Another long and fascinating day in Birmingham has come to a close. We spent the day back at BCU, hearing from a new lineup of speakers: Alisia Lashley, a public health expert; Jonathon Gadsby, a mental health nurse, along with graduate students Takesha and Haley; Dr. Jama Egal, a midwifery specialist who spoke on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM); and finally, Andrea Driver-Williams. Each presentation offered something unique, and as a future nurse, I found the topics especially engaging. I also really appreciated the interactive energy every speaker brought to the room. To briefly summarize a few key takeaways:
In Alisia’s talk, I learned about the UK’s Ultra Low Emission Zones (ULEZ), which aim to reduce air pollution. In Birmingham, vehicles with high emissions face an £8 fee to enter these zones. It stood out to me because, while the U.S. fines large companies for emissions, it hasn’t yet tackled emissions at a more local, everyday level like this.
Jonathon Gadsby’s presentation highlighted the history of the UK and how that has led to mental challenges, while also pointing out fabulous British Authors who wrote on these subjects such as Joanna Moncrieff. Moncrieff discussed how fitting it would be to move from a diseased-centered approach to a drug-based approach as she examined giving power back to the people and the opportunities derived from reducing stigmas. During this presentation, his guest student speakers Takesha and Haley, showed how both the UK and U.S. share similar disparities in mental health—especially how Black men face higher rates of trauma and imprisonment, contributing to disproportionate mental health issues.
Dr. Egal’s session on FGM was eye-opening. I was especially struck by the connection between Type III FGM and what’s commonly known in the U.S. as the “husband stitch”—a non-consensual post birth procedure done to increase sexual pleasure for the partner. I hadn’t realized how normalized this practice was in some religions and cultures all around the world. I especially hadn’t realized how a version of FGM could be so commonly discussed and known about in the U.S., and it was a genuinely shocking realization.
Andrea Driver-Williams wrapped up the day with a talk on sexual health, focusing on HIV survivors. One major takeaway was how HIV rates are rising again in locations such as Africa, partly due to a drop in U.S. funding for international aid programs under the current presidency. This impacts countries like the United Kingdom and the United States as they are typically hotspots for immigrants or simply because of business purposes, and because of these global travel situations, there’s a projected increase in HIV rates in the UK and U.S. too.
We ended the day on a high note with dinner at Bacchus, a charming pub, alongside our BCU colleagues. It was such a treat—literally, thanks to our advisor Ana—to share fish and chips and great conversation. I really enjoyed connecting with the BCU students, especially hearing about their journeys into teaching and nursing. It was a lovely way to wind down and enjoy an evening with the whole group. Here is a pic of us at the restaurant!
