DON'T BE A NICKEL OUT HERE LOOKING FOR A DIME

Be the person you want to find. Don't be a nickel here looking for a dime.

Truer words have never been said. This statement reminds me of people who demand that which they are not and people who ask for things they cannot give in a relationship. The only way to know who you truly are and to know what you can give in a relationship is by taking the first step called HONESTY. Lying to everyone else cannot be as bad as lying to yourself. That my friend is more destructive. Look yourself in the mirror and figure out who the person looking right back at you is. Once that bit is sorted, the journey to self discovery may not be as bad as you think.

Sometimes we hear people say, ''they deserve each other''. Whether that's in a good or bad way, it is true. Just as you attract who you are, you marry who you deserve (except of course you have been forced into marriage or betrothed, then that is a completely different issue).

We all dream of marrying a prince or princess and living ''happily ever after''. You know, someone who is charming, and makes all our dreams come true. Someone who is kind, loving, caring and puts us first in everything. Someone who is hardworking, faithful, loyal and honest. Someone who will catch a grenade for us..Literally! That sounds great doesn't it? Of course it does.

But how can we expect all of these amazing traits from another human being when we ourselves do not possess them? why should we think that any one this amazing should settle for us? is it honestly fair for this amazing being to end up with someone who cannot offer them that which they are, that which they have worked hard to preserved all these years?

Fact is, you have to be who you are looking to find. Don't be a nickel out here looking for a dime.

Its not going to happen. You will not find this ''perfect'' person with all these amazing traits and somehow metamorphosize into those things yourself. Why would they, in all their 'perfection' want you anyway? If you want people like that then you have to be like them, NOW!

For example...

If i want a hardworking and honest man, then i have to be hardworking and honest.
If i want someone who is kind and caring, then i have to also be kind and caring.
If i want a God fearing man, then i have to be God fearing.

Its unfair for anyone to end up with what they do not deserve and sometimes this situation does happen. this is why it is important to learn to listen to that voice within and to tell yourself the truth always...because most times when he punches you in the face...you knew all along he was that type of person..but you just ignored. Now you feel trapped and the worst part is, you have no one to talk to because all your life, you told yourself a lie..unfortunately, that LIE includes the people you call friends.


xoxo

Malaria Conference Cambridge

I attended the Malaria conference in Downing college, Cambridge for two days. I was absolutely pleased i did because i learnt a lot. Life of a PhD student is not so bad afterall. There were so many interesting malaria centred talks. From genetics to cell biology, from public health to genomics, from economics of diseases to epigenetics. It was truely an awesome experience.

Speakers came from different parts of the world where they carry out research and it was a lovely networking experience for me. Malaria researchers are really doing a lot to stop the burden of this awful disease and i am very honoured to be a part of them. Downing college in Cambridge is a lovely place. I felt at home being an Oxford student as the inter-collegiate system is the same. Infact the college is reminiscent of my college at Oxford. Although my love for Oxford is undying...Cambridge is also really beautiful.

I saw this lovely cathedral on my way. I have a thing for cathedrals. LOVE!

Downing College, Cambridge. Love the pillars. My bedroom was in this building. I had a snoozefest :)

Malaria Conference at the Howard building

The Downing College quad

 I and a few cool scientists went to a pub called the Eagle. This is where Watson and Crick discussed their lab results that led to the discovery of DNA (the double helix). As you can imagine i was mega excited and took pictures to show that.

The Discovery of DNA..with my reflection hehe

Where Watson and Crick sat probably with  a pint of beer

I met lovely people on this trip and i am happy to be more acquainted with fellow scientists who share the same passion and are dedicated to a very important cause. I look forward to presenting my research on the next trip :)

 xoxo

RIP Chinua Achebe

Today, we lost a great Nigerian visionary. Chinua Achebe has influenced so many great writers all over the world and has touched the lives of many young people in and out of the literary scene. I grew up reading his books and i personally felt i knew him. He was someone i respected dearly mostly because he stood for something, had values and integrity. I particularly loved the fact that he refused a National Honour TWICE. It showed that there were more important things to him than recieving an honour from leaders who have been unimpressive and dubious. He did not compromise his integrity and i respect him for that. He made African literature what it is now and was never afraid to express his opinions or serve his country. He was a man of the people, loved by many. To think he wrote 'things fall apart' at the age of 27 is nothing short of  inspiring.

Here is my best quote:

'One of the truest tests of intergrity is its blunt refusal to be compromised' -Chinua Achebe

And he lived by every word of it. Africa has lost a great man. More importantly, the Igbos have lost a father, a great leader and a visionary.

