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| International Woman's Day- Winning Women |
| Monday March 5, 2007 - (This article was extracted from the VOICE newspaper) |
Jacqueline Blackett was one of 16 women in the UK celebrated by The Voice on International Woman's Day in 2007.
As nurse, acupuncture practitioner, lecturer and writer, Jacqueline Blackett must be credited for her enviable achievements during her professional life.
Her book Holistic Guide to Health and Self-Awareness, has received several critical reviews, and through the efforts of Jacqueline, it has attracted international readers. The book teaches us how to enjoy a holistic life.
In his foreword to the book, Professor Richard Tomlins of De Montfort University writes, Blackett makes a powerful case for more diverse health provision through complementary therapies and responsiveness to patient requests and needs.
Many of the ideas can be seen as the future, and the author can be seen as a pioneer in her field; especially as this book is a rarity. However other races are not excluded from learning from this exceptional book, because it addresses a host of issues affecting humanity.
Jacquie, as she is better known, explores some of the issues affecting humanity, such as not knowing who we are; lack of exercise; eating the wrong food, and adapting to the wrong style.
Jacqueline stated, "I think that I was motivated to achieve, because of my admiration for my ancestors-slaves-,who fought relentlessly to save their descendants from the shackles of slavery, that they themselves so brutally experienced. |
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| BIG issue for black women |
| Friday December 2, 2005 - (This article was extracted from the Herald & Post newspaper) |
Jackie Blackett would never consider herself as possibly a pioneer in a still largely undiscovered world of health in the black community.
But the nurse from Luton's Marsh Farm has stirred the interest of the great and the good with probably the most definitive studies of health and self-awareness among the largely Afro Caribbean community of Luton. She has written a book to be published soon, which actually recognises some of the major health issues affecting black people.
Jackie admits that she has suffered the distress and frustration of sickness herself, but, through her professional and personal experiences, she has managed to offer a completely new concept of health in relation to black people. Her book is not just a read for black people, she makes it plain that her observations can apply to just about everybody. She said: "Health knows no colour. I've produced my work to benefit humanity in general."
But, her book, Holistic Guide to Health and Self Awareness, is significant as a guide to the causes of disease, according to both Western and traditional Chinese concepts.
Jackie believes that finding "self" can inevitably influence thoughts and actions in a constructive manner, and ultimately promoting life. She has worked as a nurse throughout the country, both in the NHS and private sector, but says a huge proportion of her patients could have been further helped if a reasonable standard of health self help information had been more accessible.
Jackie cites the problem of the big black women, which is popular in some cultures.
While conducting research for her book, a consultant physician told her he was alarmed at the high percentage of black females who were overweight and also suffering from high blood pressure. He told her that this particular group of patients was reluctant
To participate in trial programmes to encourage weight loss. He pointed out that the reason for them not wanting to join was probably due to the fact that it is customary for women to "big" in certain cultures.
Jackie warns that the book is not a panacea. She said it is a collection of self help theories, treatment and techniques in the prevention of certain conditions. And, she said; "This book also includes relevant aspects of philosophy, psychology, politics and religion, thereby substantiating their positive or negative influences on our health."
Jackie was born in Guyana and came to England to pursue nursing in Gloucestershire in 1969.
She was also voted Health Professional of the Year at the Luton Caribbean Heritage Award Ceremony in 1993. Jackie now works as an acupuncture practitioner in Luton and is happily married to Victor for 25 years with one son and two daughters, plus a devoted dog, Trixi.
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| The Real Heal Deal |
| Monday February 28, 2005 - (This article was extracted from the VOICE newspaper) |
It's Friday evening in Luton, Bedfordshire. Outside it's winter but inside the comfortable surroundings of Jacqueline Blackett's sitting room, the atmosphere is a mix of warmth and reflection.
Above her sits the praying image of her mentor Jesus Christ and the cream coloured walls artfully match the mood of tranquillity.
Dressed in black trousers and a purple tracksuit top, her words are punctuated with hearty laughter that engulfs the room. However, as she talks about her new book Holistic Guide to Health and Self-Awareness, her voice becomes fuelled with arresting emotion.
The book looks at the causes of disease in the West and highlights the valuable contribution that alternative medicine has made to treating sickness.
"When we talk about the body working holistically, we're talking about the spiritual, physical, emotional and mental sides of our being working together as a whole to enhance our health.
In the West, if you say you have a bad leg, the doctors will treat your leg, but in complementary medicine we look at whole person before we diagnose and decide on the appropriate treatment regimen.
Blackett believes the food we eat and our lifestyle habits are both vitally important to our health and general state of mind. Listening to music is one of her favourite pastimes. Her favourite singer is Otis Redding and his rendition of the classic A Change Is Gonna Come serves as her all-time favourite. The song talks of suffering.
"In the Caribbean, some overweight people live to a ripe old age. In Britain we don't exercise enough and in the black community, diabetes and high blood pressure is on the rise. What black people have to understand is that we are genetically linked to these illnesses.
"Concerning our mental wellbeing, in the West there is a high level of stress. In the Caribbean people don't suffer from stress like we do. What helps is that people in the Caribbean express themselves more but in Britain our behaviour is more constrained," says Jacqueline.
"Don't forget. We've got to feed the emotional, the spiritual, and the physical as part of a holistic approach to life."
Blackett was born in Guyana and lived in Perth, Mahaicony, on in the east coast Demerara. She is the second in a family of four boys and four girls. She attended the Mahaicony Church of Scotland School, and also Victoria High School in New Amsterdam, Berbice, Guyana.
In 1969, Blackett came to England and studied nursing at Standish Hospital in Gloucestershire. Following that, she successfully completed other branches of nursing, including State Registered nursing at Wexam Park Hospital in Slough, Berkshire. It was during her years in nursing that Blackett was introduced to the world of acupuncture.
In 1986, she completed a diploma in acupuncture at the Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in London.Shortly after gaining her diploma, she successfully completed a PhD degree at the Open University for Complimentary Medicine in Sri Lanka, where she was credited for achieving the second highest score in the history of the university, established in 1962.
By 1993 Blackett was voted Health Professional of the Year at a Luton Caribbean Heritage Award ceremony, and in 2003 she won the Citizen's Action Millennium Award for her project on health education for the elderly in her community.
Her book comes in three parts. The first section looks at the Western perception of medicine and includes analyses of genetic diseases, nutrition-related disorders and HIV/Aids. She follows this up with an exploration of the causes of disease, looking at traditional Chinese concepts in treating sickness. The final section looks at hindrances to a healthy existence such as loneliness and damaged emotions. The central theme of the book is self-identity and understanding how knowledge of the self can shape one's physical and mental destiny.
The work is a tour-de-force in the methods of self-analysis and self-improvement, and that is emphasised by meeting her in person. Blackett's passionate plea for people to improve their lives leaves a strong impression... |
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