Stressors

My husband told me that when he was a child he experienced racism. This was his story:

One day while walking down the road with a group of friends, we were approached by two older males. They looked about 18-20 years old. The two males asked us where we were going, and we told them that we were on our way to the park to play basketball. One of them snatched our basketball and threw it into the woods. The other one shoved one of my friends onto the ground. It was four of us and only two of them, so we tried to fight them. Unfortunately, the two guys were a lot bigger and definitely a lot stronger than us. They beat us up pretty bad. Once the fight was over, they spit at us and laughed. One of my friends yelled at them to go get our basketball, but the response we received upset all of us. They told us to go fetch our own ball and called us “stupid “N” words. After we found our ball, we went back to our neighborhood and told our parents. They were not happy about the situation. They sat us down and explained to us that the world still had ignorant people who don’t care about other people and their feelings. They also told us that some people do not agree with equality and that racism still existed. They told us that we need to learn to ignore people like those boys. Ignoring them is better than giving them the satisfaction of our reactions. Having that talk made us feel a lot better.

• In Jamaica, the stressors that I always read and hear about are poverty and violence. When a lot of us think about Jamaica, we think about the beautiful resorts and beaches. There is a totally different side of Jamaica. There are really poor areas in which people are living in poverty. Along with living in poverty, a lot of people, especially women, experience violence. I once saw a video online that showed a man violently beating up his girlfriend. The bystanders did not help the woman…they only watched in horror. It was very sad to see. As I observed the surroundings, I could tell that it was a very poor area. According to Ross Sheil, a writer of the newspaper, The Guardian, posted on January 13, 2013:

 Poverty, gang violence, guns and the mistrust of police remain serious problems on the Caribbean island

“Owen Ellington, the commissioner of the Jamaica constabulary, has worked to increase public confidence in his officers and promised to crack down on crime and corruption, but still the island is plagued by violence. Ellington has promised several new crime-fighting initiatives this year.”

To read more visit : http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/13/imani-green-murder-violence-jamaica

    

Health Topic: Nutrition/Malnutrition

Nutrition/Malnutrition

I chose to discuss nutrition and malnutrition because they both can impact a child’s health, life, and even education in major ways. Nutrition is the intake of food and nutrients needed for healthy growth and survival. According to the article, “Nutrition” by UNICEF, “Proper nutrition is a powerful good: people who are well nourished are more likely to be healthy, productive and able to learn. Good nutrition benefits families, their communities and the world as a whole” (UNICEF, n.d.) A child can get a good start to a long, healthy life if they receive proper nutrition. Malnutrition is basically the lack of nutrition. According to the article, “Nutrition” by UNICEF, “Malnutrition is, by the same logic, devastating. It plays a part in more than a third of all child deaths in developing countries” (UNICEF, n.d.). I found out from the article, “Malnutrition in Africa” that “about 25 percent of Africa’s population suffers from anemia due to iron deficiency. About two million people suffer from night blindness or permanent blindness because of vitamin A deficiency. In some countries the soil produces a low level of iodine. Therefore, people cannot get enough of iodine from their food. Iodine deficiency may cause stillbirths, spastic paralysis, deafness, muteness, or mild retardation. Malnutrition is a major health issue” (Nilegacy.com, 2004-2011). It is very unfortunate for countries that have to deal with such harsh conditions and situations.

This topic is meaningful to me because I was always taught that proper nutrition will allow me to live a long, healthy life. Through the years, I learned that nutrition helps my body and brain function properly, which will result in me doing well in school. As an educator, I have seen the difference nutrition can make. I once had a student who did not do well in school. He would always be tired and hungry. The only time he would be fully awake was during breakfast and lunch. We found out that the only time he had the proper nutrition was when he was in school. He looked well under weight for his age. This is a prime example of malnutrition.

The information I learned may impact my future work in the following ways:

I Will

§  Teach nutrition to my students

§  Share nutritional information with parents/guardians

§  Be an advocate for nutrition

Nilegacy.com (2004-2011). Malnutrition in Africa.  Retrieved from http://www.ngilegacy.com/nutrition.htm 

UNICEF (n.d.). Nutrition. Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/nutrition/index.html    

My Birthing Experience

My Birthing Experience

My labor began on December 9, 2012. Because this was my first birthing experience, I immediately went to the hospital. I was checked and sent back home. I was told not to come back until my contractions were about 3-5 minutes apart. My husband and I returned home and waited and waited. The contractions started coming every 10 minutes that night. I have never been in so much pain! Because of the recurring pain, sleep was impossible. The next morning, December 10, 2012, I noticed that my contractions were coming every 7 minutes. I called the hospital and was told to come in again. On the way to the hospital, the contractions went from every 7 minutes to every 5 minutes. When we arrived, we checked in and was put in a room. When we got situated, I was checked. I just knew that my baby was about to come, but to my surprise, I was only 3cm and my water did not break! Hours slowly went by as I watched the clock. Morning turned to afternoon, and afternoon to evening. I was given medicine to speed up the labor. Soon after, I was far enough along to get an epidural. I was so relieved. After that, my doctor broke my water. A little later, I was checked and was told I was about to start pushing. By this time, it was December 11, 2012. After about 3 pushes, the nurse told me to stop pushing until the doctor came. My baby was not having that! She started coming on her own. The nurses noticed that the umbilical cord was wrapped twice around her neck. I was so scared! They immediately took action and delivered my baby without the doctor. The doctor arrived about five minutes later and removed the placenta. I was so happy that my daughter was okay. On December 11, 2012 at 2 a.m., I became the proud mother of a 7lb 1oz, baby girl, Alyssa! I would definitely re-do those 34 hours of labor.

                                                              Alyssa

 I chose to share this because it was a life changing experience for me. I am now responsible for another human being. I think that giving birth is a beautiful thing and an exciting experience, minus the pain! I think that a healthy birth, especially with the right resources, leads to good child development.    

I chose to find out about the birthing experienced in Haiti. The things I learned really upset me. According to an article I read on nbcnews.com, “Giving birth is a dangerous business for Haiti’s poor, who suffer by far the highest maternal mortality ratio in the Western Hemisphere. Out of 100,000 live births, 670 Haitian women died of pregnancy-related causes in 2006, according to a UNICEF report issues last year. In the United States, that number is 11” (NBCNews, 2013). Many Haitian women can’t access healthcare, or they can’t afford it. This is similar to some women in the United States, but women in the United States can’t be turned away at a hospital for not having insurance. The poor in the United States have better than the poor in Haiti. The difference between my birthing experience and those of women in Haiti, is that I actually had a comfortable, great experience.  I also have a safe environment with all of the resources I need for me and my child. There are women in Haiti who give birth and have to return to an unsafe, unsanitary place, with no resources, or no place at all. I have learned to be very thankful of my situation.

Roseline Antoine, 33, tried to recover her strength minutes after delivering a baby girl. “The street where I live, it’s so dirty; there isn’t enough food or water,” Ms. Antoine said. “I’m scared to bring a baby into this awful situation.” (New York Times Company, 2013)

Photo: Damon Winter/The New York Times