 RIP Chinualumogu Achebe.

Love in the time of Sickle cell

In a lot of African countries where sickle cell is endemic, you will find that people who are carriers of sickle cell have love relationships with other carriers and these relationships generally do lead to marriage. A few decades ago, this was attested to scientific ignorance, meaning people didnt understand the scientific basis and devastating outcome of their choices. So couples who fell in love and got married ended up having children with sickle cell trait. Today, with so much scientific knowledge out there, should these issues still exist? I'd say no...but they actually still do.

I heard about a couple who are both AS and are still forging on to get married. Whilst love is a beautiful thing, i dont think people should play russian roullette with their kids lives. Scientifically, If two sickle cell carriers get married (AS and AS), the genotype of their children will be (AA, AS, AS, SS). So, there is a one in four chance of getting an SS child. But if the couple getting married is AS and SS, then 2 out of every 4 kids would have the sickle cell (SS) trait and the gentoypes will be  (AS, AS, SS, SS). All this is based on chance and frankly it doesn't happen in this order. its possible to even have more sickle cell kids than what the scientific crosses suggest.

You will find that in Nigeria, people that get married with this genetic trait fall into two categories. 1) people that have absolutely no clue what sickle cell is and 2) people that base their decisions on having faith and being a christian and believing that God will not let them have an SS child.  The former can be excused especially in rural areas of the country where health information rarely reaches communities, but the latter is inexcusable. This is similar to someone knowing they are HIV positive but decides not to take anti-retroviral drugs based on faith. One thing happens with these patients ..Death!. Whilst having faith is great, we need to be more informed and realistic about certain decisions.

I feel we need to be more responsible in making health decisions especially when it affects out future. Its unfair bringing in children into the world that will end up suffering. In a country where the health system isnt up to par and the economy is so terrible, the cost of taking care of a sickle cell child will be high especially for lower income families. The emotional and mental burden on both the child and members of the family will be very daunting.

So when next you meet someone new, dont forget to ask ''hey, whats your genotype?''.

For more informative health messages like this please visit my health website at www.africanhealthmagazine.com

Science Inspiration

Its really lovely to have women in science be a source of inspiration especially in Africa. I look forward to finding more women like this and i hope that one day i will be a source of inspiration to young women around the world :)

Professor Tebello Nyokong is a researcher of a ground-breaking cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Born in 1951 in Lesotho, this South African Professor has achieved international acclaim for her groundbreaking work in harnessing light for cancer therapy and environmental clean-ups. She is currently undertaking research on a new cancer diagnosis and treatment methodology called ‘photo-dynamic therapy’, which is intended as an alternative to chemotherapy.Through her international reputation, Professor Nyokong has contributed considerably to enhancing the reputation of South African science. Many international scientists have been drawn by her work to visit South Africa, and her laboratory has hosted postdoctoral candidates from around the world.

In 2009 Professor Nyokong won the Africa-Arab State L’Oréal-Unesco Award for Women in Science and was named by UNESCO as one of the world’s top five exceptional women scientists.In addition to working on photo-dynamic therapy, Professor Tebello Nyokong, continues to train chemists, particularly women, in the skills needed to keep South Africa at the cutting edge of scientific development.

“I work very hard and do not give up easily even when things are tough. I tend to take setbacks in my life as a way of working even harder. I actually get challenged by doing the ‘impossible.” 

xoxo

The Research Rant

I question research a lot of times..or rather some peoples motives for being science researchers. Do they really want to change the world or is it just for professional gain/advancement? I am a scientist because i Love it. Simple. I am passionate about it thats why i do it. Do i need money? Yes..because thats the only means of survival..but will i do research for the money?..NO!...if i wanted to just make money i will be an investment banker by now..Probably working at the front office at JP Morgan...and trust me id fit right in. BUT for me, fulfilment is more important than a six figure salary. I don’t want to be 60 years old and end up feeling VOID. I want to build a legacy...i want to contribute my bit to the world..i want my Grandkids to say ‘Grand ma was an awesome Scientist’...i want my name to live on after i am gone. Thats fulfilment.

Why all this story?  From what ive experienced in my short life, a lot of research organisations that say they want to help Africa are not DOING ENOUGH. You don’t need an eyesight to see the gaping holes. A lot of people (mostly from the west), get nice paying jobs in an international organisation based somewhere in Africa. They Love it there.  They live both their European lifestyles and get the perks of being in Africa at the same time. What do i mean? They are paid loads of money, accommodation is cheap, food is great and cheap, they usually live in towns where other expatriates are so you will most definitely find lots of fine restaurants, bars, grocery stores, cinema, malls etc. At the same time they enjoy the wild life, hiking on mountains, swimming in hot springs, rural road trips and to top it all up, MAID SERVICE which includes cooking, cleaning, washing etc. A service they NEVER get in the west unless of course you are Blair Waldorf and live on the Upper East Side in Manhattan.

