YES Programs

MENU  

STORIES


YES Alumnus Launches Health Education Initiative

Health Seminar During Session

Lincoln D. Ninneh (YES 2013-2014, hosted by AFS in Nolensville, TN) founded a new organization called Teach For Healthy Lives to address a large and looming societal issue that Liberians face: diabetes. As a student nurse practicing at Ganta United Methodist Hospital, Lincoln recognizes that diabetes is an enormous unmet issue in his community, not just in limited resources available to treat diabetes, but in the lack of knowledge that exists. Lincoln established Teach for Healthy Lives (T4HL) to create a public discourse on diabetes and spread general knowledge and preventative measures to stop the rapid increase of diabetes in Liberia. T4HL focuses on inculcating preventative measures in everyday lives, especially by encouraging healthy food choices. Lincoln has run one T4HL Health Seminar (with more on the horizon), and he was even recently a guest on the radio show “Soul Express,” a platform that discusses contemporary issues affecting Liberians.

Health Seminar After Session
Lincoln leads the TeHL Health Seminar in Monrovia in January 2018

Establishing an organization and developing educational materials is no easy feat, so Lincoln turned to his YES networks for advice and mentorship. In addition to his incredibly supportive host family, one of his most valuable resources is Nancy Yount, a certified diabetes educator based in Tennessee, where Lincoln was a YES program exchange student. Working with and learning from his remote American counterpart, Lincoln developed and eventually began to conduct his own diabetes awareness sessions. Lincoln takes great efforts to contextualize the programs based off his own training from his nursing studies, and the wealth of knowledge he has on the local community. For example, Lincoln uses Nancy’s resources and information from the American Diabetes Association as a guide, but compiles brochures on local healthy food choices that are accessible to the average Liberian so they can eat smartly to prevent diabetes.

Lincoln believes that one of the reasons the rate of diabetes is so high is because the knowledge deficit that exists on public health. Lincoln is a strong believer in the saying “Knowledge is power” and explains that “When people are aware of the complications that come with diabetes, they will take interest in applying these preventive measures.” His goal with T4HL is to close the gaps with this knowledge deficit, and teach basic preventative measures that can make all the difference in an individual’s well being. Lincoln shares with us this story, from the Health Seminar he conducted in Monrovia:

“My name is Blessing, I am not a diabetes patient but my uncle is. His condition has worried my entire family a lot. We went to the hospital and they told us he should not eat food with too much starch and sugar. But knowing little or nothing about diabetic food choices, we concluded that he should eat bulgur wheat only. I personally thought that bulgur wheat alone is not healthy for him, but we had no idea that one would have diabetes and still have a balanced diet with a lot of other food choices. Because of this lack of knowledge and lack of food choices, we sometimes allow him to eat food with high sugar contents. Lincoln’s tips on food choices will be a great help in modifying my uncles’ diet. We will now try to get him the right kind of food and stop taking risks with taking in sweets once in a while.”

Lincoln says the YES program was his initial exposure to community service, and has since given him the courage to take a stand for what he believes. Additionally, YES was essential in building his skills and networks that he uses to give back to his community. Lincoln says, “The people I met and the skills I acquired during my YES year are largely responsible for the establishment of T4HL.”

Thanks for all your hard work, Lincoln! You’re an aspiration to us all and an emblem of what YES program stands for.

Read this heartwarming story written by Lincoln's host mother


Share: