Join the African Diaspora for an interactive discussion addressing how COVID-19 is impacting our communities.
WHEN: APRIL 18, 2020 ||Time: 3:00P – 4:30P (EST)
TOPICS:
What is Coronavirus? || Treatment: Fact vs Fiction || Working with Coronavirus || Navigating Healthcare and Funeral Services || Coping with Anxiety || Coronavirus, Africa & African Diaspora || Immigration || Sharing Resources
SPEAKERS & MODERATORS:
SPEAKERS: Mutsa Munjoma, MD; Stem Mahlatini, EDD; Opper Chiweshe, RN; Lesley Padya Kanjere, RTRT; Stella Jefferies, DNP; Fatmata Barrie. Esq; Harriet Shangarai, RN.
MODERATOR: Thoko Kachipande
PARTICIPATION:
Video Conference: https://www.zoom.com || Dial via Phone: +1 301 715 8592 US || One tap mobile: +19292056099,,613079512#,,#,2020#
Meeting ID: 613 079 512; Password: 2020
Livestream: Facebook.com/SouthernAfricanCommunityUSA
DESCRIPTION OF TOPICS
What is the Coronavirus?: This topic addresses basic information about what the virus is, what the symptoms are, how it spreads, how long it lives on different surfaces, who are most vulnerable groups and what we can do to protect ourselves etc… – Mutsa Munjoma, MD
Treating Covid-19: Fact vs Fiction: This topic addresses the myths and realities on social media about home remedies, traditional medicine, and western medicine (ie cholorquine). How to best care for ourselves and others, what we can do ourselves to not spread medical misinformation and where to get accurate medical information and what to do if you need care – Mutsa Munjoma, MD
Open discussion
Navigating Healthcare and Funeral Services:
Access to healthcare has been rapidly changing during this epidemic with many healthcare and related service providers changing how they operate. This topic provides information about navigating the healthcare system and funeral arrangements during a global pandemic. It includes information about what to expect in the private practice setting as well as personal experience from a relative who lost a loved one during the pandemic – Lesley Padya Kanjere, RTRT and Mutsa Munjoma, MD
Working with Coronavirus: A large portion of Africans living in the United States work in the healthcare sectors as nurses, doctors, nursing assistants, technical staff or provide other healthcare related services. This topic covers a healthcare workers’ experiences as essential employees working on the frontlines of this pandemic. It includes challenges experienced at work and in their personal lives – Opper Chiweshe, RN
Coping with Anxiety: Mental health and well being is a an aspect of healthcare that does not get enough attention in Africa communities.This topic covers identifying, addressing and coping with mental health and emotional exhaustion experienced by essential employees, family members, children, and individuals – Stem Mahlatini, EDD
Open discussion
Coronavirus Africa, & African Diaspora: At the start of the pandemic, many rumors were floating around that Africans were immune from Covid-19 due to the low number of reported cases on the continent. However, the virus how reached nearly every African nation and is having a profound impact on both Africans in Africa and in the Diaspora. continent. This topic covers the reaction, responses, and impacts of covid-19 as it is reaching the continent in light of global inequalities. It includes general information about what is going on in Africa and the challenges governments, non-profits, hospitals, and medical professionals face in responding to the pandemic in terms of drug supply, medical equipment and other societal factors. It also includes a discussion on the impact the pandemic will have on the African Diaspora in light of socio-economic inequalities within the US and includes factors such as attending funerals, travelling, sending remittances, and feelings of helplessness, etc… It also includes information on how the Diaspora can support African diasporas and/ Africans on the continent – Stella Jefferies, DNP
Open discussion
Immigration (Legal Perspective): Many people living in the Unites States are concerned about the changing legal environment during the pandemic. This topic includes information about the legal environment during a pandemic. It will include information about the impact on international students, undocumented residents, USCIS interviews, visa issuance, and pending cases. It will also include information on where undocumented individuals and residents can access legal information and services – Fatmata Barrie. Esq
Sharing our Resources: Since covid-19 is new, available resources are changing daily and it is often challenging to keep up with all the changes. It is can also hard to find accurate information and resources. This topic includes Montgomery county, state-wide and national resources for Africans that can help them meet challenges faced because of the pandemic. It includes information for families, tenants, homeowners, businesses owners, essential workers and other groups that are vulnerable to the pandemic. – Harriet Shangarai, RN
Open discussion
Suggestions: Feedback and suggestions on any missed and future topics.
SPEAKER PROFILES
MODERATOR
Thoko Kachipande
Thoko Kachipande-Prenatt is a Malawian-American with a passion for promoting a balanced presentation of African culture, history, and news. She spent most of her formative years in Germany and South Africa before settling in the U.S. Kachipande has worked in non-profit and health science industries for over a decade. She is a career healthcare and science communication professional who holds an M.A. in Communication from Johns Hopkins University and a social science undergraduate degree focusing on African/African-American studies. When it comes to journalism and writing, she likes to remember that “history is written by the winners and those who bother to write” (Winston Churchill/George Orwell).
3-4.30pm in which time zone?
This will be on Eastern Time (EST)