitating public declarations of FGM abandonment makes the change in a community’s attitudes more visible and encourages others to embrace the new social norm. A public commitment, especially if made by traditional or religious leaders, produces a social pressure that makes it difficult for community members to return to prior practices and contradict a pledge.

wanted: Partners & Participants

NoTTINGHAM SPorTS GroUP EVENTS ADULTS FooTBALL ToUrNAMENT y 29th August 2015 Saturada for a 3 days End FGM International Conference 10am - 5pm Time: th To be held on 13 to 15th Sep 2016 Recreational park Venue: Forest At Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso: Table tennis alongside with the event Calling on organisations, governments and other stakeholders tackling FGM and empowering women to engage in this international conference.

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Amplifying change through the media.

Given the complicated nature of FGM and frequent misinformation about it, building the capacity of media professionals remains a priority. Involving national and local media, including at the community level, is instrumental to spreading information, raising the visibility of communities that have abandoned FGM and promoting positive behaviour change.

reframing concepts and traditions and empowering Girls FGM is deeply rooted in tradition and persists as a social norm upheld by underlying gender structures and power relations. Reframing concepts and traditions related to FGM, rather than seeking to discredit long-held traditions, is essential to accelerate abandonment. The creation of new social norms has had encouraging results in countries like Sudan, where a positive term for uncut women and girls was created, Saleema, to replace negative concepts used for such girls. Similarly, in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, an alternative rite of passage has been introduced, accompanied by community education sessions. Girls are educated on a wide range of topics, including positive traditional values and life skills, as well as human rights.

This prepares them to become mentors and role models. Educational activities and community dialogue create a non-threatening space where community members can re-evaluate their own beliefs and values regarding FGM.

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Community FGM Special

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Advancing coordination and strengthening capacities National committees chaired by the government and composed of key stakeholders are being set up in several countries to address FGM. Improved collaboration among stakeholders has proven to strengthen the individual and collective capacities to eliminate the practice.

The linkages between legislation, human rights and positive social change resulting in the abandonment of FGM are complex. Much progress has been made, but the prevalence of FGM remains at an unacceptably high level. Human rights can help to accelerate abandonment and to achieve gender equality, but they must not only exist on paper. Human rights must become a reality in the lives of women and girls.

Let us pay heed to what the Somali poem quoted above says on how we should treat girls: ‘Initiate them to the world of love, not to the world of feminine sorrow!!’

Nafissatou J. Diop, is a Senior Advisor and Coordinator of the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on FGM/C: Accelerating Change. Article first published in Open Democracy website https://goo.gl/MGW8Wr

French / Arabic participants contact YoUTH FooTBALL ToUrNAMENT Association pour la Promotion 2015 30th August Sunday de l’Education Non Time: Formelle 10am - 5pm event 11BP 692Table Ouaga CMSalongsid 11 | T: +226 25the 36 65 59 e with tennis E: apenf@fasonet.bf | W: www.apenf.org ent for FGM Awareness Female football tournam (6 female teams) All other groups Mojatuonal park Forest Recreati Venue:contact Mojatu Foundation 167 Alfreton Road, Nottingham, NG7 3JR, Nottingham, UK T: +44 115 8457 009 E: endfgm@mojatufoundation.org W: www. mojatufoundation.org

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History of soldier Town in Banjul

Origin of Benachine “Jollof Rice” Jollof rice is a dish that has always been linked to the wollofs. We call it “chep” or benachin depending on what side of the divide we fall (Gambia or Senegal).

The word Jollof rice has become a global word due to preference of this dish by our West African brothers and our western hemisphere diaspora who introduced this dish to the new world. The Word Jollof is loosely used to describe Gambia but the historical reference of Jollof is far from current day Gambia.

Soldier town was indeed the first established area on the island city of Banjul then Bathurst.

The Jollof empire had for centuries been ruled by the Njie Clan and their seat of power or the capital of Jollof was situated at Yang Yang. The empire was at the cross roads of the oriental/Sahara trade and the land called Jollof was separated from FutaTorro by a river. Chep is our dish of choice as wollofs and modern Senegal has adopted it as their national dish.’

