Beyond the Silence: Why We Need to Talk About Health in Every Community.

What began in the silence of the lab now echoes in the voices of those I strive to reach

A Thought That Won't Leave Me

Some mornings, I wake up with thoughts that just don’t leave me alone. Today is one of those mornings.

I’ve spent years in science, but not in the way most people expect. I started with a PhD focusing on mucosal vaccines—think COVID vaccines and Helicobacter pylori (the bacteria that causes ulcers and stomach cancer). Then, I spent some time working in muscular dystrophy, before moving to type 1 diabetes research (which I worked on for over a year). And now, I’m in a whole new space: Prostate Cancer UK, where I’m doing what I love most—raising awareness.

But here’s the thing: I didn’t expect to be here. I didn’t expect to be so deeply involved in public health. I didn’t expect that one random conversation would push me into this space. But once I started, I couldn’t stop.

Why Do I Share This?

I share a lot online, and it’s not because someone tells me to. It’s because I care. It matters to me that everyone—especially those who don’t get the information they need—has access to it. People I know, people I’ll never meet. And especially my brown community—too often, we’re left behind, we’re not told, we’re not believed, or we don’t have the resources to ask the right questions.

I’m passionate about this, not because I’m told to be, but because I see the gaps. I see the issues that people don’t talk about until it's too late. And I won’t sit quietly while things like prostate cancer, type 1 diabetes, and health inequities continue to be brushed under the rug.

Why Does Awareness Matter?

I won’t sugarcoat it: a lot of us don’t trust the healthcare system—and for good reason. Even in countries like the UK and the US, not everyone has access to the care they need. People can’t always afford a health check-up. They don’t know the signs of a serious illness. And sometimes, they’re just scared to go to the doctor.

But here’s my question: why wait until we’re sick? Why not be proactive?

Start with your food. Start with the habits you build every day. Start with rest, mental health, and understanding how stress eats away at us from the inside. I’ve seen stress destroy lives by triggering chronic illnesses and diseases that could’ve been prevented. It’s time to face the truth that our choices today shape our future health. Prevention isn’t just for the future—it’s for now.

A Holistic Approach to Health

I believe in modern medicine, absolutely. But I also believe in prevention. I believe in a lifestyle that gives your body the best chance—before the illness knocks at the door. It’s not a guarantee, but it’s a start.

And I also believe in talking about the tough stuff. Cancer. Mental health. Nutrition. Trauma. The things we’d rather pretend aren’t there. Let’s make those conversations normal. Let's turn the invisible into the visible, because silence won’t change anything.

A Call to Action: Let’s Spread the Word

So, yeah. I guess you could say I’m doing public health now. Not in the way you might think, but in a way that matters. The kind that happens in WhatsApp groups, Instagram stories, and late-night convos. It’s about building bridges, sharing knowledge, and opening up spaces for real talk.

I’ll keep using my platform to share what needs to be shared. I’ll keep speaking out about issues that need more attention. And I’ll keep hoping that, through all this, someone, somewhere, gets the information they need to make better choices—for themselves and for the people they love.

Because our health matters. Our voices matter. And the more we share, the more we all grow.