Janine GriffithsThe Senegalese Community Leeds held a successful Health Awareness event on Saturday, February 22, bringing together healthcare organisations, community leaders, and families for a day focused on wellbeing.
Building on the success of last year’s oral hygiene event, organisers partnered with the NHS and secured funding from Touchstones and Voluntary Action Leeds to expand their outreach in Harehills. The event took place in St Aidan’s Hall and featured health checks, information sessions, and children’s activities, attracting approximately attendees from diverse backgrounds.
Visitors heard from speakers on the importance of health and self-care, with a particular focus on blood donation to support those with sickle cell anaemia. Representatives from One Workforce were also present, recruiting individuals for training in NHS roles.
The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Abigail Marshall Katung, attended alongside local councillors Asghar Khan, Nkele Manaka, and Luke Farley. They praised the initiative, emphasising the value of community cohesion and access to health resources.
Speaking about the event, Rohie N’Dow, Vice President of Sengalese Community Leeds, said: “It was an excellent turnout for our community event. During the course of the day there was approximately 180 people from various communities who came to the Health Awareness with children’s activity event.”
While health screenings took place, children participated in various activities, including cycling sessions in Banstead Park, basketball, and table football. Guests were also treated to traditional Senegalese dishes such as Chicken Yassa, mini meat pies, and fresh fruit salad.
The event brought together people from across Leeds, including members of the Senegalese, Gambian, Sudanese, British, Nigerian, Ghanaian, Somali, Eritrean, Caribbean, Pakistani, Kenyan, South African, and Sierra Leonean communities. Organisers highlighted the importance of such gatherings in strengthening ties between different groups in Burmantofts, Harehills, and Richmond Hill.
With another successful event completed, the Senegalese Community Leeds hopes to continue fostering connections and raising awareness on key health issues in the future.
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