By Eleanore Richardson
Our health is something we all want to improve and know more about and here at Lewisham Library we couldn’t agree more. That’s why we teamed up with some excellent health professionals from across London to deliver high quality, informative lectures for FREE at our very own Lewisham Library so that local residents have an opportunity to learn even more about their health.
Almost as soon as the idea was conceived we started delivering lectures. Since 12th September we have been providing information on a topic of health every two weeks. We started with Breast Cancer and have since also covered Diabetes and Alzheimer’s Disease.
Few knew about the lectures to begin with and we have continued to improve the experience with each passing fortnight. We are now filming all lectures so that we can make them available to our customer’s as well as provide online versions of the handouts prepared by each of our lecturers.
I am very fortunate that our current group of lecturers are all friends of mine and willing to give up their time for free to provide this amazing education, but we continue to look for more health professionals who would also be happy to generously educate our local residents in the symptoms, causes and treatments of other public health concerns that they are experts in.
Our next lecture will be on the 24th October and will be a replay of our Breast Cancer lecture in light of October being Breast Cancer Awareness month. Please do come down and widen your understanding and awareness of this common disease.
If you would like to get involved in speaking on your topic of expertise for our 2018 series of lectures, please do get in touch by emailing Eleanore.richardson@lewisham.gov.uk
A list of all our lectures for this year and for opportunities to book you space on our next FREE lecture please visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lewisham-health-lectures-tickets-38284505988
12th Sept – Breast Cancer
Dr Anthony Cheung navigated us through the complexities of what cancer really is, how it may occur and how in particular it can affect breast tissue. He summarized the many ways in which breast cancer may present as a visible sign and how treatments are used to target different types of cancers.
Please click here for a copy of the hand out
26th Sept – Diabetes
Dr Chibuzo Mowete clarified what diabetes is and why it can occur. She emphasized the risk factors that can increase development of the disease and how what treatment looks like if you do have it. Interestingly it was also explained that many other health conditions may develop as a result of diabetes, including blindness.
Please click here for a copy of the hand out
10th Oct – Alzheimer’s Disease & other neurological conditions
Dr Alinda Fernandes walked us through the biological landscape of the brain when AD is present and the common symptoms that can develop with this increasingly common disease.
Please click here for a copy of the hand out.
24th Oct – Breast Cancer (Repeat)
Taking advantage of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we repeat our inaugural lecture to allow even more people to have a chance to increase the understanding of this disease. This session will be lead by Dr Alinda Fernandes.
Please click here for a copy of the hand out .
7th Nov – Hair Loss
Trichologist, Eleanore Richardson guides us through the many different types of hair loss, highlighting causes and treatments where possible. She will also take time to focus on hair loss more commonly associated with Afro-Caribbean hairstyling and how best to avoid these conditions.
Please click here for a copy of the hand out.
21st November – Effects of Alcohol
Dr Chibuzo Mowete discusses how alcohol can impact the body and what the effects are when it is consumed in excess. She will also touch on the conditions commonly triggers or associated with high alcohol consumption.
Please click here for a copy of the hand out.
5th Dec – Vaccinations
Final year graduate medical student Ross Goodson broaches the divisive topic of vaccinating against disease and pulls apart the rumors negatively associated with vaccinations.
Please click here for a copy of the hand out.
Bonus Lecture
7th December - Prostate cancer
Ali Orhan a Sexual Health Coordinator. This event is supported by Orchid a Charity that supports men affected by male cancer.
This lecture open to all but specially black Caribbean and African men. Prostate cancer affects 1 in 8 men in the UK but it will affect 1 in 4 black African and Caribbean men from the age of 45 onwards. Understanding the different conditions that can affect the prostate and the tests that you can take can to help save lives.
This Health Lecture is part of a series of events by Lewisham Libraries to celebrate United Nations International Migrants Day
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