When the British leased the island from Tumani Bojang, they built a garrison in soldier town and later all the retired service men settled in the area before the arrival of the wollofs from Walo who settle in Jollof town and the malatos from Ndar area who settled in Portuguese town.

The government house on quadrangle was the centre of business in the city. Its reported by elders that anything of great importance was taken there.

According to Pa Wakim Decosta of blessed memory, when the 10 C crocodile that tormented lots of the local residents was hunted by samba Chubala, the crocodile was taken to government house to be seen by the then governor general.

He reported that when the crocodile was cut opened, 32 pebbles were found inside the crod along with a silver bangle.

This according to Pa Wakim Decosta, suggested that it was the same crocodile that had men on their groins and without the payment of 10 C they disappeared. It was noted after the hunting of that crocodile there were no other reports of incidents in mainly public toilets in the city.

When some friends and family reported the sightings of crocodiles in Banjul area recently in the raining season, I said maybe the 10 C crocodile have reproduced to cause havoc again in the city. Lol!!

Crocs are mainly found in unsalty water called “Njang “. The sofa nyama bambo is a well narrated history of The Gambia.

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N Bennachin’ is the proper noun for Jollof Rice which is the nominal adjective based on its geographical origin i.e. the erstwhile Jollof empire. Benna Chin is itself descriptive of the mode of cooking because all the cooking takes place in ONE (benna) COOKING POT (chin); unlike other dishes whose sauce and bulk food are prepared separately in different cooking pots.

Jollof Rice is the popular name of bennachin in international cuisine. Jollof rice as the name implies is from the jollof empire in present day senegambia. The state was jollof, the people wollof and the language Oloff. There was a time when the women of that area could not seperate the chaff from the grains so they pounded the grains and blew off the chaff. This means “wool off” meaning pound and blow in wollof.

The first ruler appointed there was janjan Njie. The people cooked rice mixed with the stew together sometimes with tomatoes to give it the Red colour or without it. This is known as jollof rice or benachine or chebb by many.

By Ebrima Jawo, Nottingham

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Bringing Senegabians together the ENAM way in Nottingham Ethnic Minorities Association in Nottingham (EMAN) promotes Senegambian cultural heritages by researching on folklores, great historic events, traditional music, places and personalities and organising events to share and promote Senegambian culture.

The main aim of this ENAM include: 1.Contributing to the promotion of cultural development of Senegambians both home and in the diaspora by promoting our spoken languages, traditional wears and styles, foods, folk tales, traditional ceremonies and masquerades.

2.To promote and encourage the participation of children and youths in the diaspora in our traditional and cultural events.

performances including Gambian Masquerades such as, Zimba, Hunting and Fairy. Comedy and drama from actors such as Ebrima Jawo and Amie Cherry, and fashion parades will also be presented.

The event aims to promote the rejuvenation of Senegambian Traditions and cultures among our communities living in the diaspora, particularly the young people. This we hope will encourage children born in the diaspora and those brought up here to better appreciate our rich African culture and heritage and not to be over swayed by the culture they found themselves in.

ENAM wishes to make annual donations to organisations in Gambia working on the promotion of children’s rights and the preventions of child abuse.

3.To promote Gambian musicians, actors and comedians to take center stage in the international performing arts arena by supporting them participate in international festivals and concerts.

To realise these goals, we are calling upon you to become partners as we cannot do it all alone. You can support us in the cash and / or kind.

4.And to engage in research, documentation, and mediation presentation on Senegambian history and traditions.

DAY ONE: Friday 27th May 2016

Nottingham Gambian Cultural Festival Nottinghamshire is home to over 1000 Gambians. It hosts University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University, both with a huge number of Gambian students. Nottingham is also renowned centre for business and its multicultural and diverse inhabitants, is proxy to big cities such as Leicester, Derby, Coventry, Birmingham and Manchester which host large numbers of Gambians.

This three days festival is scheduled for 27th to 29th May 2016 will bring Senegambians in the UK and the diaspora into Nottingham for an unforgettable cultural weekend. The event will feature performances by Senegalese dancer and musician, Papa Njie ‘Dancer’.

