Invest in Women: The Time is Now to Accelerate Progress Towards Equality
8 March 2024
Understanding the Impact of Drugs and Alcohol on Crime and Character
7 September 2024The "Jakpanese" community, comprising individuals from Nigeria, encounters a myriad of hurdles when seeking healthcare services in the UK. These challenges encompass undiagnosed medical conditions, misconceptions about healthcare, and substance abuse issues. Here are some key issues observed:
1. Undiscovered Long-term Medical Conditions: Within the "Jakpanese" demographic, there exists a prevalence of undiagnosed long-term medical conditions such as renal impairment, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and heart failure. Failure to promptly identify and address these conditions can lead to severe health complications.
2. Late-stage Disease or Poorly Controlled Pre-existing Conditions: Owing to factors such as limited awareness or hesitance to seek medical assistance, some individuals may present with late-stage diseases or poorly managed pre-existing medical conditions, complicating treatment modalities.
3. Notifiable Infections: Diseases like tuberculosis (TB) pose a significant health risk to the "Jakpanese" population, especially in areas with limited access to healthcare services or insufficient knowledge about preventive measures.
4. Inaccurate Medical Diagnosis/Results/Investigations: Instances of inaccurate medical diagnosis or results are not uncommon, particularly if individuals rely on healthcare services from their home country, such as Nigeria, where standards and practices may differ.
5. Poor Comprehension and Management of Diagnosed Medical Conditions: Limited understanding of diagnosed medical conditions and their management strategies can lead to suboptimal treatment outcomes and exacerbate health issues among the "Jakpanese" community.
6. Myths and Misconceptions: Various inaccurate myths and misconceptions surrounding healthcare, propagated by sources including non-specialist doctors and religious institutions, contribute to hindrances in accessing appropriate care and treatment.
Furthermore, substance abuse, encompassing alcohol and drug addiction, exacerbates these healthcare challenges. Chronic drug and alcohol abuse can result in debilitating physical and psychological effects, affecting various organ systems, including the respiratory, cardiovascular, liver, kidney, and gastrointestinal systems.
In conclusion, the "Jakpanese" population grapples with significant barriers to healthcare access in the UK, encompassing undiagnosed medical conditions, misconceptions about healthcare, and substance abuse issues. Efforts must be made to provide adequate support and understanding to individuals from this community to ensure their well-being and enhance healthcare outcomes during their adjustment process to life in the UK. Initiatives aimed at addressing these challenges should prioritise education, outreach programs, and culturally sensitive healthcare services.
Dr. John Akumabor
Paper presented on 12/04/2024 at the Jakpanese Event at Hotel Campanile, Northampton
