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was a great speaker and she was the first person in her
family to join a pentecostal church.
You recently got an honorary degree. How did this
come about?
This actually came as a surprise to me but I am very
humbled by it. I will be receiving the honorary degree at
a graduation ceremony on 21 st July 2017 at the Theatre
Royal organised by Nottingham Trent University. I was
advised that this was in recognition of my work over 40
years that is linked to cancer services which includes
my advocacy for people affected by cancer especially
those from BME Communities. I am grateful because this
continues to raise further awareness on cancer in general
and especially high prostate cancer inequalities in black
men. The reports we previously wrote on this triggered
a national campaign which raised awareness and
developed the Check ‘Tings Out community clinic in St
Anns which we are very proud of. Thank you Nottingham
Trent University!
Work with BME Council & Hear Me Now Campaign
Although BME formally stands for Black & Minority
Ethnics, those familiar with the organisation often
pronounce the acronyms as Be-Me. This unique
twist highlights the focus of BME Cancer
Communities as it invites communities at
large to see and put themselves in the place
of the often ignored black and minority ethnic
members of various communities.
Dr Thompson’s expertise in
cancer has led her to both local
and external positions; Dr
Thompson has served within
Europe’s
leading
cancer
and information charities
such as Cancerbackup and
Macmillan Support (Now
joint) as the Charity’s first
black and Minority Ethnic
Cancer
Information
Specialist
(2003-2007).
Furthermore, her 26
years clinical experience
in radiotherapy and
dedication to community awareness has been
awarded with two discretionary points for work with
BME Communities.
At the forefront of Dr Thompson’s BME Council is the Hear
Me Now Campaign. Hear Me Now’s most recent annual
report acts as a bridge between communities and health
inequalities. Thompson’s project brings awareness to
marginalised issues such as the fact that Black and African
men are twice as likely to develop prostate cancer. Not
only does the project drive awareness, it is important
that it provides solutions. Workshops, presentations
and roundtables in places like London, Birmingham,
Nottingham and Leeds have helped to battle emergent
issues regarding BME cancer diagnosis and treatment.
These workshops provide informative dialogue regarding
the battle against late awareness, hereditary diagnosis
and debunking surprisingly harmful myths such as the
notion that darker skins do not develop skin cancer.
Additionally, the project and report’s innovative solutions
and suggestions vary from proposals regarding the NHS
Outcomes Framework, Prostate Screening, Community
Engagement and the proposed ‘Be Clear on Cancer’
campaign. Such findings and solutions envision a world
in which collaborations between Health, Wellbeing
Boards and community organisationers may
work fluidly on BME Cancer awareness, patient
experiences and thus address the racial and
cultural inequalities faced by patients.
BME
Dr Thompson’s personal family history of breast
cancer fuels her passion and engagement;
the validity of the black and minority ethnic
cancer treatment and diagnosis experience
is therefore a matter of primary concern.
As chair of the Nottingham African
Caribbean Health Network and the
founder/coordinator of Ethnic
Minority Cancer Awareness Week,
it is certain that Dr Thompson’s
imprint on Cancer research and
support will be remembered and
celebrated!
Interview with Valentine Nkoyo,
Written by Rowan Windsor &
Denise Denga
ning Rafiki partnership farm project
We have done initial researches and found
that for an investment of £3,000 and with
Target level 1: £3,000 average
harvest, there will be a prospect of
£12,800 gross income.
The net profit of similar investments have
found to be about 40%, hence about
Membership targets been
£5,120.
RAFIKI FARM
Assuming this is achieved, the returns on
This is our initial membership
drive
with
an salaries
aim for
of
investment,
excluding
free crop,
working
in the project and
and other
recruiting a minimum those
of 10
members
a
benefits accrued, will be about 40% of the
maximum of 20 members. investment. However, this is subject to the
overall partnership performance.
intend to pay returns for shares held in
If we do not meet this We
target,
you will still be
the partnership at a rate to be agreed by the
members provided the profits of the
offered membership.
High Qual
Charles