There will be displays of Gambian Traditional ceremonies, dances; and

The Program All White Party. Arrangement is in progress to collaborate with The Gambian Association in Nottingham (GAMNOTTS). Musical performance by the Papa Njie, Amie Cherry, Big Sey and Mam Bala. > Drumming (Taana Berr). > Traditional Bride (Maa Nyi Beetto).

Circumcision Ceremony (Kaasak) > Drama Performances >Fashion Parades DAY TWO: Saturday, 28th May 2015 The official opening ceremony by dignitaries from Nottingham City Council, followed by a night of cultural display and traditional dance (Maa Nyi Beetto, Taana Berr, Kasak, Fashion Parade and Live Performances by Guest Artists).

DAY THREE: Sunday, 29th March 2015 Family day fun with performances of masquerades such as Zimba, Hunting, Luncheon Sale, Live Music, children’s face painting and bouncy castle, Performance of Guest Artists and Exhibitions by fashion designers and Beauticians

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Football: Proud of being Gambian A feature of Gambia Football Leagues website www.gambiafootballleagues.com

D30, 000 at Stake In Lamin Kinteh Memorial Football Tournament At Jarra Pakali

Gambia Football Leagues is a home grown online platform that keeps the country updated on the progress of our national, regional and local leagues.

It offers updates on news and sports activities taking place in the football arena in the country.

By Famara Badjie, 10, Febuary 2016

Ousman B. Kinteh, the Founder of Gambia Football Leagues The founder of Gambia Football Talk Show group both on Facebook and WhatsApp is also the founder of Gambia F League Facebook page and the Gambia Football Leagues website, www.gambiafootballleagues.com which updates all live scores of First Eco Partners First Division League and 100% Gambian football news only.

E: ousman_kinteh@yahoo.com T: 07925282939 W: www.gambiafootballleagues.com

A cash prize of D30, 000 and a trophy worth (D30, 000) is up for grabs at Jarra Pakalinding village in a football tournament named after the Late Lamin Kinteh of Pakalinding village.

The eventual winners of the final will carry away the lucrative prize while the runners up will be handed a cash of fifteen thousand dalasis (15, 000). According to the organising committee the tournament is organised in honour of Lamin Kinteh. Lamin Darboe the P.R.O of the organising committee in an interview stated “Lamin Kinteh memorial football tournament is organised annually in remembering of the most celebrated sons of the district, to strengthen and foster the relationship within the youth folk. It also helps to promote peace as it brings people from different localities and works of life to showcase their talents….

For more on this story and to catch up with the live scores of First Eco Partners First Division League football week, visit www.gambiafootballleagues.com

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26 Education & Career Gambia connected

mojatu mojatu .com .com 17 Community

Mistakes Top CV to Mistakes Avoid to Avoid

all ing manager Your CV is often make the first impression sure you a hiring have manager different make sure CVs you have that different cater CVs that specifically cater specificallyto to few seconds has of you and often theyou different will only have skills. a few seconds The best the different CVs skills. are The customised best CVs are customised forforthe the nting to to grab read their attention individual and leave them job wanting and to read emphasise individual jobobjectives, and emphasise objectives, skillsets, skillsets, past past essential more that and invite you accomplishments, in for an interview. It is essentialaptitudes that accomplishments, and qualifications aptitudes and qualifications that thatare are 00) right and you get use this vital piece uniquely of communication relevant right and touse thatuniquely role.relevant to that role. all job search. it as a springboard to the next stage of the job search. of 5. Poor formatting 5. Poor formatting 1. Insufficient contact details Your CV will get no more Your CV than will getanocursory more than aglance cursory glance if ifthe the he name, address Make sure your CVformatting clearly details your full is name, poor address andformatting it shows is poor bad and it shows planning, bad planning, poor poor doyer a toand reach contact details organisation for a prospective employer or clutter. to reach Adhere organisation or to clutter. an Adhere acceptable to an acceptable format format ng address. you,This including phone that numbers is professional, and email address. Thissimple that is professional, and attractive simple and attractive to the to the eye. eye. is tes omit may key sound obvious Use butbullet some candidates points omitwherever key Use bullet possible points wherever rather possible than rather than long, long, oe tact details. contact information If winding or have outdated prose contactand details.be If winding consistent prose and be with consistent font, with headings font, headings ew essionally your email (egaddressand reads particularly layout. unprofessionally Aim to keep (eg and your layout.

