Objectives

This virtual webinar is designed to help providers:

1. Understand the impact of traditions and customs of the African population and society.
2. Learn about food culture in pregnancy and postpartum for Central and South African families: food avoidance during pregnancy; food recommended during pregnancy; nutrition during postpartum period; and food recommended for recovery and encouraging lactation.
3. Understand the food challenges for New African Migrants in Maine.

Speaker

Pauline Lumumba (She, her, hers) is currently working with The Opportunity Alliance as a Multilingual Nutrition Counselor for WIC Special Project based at Maine Medical Center. The project focuses on enrolling Pregnant and Postpartum Patients, and also children under 5 not receiving WIC benefits but who are eligible. Pauline works in teamwork with Providers at Women's Clinic, Peds, NICU, Labor and Delivery and Mother & Baby Care. She provides nutrition education, benefits, breast pumps, and referrals to local resources for participants. She speaks French, English, Lingala and Tetela.

Lumumba is originally from DR Congo where she got her master's degrees in economics and education. She worked on different projects for community development, Public Health and teaching in Congo and outside of Congo. She moved to Maine in 2010 and volunteered for several years as Women Leader for Congolese Community of Maine (Cocomaine), where she was assisting new Mainers how to integrate into their new life in Maine. From 2011 up to now, she worked in different fields as a CNA, Medical Interpreter, Community Healthcare Worker and Multilingual Nutrition Counselor.