eMagazine August 2022

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OUR PEOPLE, OUR MISSION Global Health eMagazine August 2022 Highlights Clinical Case of the Month Reflections Health Disparities Within Our Borders Nursing Division Art to Remind Us of Who We Can Be Our Beautiful Planet Among the Letters Congratulations Global Health Team Calendar Resources increased wound dehiscence in these patients as well as an increased incidence of hypertension and diabetes in skin-bleaching populations. On further study, we found more local and systemic effects of skin bleaching including patchy hyperor hypopigmentation, skin atrophy, stretch marks, Cushing’s syndrome, adrenal insufficiency, nephrotic syndrome, neurological disorders, ocular disorders, and teratogenic effects. The WHO documented that 40% of African women regularly use bleaching products, and as high as 77% in some countries like Nigeria. In Uganda, approximately 32% of women regularly use skin-bleaching products. (https://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/april-2019-july-2019/paying-highprice-skin-bleaching#:~:text=Statistics%20compiled%20by%20the%20World,Mali%20 use%20skin%2Dlightening%20products.) This high prevalence has persisted despite warnings from different entities about the proven dangers of skin-bleaching chemicals coupled with the lack of proven health benefits in conditions like hyper-pigmentation and vitiligo that these products claim to help treat. On studying the history, I found out that in part, colonization and slavery had a big role in developing skin-bleaching in Africa and Asia. A paper published by the American Sociological Society explains, “to justify racial slavery, slave-holding interests espoused a white supremacist ideology which held that persons of African descent were innately inferior to whites. Whiteness became identified with all that is civilized, virtuous and beautiful.” Lighter-skinned slaves received differential treatment from the darker-skinned ones like working indoors, and were closer to receiving privileges only given to white people. Unfortunately, this belief has persisted to date in the Global South where women with lighter skin are not only considered more attractive—one study showed that 83% of men in Uganda prefer to have a light-skinned spouse!—but are also more esteemed in society. Despite much of the Global South being absolutely against skin-bleaching,the tacit pressures continue to drive the practice. There is also a moderate prevalence of bleaching in medical students and medical workers of about 19%, based on a short survey I conducted on 1000 medical students and 100 medical workers. Skin-bleaching cannot be eliminated through sensitizing the public about its dangers or banning skin bleaching products, as skin-bleaching is still on the rise despite approximately 78% of users being aware of its side effects. I believe the problem is more deep-rooted. Perhaps we should focus on decolonizing the educational curricula of the Global South and combating the inferiority complex it perpetuates, and teaching Global South populations to be confident in their color, which is as beautiful as any other. At Better Health Uganda, we have been sensitizing children in primary schools to be confident in who they are while sensitizing the adult generation about bleaching. 4
OUR PEOPLE, OUR MISSION Global Health eMagazine August 2022 Reflections Mwanamugimu Nutrition Clinic at Mulago Written by William Hsu University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine Class of 2025 Highlights Clinical Case of the Month Reflections Health Disparities Within Our Borders Nursing Division Art to Remind Us of Who We Can Be Our Beautiful Planet My second week in Uganda has continued to be a wonderful, welcoming, and incredibly informative learning experience. We have continued to see primarily orthopedic cases, and were able to visit the lab and imaging buildings alongside listening in on the HIV clinic, all of which have been very informative experiences. We also visited the Mwanamugimu Nutrition Clinic at Mulago. This clinic, which has three separate units, treats children who are clinically malnourished. The first unit, P1, stabilizes the patients and ensures that any existing comorbidities are addressed. The second unit, P2, helps patients regain the weight and nutrients they were missing. The final unit, P3, educates parents about how to provide nutritious meals at an affordable price. This was a great learning experience not only clinically, but also in terms of medical education as fifth (final) year medical students rounded with us. Among the Letters Congratulations Global Health Team Calendar Resources William Hsu, center, with classmates from UVMLCOM, at the Mwanamugimu Nutrition Clinic 5 5 Reflections continued on next page >>
Page 1 and 2: August 2022 Volume 44 NUVANCE HEALT
Page 3: OUR PEOPLE, OUR MISSION Global Heal
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eMagazine August 2022

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