CV Aimto to keep 1 page your CV to for 1 page entry for entry level level ent thwhilehotbabe) usingor is a work and email 2 itpages may be worthwhile for a seasoned using and 2 pages professional. for a seasoned professional. ost a different one for correspondence 6. No proofreading 6. No proofreading nd with employers. so Spelling mistakes, Spelling poor mistakes, poor grammar grammar 2. No objective om and glaring errors and glaring are errors a surefire are a surefire way way eir CVs should begin with a clear and to get your CV todismissed. get your CV dismissed.

Read Readand and concise objective citing the position reread your CV reread before your CVsending before sending it it to to ve you are seeking and a supporting the employer, run the employer, a spellcheck run a spellcheckand and ue short skills statement summarising have someone else have someone read else it for read an it for extra an extra m the reason you are highly qualified check before sending check before it sending out. it out. for this role; e.g. “Seeking a senior 7. Lies 7. Lies marketing analyst role where I can apply my 3 years’ experience Lies and half-truths Lies and half-truths will always will always be be in marketing analysis gained discovered so omit discoveredthem so omit them from fromthe the with a leading Fortune 500 If FMCG start. you have notstart. finished If you have anot university finished a university degree degree ing, strategic company as wellmake as my skillsthat in copywriting, clearstrategic on your make that CVclear without on your CV neglecting without neglecting to to ervicing analysis, and businessinclude development,the client coursework servicing and include you the coursework did complete you did complete andandthe the outlinemedia what planning.” educational The goal of the CV is to outline what educational accomplishments accomplishments you have.you Similarly, have. Similarly,do do yer, notyou what can do for your employer, not what notprospective list promotions, jobs, nottitles, list promotions, dates jobs, or titles, job dates descriptions or job descriptions your employer can do for you. that do not accurately that reflect do not accurately your work reflect your history. work history.

Most Most companies run detailed companies background run detailed background checkschecks and andlies lies 3. Passive language and exaggerations that and are exaggerations not glaringly that are notobvious glaringly obvious onon the the mplishments Active verbs that show CV leadership or at and the accomplishments interview CV will or atoften the interview be will discovered often be discovered at atthe the ed, exceeded, such as achieved,reference spearheaded, managed, or background exceeded, reference check. or background check. ctive, dynamic pioneered, led and developed conveys an active, dynamic 8. Poor targeting 8. Poor targeting ak descriptive successful professional. Substitute all weak descriptive mplishments sentences for sentences detail you accomplishments Makethat sure send your MakeCV sure to you send theyour right CV to person the right person at atthe the m’s emerging strongly. E.g. instead of “Managed and the firm’s emerging company company accompany it with and accompany a short, it withconcise a short, concise cover cover and achieved markets equity portfolio” “Managed and achieved letter lettertrythat personalises it and that personalises summarises it and summarises youryour skills, skills, gship GBP100 a 34% annualizedobjectives return on the firm’s flagship GBP100 and the valueobjectives you will and the bring value you to will the bringjob. to the Spend job. Spend .” million emergingsome markets equity portfolio. ” time researching some who time heads researching the whodivision heads the division you youare are targeting and send your targeting introductory and send your introductory CV and CV and cover cover 4. Lack of focus letter directly to them. Your letter directly CV istolikely them. Your to CVbe is likely disregarded to be disregarded b and industry Every CV should focus completely on the particularif jobyou and industry send completely it to the if youwrong send it to the person wrong person or or to to a a rent industries you are targeting. Ifnameless applying to jobs in“To 2 different Whom industries It May nameless Concern” “To Whom It .May Concern”.

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20 18 Health & Food

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Eggs and Cholesterol – How Many Eggs Can You Safely Eat? - By Kris Gunnars Eggs are among the most nutritious foods on the planet! A whole egg contains all the nutrients needed to turn a single cell into an entire baby chicken.