What i have seen is a lot of these people don’t IMMERSE themselves into the community they are meant to be carrying out ‘interventions’ on. How can you not immerse yourself in a community you are trying to help? How will you understand the problems the locals face if most of your time you are behind a desk on your laptop or having barbecues and going on hikes?

There is a HUGE DISCONNECT.

From what i have seen, its no wonder some of these interventions never work anyways. But who cares? Their governments will still raise funds for more research and they will be on to the next big African disease.  A lot don’t spend more than 1-2 years in one organisation; they hop from one African country to the next, building their CVs and publishing papers without actually building capacity. Now i know in some countries, ‘capacity building’ is just theoretical...it takes time and commitment from international organisation for this to actually happen. ..sadly...until i experience capacity building in Africa first hand...its still theoretical to me.  Maybe it does happen..but im not one to speak about what i have not experienced. Sure, i see people speak about doing this in papers but from my experience, i have not seen it YET.  I have seen it happening in Thailand...not anywhere in Africa. Seeing is believing...until then.

A tale of two cities

Photo taken in rural Swaziland. I waited for this sunset and did not regret it :)

I am in Swaziland carrying out HIV research. I have been here for a week now. Due to confidentiality reasons i cannot reveal the names of the organisations i am working with. One is an international organisation and the other is a local organisation here in Swaziland.  I’ve been in the international organisation for a week now and today, I had to come to the local organisation because I’m also collaborating with them. Now bear in mind that what these two organisations do are very useful and do contribute a lot to antiretroviral access and treatment.  The only difference is one has tons of funds and the other doesn’t.

The international organisation as you can imagine has lovely offices.  Floor to ceiling windows, comfortable office chairs, fully fitted kitchen with two fridges filled with food and drinks. The cupboards had all types of tea and biscuits, white or brown sugar, semi skimmed, skimmed or full cream milk and all types of other goodies. Now coming from England this is what i am used to. This is how the offices in England are, except this was in Swaziland.  i felt very comfortable at the office until i saw a Swazi lady cleaning the toilet and washing the dishes people used to drink tea and eat their lunches. That was where the comfort disappeared.  I see Black women doing the cleaning in England, especially on the London Underground but there was something about this particular situation that really made my heart sink. Why was i affected so much by this? Afterall this isn’t new right?  Wrong!

This is my first time of working in the African continent. I have never worked in any African country before. I felt very uncomfortable because a fellow black person was doing the cleaning for a bunch of white expatriates.  That’s what made me feel uneasy but i had to get past it especially as i couldn’t do anything about it. People might say ‘’ at least she has some form of employment’’, but i see it differently.  Doing the cleaning in a foreign land to me is different from doing the cleaning in your own land. I can’t get past the fact that its reminiscent of slavery.  I can’t, bite me!

Then i went to work in the local organisation and the reality was different. The offices were cramped, little ventilation, the kitchen was not really nice and they had no fridge.  They had an old kettle which didn’t seem to work properly. There was an empty tin of milk in the cupboard with very little tea in a tin.  Generally, the kitchen was empty.

Immediately i thought to myself, the empty kitchen cupboard and little kitchen equipment in the local organisation together with the fully fitted kitchen, stocked up fridge and cupboard with a very lush office represented the current situation of science research.  Africans are not able to do so much not only because they may not have the expertise to do so, but also because they don’t have the funds available to them.  A Lack of funds limits Africans who have particular expertise to also engage in proper research.  There is a wide gap that needs to be filled. However, expatriates have flow of funds and are able to do about anything feasible. This of course funds their extremely comfortable lifestyles in Africa which is better than what they get in Europe/America. This is one of the reasons they never leave, they hop from country to country doing research simply because they can and have the funds to back them up. What do we have?

Sitting in this local organisation writing this piece, i feel connected with the problems here in Swaziland because i have liaised with the local public health researchers who obviously know more about their issues than any foreigner would. When i was in the international office, there was definitely a disconnection and rightfully so. Expatriates can and will not understand Africa’s issues more than we Africans. A Solution can only be achieved once the problem is well understood.  With expatriate researchers not immersing themselves properly into the system can they truly have a grasp of the real issues?  The truth is a lot don’t know what it means to live in Africa because when they live here, their reality is very different from the local reality. So i ask, when will Africans truly take over their own problems?