Black History Month celebrations have filled the city throughout October with a whole host of inspiring, creative and educational events. Our BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) Medics society has been busy organising fundraising events for two charities that are making a positive impact on health care in Black communities.
Rhema Otache, President of the BME Medics society, explains more about these fantastic events and what Black History Month means to her.
Tell us more about your first fundraiser event, Brews and Beauty!
The Brews and Beauty event was our first Black History Month fundraiser. We hosted a sweet treat afternoon tea and beauty workshop with the LUSH Liverpool team to raise money for the amazing Mary Seacole House which is a mental health charity focusing on creating inclusive and culturally appropriate services for people from Black, Asian and minority groups.
The highlight of the event for me was the discussion with Corrine, the Lush Black hair care specialist who discussed the history and development of afro hair care as well as her own experiences growing up in a place where afro hair care products were not readily available.
I also loved the face mask making session and learning about the ingredients necessary for healthy skin.
What are you most excited for at this week’s Charity Music Night?
This Friday we are hosting a Charity Music Night at Dirty O'Sheas to raise money for the amazing Sickle Cell Society. We have seven incredible performers, many of which are our own medical students, coming together to create a magical musical showcase. I am most excited for the range of music that is going to be displayed and raising a lot of money for our charity. Tickets are still available so come through!
What does Black History month mean to you?
For me, Black History Month is about celebrating the achievements of Black people throughout the ages. It's about acknowledging the amazing impact Black people have made throughout history despite living with the societal impact of slavery. It's also about raising awareness of how much still needs to be done to rectify the racial inequalities we still see within our society, particularly within the healthcare system and showing how we can come together to make steps towards positive change.
How would you encourage people to get involved in future events?
I think there's a misconception that BME Medics is just for people from BAME backgrounds which is not true! Our society is open to everyone and anyone so if you see an event that catches your eye, please do not hesitate to come along. We want everyone to feel welcome in our spaces. Also, keep an eye out for the announcement of one of our biggest events of the year! You can also follow us on socials @bmemedicsliv to be kept up to date on all our events!
Who is your current BME inspiration and why
My current BME inspiration is Dame Anionwu. She is the UK's first sickle cell nurse and spent her career raising awareness of this condition and its impact on people from BAME communities as well as highlighting other racial health inequalities. In the 2017 Queen’s New Year’s Honours list, she received a Damehood and in 2022, she was awarded the Order of Merit. Her motivation stems from not being "satisfied until other gaps in service for BME patients and health professionals are addressed.” (Quote from Dame Anionwu’s website - link)