However, eggs have gotten a bad reputation because the yolks are high in cholesterol. In fact, a single medium sized egg contains 186 mgv of cholesterol, which is 62% of the recommended daily intake.

People believed that if you ate cholesterol, that it would raise cholesterol in the blood and contribute to heart disease. But it turns out that it isn’t that simple.

The more you eat of cholesterol, the less your body produces instead. Let me explain how that works…

How Your Body Regulates Cholesterol Levels Cholesterol is often seen as a negative word. When we hear it, we automatically start thinking of medication, heart attacks and early death. But the truth is that cholesterol is a very important part of the body. It is a structural molecule that is an essential part of every single cell membrane. It is also used to make steroid hormones like testosterone, estrogen and cortisol.

Without cholesterol, we wouldn’t even exist. Given how incredibly important cholesterol is, the body has evolved elaborate ways to ensure that we always have enough of it available. Because getting cholesterol from the diet isn’t always an option, the liver actually produces cholesterol.

But when we eat a lot of cholesterol rich foods, the liver starts producing less cholesterol. So the total amount of cholesterol in the body changes only very little when it is coming from the diet instead of from the liver.

Bottom Line: The liver produces large amounts of cholesterol. When we eat a lot of eggs (high in cholesterol), the liver produces less instead.

What Happens When People Eat Several Whole Eggs Per Day? For many decades, people have been advised to limit their consumption of eggs, or at least of egg yolks (the white is mostly protein and

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is low in cholesterol).

Common recommendations include a maximum of 2-6 yolks per week. However, there really isn’t much scientific support for these limitations and luckily, a number of excellent studies can put our minds at ease.

Studies show that when people eat at least one egg a day, HDL (the “good”) cholesterol goes up.

Eating Omega-3 enriched eggs can lower blood triglycerides, another important risk factor. Blood levels of carotenoid antioxidants like Lutein and Zeaxanthine increase significantly. It appears that the response to whole egg consumption depends on the individual. In 70% of people, eating eggs has no effect on Total or LDL cholesterol. However, for about 30% of people (termed “hyper responders”), these numbers do go up slightly.

That being said, I don’t think this is a problem. The studies show that eggs change the LDL particles from small, dense LDL to Large LDL. People who have predominantly large LDL particles have a lower risk of heart disease. So even if eggs cause mild increases in Total and LDL cholesterol levels, this is not a cause for concern. The science is clear that up to 3 whole eggs per day are perfectly safe for healthy people who are trying to stay healthy.

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Bottom Line: Eggs consistently raise HDL (the “good”) cholesterol. For 70% of people, there is no increase in Total or LDL cholesterol. There may be a mild increase in a benign subtype of LDL in some people.

Eggs and Heart Disease Many studies have looked at egg consumption and the risk of heart disease.

All of these studies are so-called observational studies, and in studies like these, large groups of people are followed for many years.

Then the researchers use statistical methods to figure out whether certain habits (like diet, smoking or exercise) are linked to either a decreased or increased risk of some disease.

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Nottingham connected Gambia connected These studies, some of which include hundreds of thousands of people, consistently show that people who eat whole eggs are no more likely to develop heart disease. Some of the studies even show a reduced risk of stroke.

Health & Food

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Bottom Line: Eggs are among the most nutritious foods on the planet. They contain important brain nutrients and powerful antioxidants that can protect the eyes.

How Much is Too Much?

However… one thing that is worth noting, is that these studies show that diabetics who eat eggs are at an increased risk of heart disease. Whether the eggs are causing the increased risk in diabetics is not known. These types of studies can only show a correlation and it is possible that the diabetics who eat eggs are, on average, less health conscious than those who don’t.

This may also depend on the rest of the diet. On a low-carb diet (by far the best diet for diabetics), eggs lead to improvements in heart disease risk factors.

Bottom Line: Many observational studies show that people who eat eggs don’t have an increased risk of heart disease, but some of the studies do show an increased risk in diabetics.

Eggs Have Plenty of Other Health Benefits Too Let’s not forget that eggs are about more than just cholesterol, they are also loaded with nutrients and have various other impressive benefits including being high in : • Lutein and Zeaxanthine, antioxidants that reduce your risk of eye diseases like Macular Degeneration & Cataracts.

