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As today marks the start of Black History Month (BHM) in the UK, Mmeli Agbasi (Account Executive) shares her reflections on a role model who has transformed the lives of others: "To celebrate Black History Month, I would like to shine a light on an important Black woman in healthcare: Dame Elizabeth Nneka Anionwu. I’m probably being a little bit biased because we share the same Igbo-Nigerian heritage, but her legacy is undeniable. She is renowned for her role in establishing the first UK screening and counselling centre for sickle cell anaemia and thalassaemia in 1979. She advocated relentlessly for people who live with these genetic blood disorders, which predominantly affect people of colour, specifically sickle cell anaemia, which disproportionately affects Black people. I know many people who have sickle cell anaemia or have the trait, so I understand how life-changing her commitment was to spread awareness and provide adequate support to those affected. Her work did not end there; Dame Anionwu helped to share knowledge of the detrimental effects that COVID-19 had on Black and Asian communities. Dame Anionwu’s groundbreaking contributions have inspired me to pursue my ambitions and have the courage to overcome any adversity I face. She has taught me the importance of being a pioneer and understanding that the journey won’t be easy, therefore I need to be resilient and determined. It's important that we celebrate her this month and other trailblazers in the Black community!" #BHM #BlackHistoryMonth #RoleModel #LucidLife