Black History Month - Saluting Our Sisters

October is Black History Month and here at RCN North West, as part of our anti-racism theme, we are celebrating our sisters. With just one week to go of this annual celebration, I wish to shine a light on some of the many great women from the global majority and their allies who I consider to be particularly worthy of our recognition and praise. 

Women who have and continue to make a difference to innovation, delivery and sustainable change across health and care. Standing up, challenging, and seeking solutions to the perennial problem of racism and differential treatment. We have so many shining examples of these women both from the global majority and our allies. Who would be on your list? Have you taken the opportunity to speak with them about your value for their work? Ask how you could support and add value to their efforts? It is not just an action for the month of October. This is hard and weathering work, your support and confirmation that you have seen and heard, are willing to continue the fight alongside is important.

Share your inspirational women with us via our social media channels, on X and Facebook, using the hashtag #NWBHM2023.

I am going to be Saluting Our Sisters on social media for the rest of October and adding to this list regularly: 

Michelle Cox - Michelle sent us a message, reminding us that adversity does not need to diminish us or our spirit. She launched an award in partnership with the RCN Foundation (which you can read more about here), aimed at recognising and supporting anti-racism initiatives in the workplace. She is currently volunteering her nursing skills in Ghana. You can watch her message here. #standingtall. 

Evelyn Assante-Mensa - Co-Chair of the NW BAME Assembly.  Evelyn is passionate about tackling inequalities in health and social care and promoting equality and diversity.   You can read more about the work of the assembly here. 

Faye Rudduck - Chair at CAHN. CAHN is a Black-led organisation set up to address the wider social determinants to eradicate health disparities for Caribbean & African people in the United Kingdom. We work with the Black community and cross-sector organisations to build community resilience, relationships, and a social movement to improve health outcomes for Black people.  Read more here.

Ofrah Muflahi - RCN Professional Lead and Founder of BANMA (British Arab Nursing and Midwifery Association).  BANMA aims to act as an advocate for improved health care in the British Arab community and act as an expert by experience resource for nursing and Midwifery professionals and other healthcare providers regarding British Arabs’ healthcare beliefs and practices. Find out more here.

Sharmila Kar - Director NW BAME Assembly and Joint Director Equality, Inclusion & Engagement at Greater Manchester Integrated Care and Manchester City Council.  Sharmila recently wrote a blog for the NW BAME Assembly highlighting South Asian Heritage Month. You can read more about it here.   Many of our international Health Care workers are recruited from South Asian countries and the RCN NW is committed to celebrating this month, and the stories and heritage of nurses working in the region who reside from South Asia. 

Olanike Babalola - Founding member of NW Multicultural Nursing Group.  Olanike has been at the forefront of the formation of this group which launches on 21 November. She also collected the award for second place in the CAHN awards at the end of October, where the RCN NW were nominated for our anti-Racism initiatives.

Gilly Lee - Local Neighbourhood Led in Manchester and is the NW Lead on the BAME SAG.  In 2020. to celebrate the year of the nurse, Gilly did an interview with the Mary Seacole Trust about her career as a nurse.  You can watch it here.