• Choline, a brain nutrient that over 90% of people are lacking in.

• Quality animal protein, which has many benefits – including increased muscle mass and better bone health.

Studies show that eggs increase satiety and help you lose fat. Eggs also taste amazing and are incredibly easy to prepare.

So even IF eggs were to have mild adverse effects on blood cholesterol (which they don’t), the benefits of consuming them would still far outweigh the negatives.

Unfortunately, we don’t have studies where people are fed more than 3 eggs per day. It is possible (although unlikely) that eating even more than that could have a detrimental effect on health. Eating more than 3 is uncharted territory, so to speak.

However… I did find an interesting case study, with an 88 year old man who consumed 25 eggs per day.

He had normal cholesterol levels and was in very good health. Of course, a study of one doesn’t prove anything, but it’s interesting nonetheless.

It’s also important to keep in mind that not all eggs are the same. Most eggs at the supermarket are from chickens that are raised in factories and fed grain-based feeds. The healthiest eggs are Omega-3 enriched eggs, or eggs from hens that are raised on pasture. These eggs are much higher in Omega-3s and important fat-soluble vitamins. Overall, eating eggs is perfectly safe, even if you’re eating up to 3 whole eggs per day. I personally eat 3-6 whole eggs per day, about 30-40 per week, and my health has never been better.

Given the incredible range of nutrients and powerful health benefits, quality eggs may just be the healthiest food on the planet.

Source: Mojatu health articles are from Kris Gunner of Authority Nutrition, an evidence based approach.

mojatu.com

40 20 Education Education&&Career Career

6 hurdles in health worker training and ways to overcome them

By Erin McGuire Training health workers in remote locations remains a key challenge for the global development community.

The World Health Organization estimates the world faces a global shortage of doctors, midwives, nurses and other health care professionals, as well as a shortage of faculty that can provide high-quality training and mentorship.

Help may be at hand, however, in the form of a series of innovations in electronic learning, electronic health and mobile health — or e-learning, e-health and mHealth, respectively — that can be leveraged to train, deploy, support and empower health workers.

Devex talked to three experts about their experiences in the sector, identifying six obstacles currently faced by aid organizations in the sphere of health worker training and some possible game-changing solutions to overcome them.

1. Train community health workers the right way, using the right curriculum.

as charging points and can be paid for through MPesa, a mobile phone-based money transfer system.

Amref Health Africa is that continent’s largest international health nongovernmental organization. Samara Hammond, the CEO of Amref’s U.K. branch, explained that the NGO is now in phase two of its pilot program to train health workers to use simple mobile phones in Kenya. The eLearning project was a collaboration between Amref, Kenya’s Ministry of Health, the Nursing Council of Kenya and Accenture.

Hammond said that solving the problem through partnerships is key, sharing with Devex that Amref is also using partnerships to scale the project.

Tested on 300 community health workers, phase two is testing scale by increasing that number to 3,000 — and the feedback is encouraging.

Amref is also collaborating with Accenture, Safaricom and Mezzanine — a technology provider under the Vodafone umbrella.

“We’ve developed something that works,” she said.

“In Kenya, we’re talking to Sightsavers and Save the Children. And part of phase two will be whether Save the Children can take the platform and train community health workers with it.”

3. Train health workers in the field to perform “Community health workers loved it,” Hammond consistently and well. said. “There’s always going to be a face-to-face According to Marc Mitchell, lecturer on global element to training, but we’ve made them able health at Harvard University School of Public to reduce face-to-face time. It’s given them more Health and founder of D-Tree International, the flexibility and choice over how and when they learn.” goal should be to train health workers to do “I define success by the fact that Accenture and specific things correctly and consistently.

Amref are no longer involved in the program, and “I think distance learning is one piece of that it’s running strong. It was completely adopted by the puzzle. I think there’s a need for some face-to-face Ministry of Health and the Nursing Council,” she said. learning,” he said. He also shared with Devex that teaching is often not focused on what an individual 2. Collaborate and share to solve joint problems. needs to know to do their job.

