Birmingham and Lewisham Health Inequalities Review: Interview with Advisory Board Member, Fola Afolabi

The Birmingham and Lewisham Health Inequalities Review is a joint research project between Lewisham and Birmingham City Councils.

The review focuses on uncovering health inequalities experienced by Black African and Caribbean communities which have come under the spotlight recently due to the over-representation of Black people who are dying from COVID-19.

We caught up with Fola to hear more about her motivations in joining the health inequalities review as an Advisory Board member and what her experience has been so far…

Why did you choose to participate in the review?

I’m passionate about addressing health inequities which largely affects Black African and Caribbean individuals, not only in Lewisham and Birmingham but beyond. I wanted to participate in the review because it was a conscious effort to move away from viewing minority ethnic groups as a homogenous group, and instead taking a specialised approach which recognises our unique lived experiences as Black African and Caribbean people.

I currently work in public health involvement and engagement in health research, and within my role I have become more aware of the underrepresentation of Black individuals in public health spaces. I thought getting involved in the review would be a great opportunity to ensure Black voices and experiences are centred and used to minimise health disparities.

What does your role involve and what do you enjoy about it?

I bring my lived experiences and perspectives as a 23-year-old Black woman who has lived in Lewisham since the age of 10 to my role as an external advisory board member. I highlight community perspectives on different issues raised during the review, as I’m an active member of different groups within Lewisham. I’m able to amplify the views which are expressed by individuals and groups within Lewisham.

I have enjoyed learning from other people on the board, as they bring their own unique insights and experiences. It has also been a really therapeutic to share some of my lived experiences in a safe space. Being able to come up with recommendations for local governments to redress health inequalities has also been enjoyable, as it allows me to be creative and use my problem solving skills.

What do you bring to the review that is different to others?

We all bring our different perspectives, which is a great aspect of the review. My experiences as a Nigerian immigrant, who experienced some challenges with my mental health whilst I was at university is a perspective I add. In relation to factors such as health, my educational background and experiences of precarious housing conditions means that I have an understanding of factors which can negatively impact health.

I’m also the youngest person representing Lewisham on the board, so I try my best to ensure that youth perspectives are included in the review meetings.

There are various groups in Lewisham that I’m part of, such as the Labour Party (including their BAME Forum) and the youth leadership panel of Phoenix Community Housing. Being involved with these groups enable me to bring those unique voices to the forefront.

What are you looking to achieve by participating in the review?

The most important thing I’m looking to achieve is to reduce health inequalities and ensure that there are better health outcomes for the Black African and Caribbean individuals. I want Lewisham Council and Birmingham City Councils to act on our recommendations and effect sustainable change. If the recommendations prove to be effective in improving health outcomes of Black communities, I hope that other local governments implement recommendations put forward by the health inequalities review boards.

What outcome do you hope the health inequalities review will have on the Black African and Caribbean communities?

I hope the review raises awareness of the role that systemic racism and other issues play in the creating and sustaining health inequities. Often times, Black communities are blamed for our poor health outcomes without considering institutional and structural factors. It is important for reforms to be made at multiple levels to effect change.