The biggest obstacle in Amref’s eLearning “We teach disciplines rather than tasks,” he said, program is access to phone charging points. When stressing that teaching that engages people so community health workers use their phones for they learn effectively and are able to use what they training, they have to charge them more, which have learned is key. costs both time and money.

When different institutions provide different Amref is in talks with a Safaricom offshoot in Kenya, training components, there can be a disconnect.

M-Kopa, which sells solar lamps that can be used “I think that what’s needed is a much more

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4. Use technology to augment training.

6. Encourage organizations to work together efficiently in partnerships.

Mitchell asserted that the way we think about accessing knowledge is different now because we have instant access to information through apps and search engines such as Google.

Lauren Woodman, CEO of NetHope — a consortium of 42 NGOs specialized in improving IT connectivity in developing countries — shared some examples from a project carried out in conjunction with Johns Hopkins University that aims to help health practitioners focused on behavioral change to learn best practices.

“And yet we’re not really using that understanding to make new knowledge available to people in new ways,” he said. Especially in low-income countries, nothing has changed. “We need to figure out how to incorporate, not just distance learning, but technology — the fact that you have a phone in your hand; the fact that when you have a question, you can call someone, you can text them, you can look it up.”

Woodman has spent most of her career working in partnerships, and stressed a number of important things to bear in mind.

First, everyone has to be clear about the expectations around both long-term objectives and short-term paths to getting there, “so other partners know what you’re working towards is really important,” she said.

5. Get people to serve each other in a way that’s really needed.

Mitchell has found that simply putting phones in health workers’ hands increases their status. It also makes patients more confident in the care they’re getting.

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One key part of the program was giving community health workers a phone they can use for a variety of things, including screening women and arranging transportation. Now the cultural norm of delivering babies at home is starting to change.

“That’s what you want to see. And it’s those little changes that just change the dynamic for long enough that suddenly the norm has changed.

Suddenly you have a major change that’s really

Second, communication is critical so be honest about what is and isn’t working.

Third, develop starting with small steps.

“Yes, we want to improve maternal health, but what are the steps we’re going to use to get there?

And using those interim steps as trust building exercises between everyone involved really improves communication and operation as you get further into a partnership and things get more and more complicated,” she said.

Published by Erin McGuire in www.devex.com. Erin McGuire is a multimedia journalist whose work has been published in The Irish Times. Erin has degrees in psychology, law and journalism. She has worked as a judicial law clerk and as associate counsel at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C. She lives in Dublin, Ireland.

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41 21

going to affect health outcomes and society in a positive way,” he said.

integrated approach to training and learning and relearning and achieving your results,” Mitchell said.

The Harvard lecturer runs a program in Zanzibar to encourage women to deliver babies in health care facilities and Mitchell explained that the rate of health facility births has doubled from 40 percent to 80 percent in the population he studied.

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Education& &Career Career Education

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To advertise, be covered or share your views, experiences and tips contact Sight-Tech Foundation (STF) T: 0942 4856 or 0368 5199 A: The Sight Tech, 7 Kanifing South, KMC, The Gambia E: gambia@mojatu.com All contents MUST be received by April 30th

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Mojatu Foundation supports FGM survivors to cope and empowers them to share their stories, gain confidence and knowledge to safeguard other girls and women and voice their concerns.

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Room Facilities & Services: 24 rooms & 3 executive villas En-suite bathroom and shower with WC Double or twin bed with mosquito net Air conditioning (fee payable) Private telephone with international direct dial Satellite TV & hotel’s own video channels Private veranda or balcony Laundry service Private safety deposit box 24 hour room service Half-board or full board, bed & breakfast The executive suites have a lounge, dining area, ceiling fans, AC,

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General Facilities & Services: Restaurant & bar near pool Pool bar Swimming pool with children’s section Sunbathing chairs Outside table, chairs & parasols in garden Souvenir gift shop Massage parlour Beauty & hairdressing salon Fitness centre Wi-Fi Internet access Night club access to nearby “Duplex” Reception (24 hour) Wedding package at Seaview Hotel Airport transfers Welcome drink upon arrival 7 nights’ accommodations in a honeymoon suite One 4 course dinner for 2 Sparkling wine & chocolate truffles and Daily breakfast buffet