cfhinitiative

Postnatal depression is a mood disorder that affects women after childbirth. According to different research, women who went through Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) are at higher risk of developing such disorder due to childbirth complications associated with FGM. Signs and symptoms may include severe anxiety and panic attacks, depressed mood, insomnia, loss of appetite, overwhelming fatigue or loss of energy, difficulty with bonding with the baby, withdrawal from friends and family, restlessness, etc. This in turn affects the newborn baby who remains unattended to or less breastfed by the mother.

The psychological impact of FGM can be devastating. Hence, the need to raise awareness among women, familes and the society at large about the destructive and long-lasting consequences of FGM on women.

#EndFGM #SpeakWednesday

 

   

A total of 1.6 million people died from Tuberculosis (TB) in 2021 (including 187 000 people with HIV). Worldwide, TB is the 13th leading cause of death and the second leading infectious killer after COVID-19 (above HIV/AIDS). (WHO)

Tuberculosis, an infectious disease which is caused by the mycobacterium bacteria, typically affects the lungs but can affect any organ in the body. Bacteria in the airborne droplets can cause it to grow.

Although the bacteria that cause tuberculosis can live in your body, your immune system usually works to keep you healthy. For this reason, medical professionals distinguish between:

Latent TB: Latent TB, also called inactive TB or TB infection, isn’t contagious. You have a TB infection, but the bacteria in your body are inactive and cause no symptoms. Latent TB can turn into active TB, so treatment is important.

Active TB: Often known as TB sickness, makes you unwell and, in most situations, can spread to other people. It might happen shortly after TB bacterial infection or years later. (Mayo Clinic)

The signs and symptoms of active TB include:

* Coughing for three or more weeks

* Coughing up blood or mucus

* Chest pain, or pain with breathing or coughing

* Unintentional weight loss

* Fatigue

* Fever

* Night sweats

* Chills

* Loss of appetite

TB bacteria spread through the air from one person to another when a person who has TB disease of the lungs or throat speaks, sings, or coughs.

TB is NOT transmitted by;

* Shaking hands
* Sharing food or drink
* Touching toilet seats or bed linens
* Sharing toothbrushes
* Kissing

TB can be lethal if left untreated but it is preventable and treatable. Visit the nearest clinic for a test if you have any of the aforementioned symptoms.

 

#MondayHealthBurst #Tuberculosis #Symptoms #ModeOfTransmission 

                                                                               

A Pap test, often known as a Pap smear, is a procedure to test for cervical cancer. The examination looks for abnormal cells in the cervix that are malignant or may develop into cancer. Your doctor extracts cells from your cervix during a Pap smear to look for cancerous lesions under a microscope.(Cleveland clinic)

According to Mayo clinic in the article Pap Smear published in June 2022, Doctors generally recommend repeating Pap testing every three years for women ages 21 to 65.

Regardless of your age, your doctor may advise more frequent Pap smears if you have certain risk factors. These risk factors include:

* Cervical cancer diagnosis or precancerous cells on Pap test

* Exposure to Diethylstilbestrol (DES) before birth

* HIV infection

* Immune system weakened as a result of chemotherapy, organ transplantation, or long-term corticosteroid use

* History of smoking

The screening procedure can be discontinued if one is above 65 years or following a complete hysterectomy (surgical removal of the entire uterus)

Cervical cancer is rarely discovered in people who undergo routine screenings for the disease.(National Cancer Institute, NCI).

Routine screening remains a major key in preventing cervical cancer.

 

#PapTest #CervicalCancer #WorldCancerDay #RoutineScrening #MondayHealthBurst

 

                   

I could barely walk after the cut. My mother and the old woman who helped to hold me down during the process tried to help me up but I collapsed. I almost bled to death.
 
~ FGM Survivor
 
Today’s speak Wednesday addresses how FGM threatens the health of women and girls.
 
The fact that there are no health benefits of FGM, but harm cannot be overemphasized.
 
World Health Organization states that FGM victims run the immediate risk of haemorrhage, excruciating pain, fever, genital tissue swelling, infections like tetanus, urinary problems, problems with wound healing, shock, and death.

Due to their lack of knowledge about the effects of the act, girls and women who undergo FGM run a higher risk of developing accumulated life-long health issues that may not be discovered right away after the cut.

The long-term side effects also include a higher risk of complications during childbirth, as well as urinary, vaginal, menstrual, and scar tissue issues. It is pertinent to note that all forms/types of FGM can result in either immediate or long-term health complications, and a victim can suffer more than one complication.

To this extent, research has unquestionably demonstrated that FGM is only connected to endangering the well-being of women and girls, with consequences that may last a lifetime.
Therefore, it is urgent to step up efforts to end FGM, educate the general public about the health effects of FGM, and provide medical care for women and girls who have undergone FGM.

CFHI through the US Consulate General Small Grant Programme, helped to lessen discriminatory practices in Ngor Okpala community of Imo State. Ten community dialogues were held as part of the Operation-Know-Your-Right Campaign to educate community members about harmful widowhood practices, child marriage, gender preference, land disinheritance, and FGM. Following the conclusion of these dialogues, a community charter was created and signed by the paramount traditional ruler as well as representatives from the villages that make up the town.

CFHI will continue to advocate for the abolition of FGM and all other harmful practices.

Speak Wednesday is an initiative of CFHI to address issues around gender-based violence and gender bias.
 
#SpeakWednesday # FGM #EndFGM #WomenHealth #WomenRights #GenderStereotype #GenderBias #GenderInequality

 

                                                                                               

According to Global Cancer Observatory, Nigeria had a record of 124, 815 new cases of cancer and 78,899 number of deaths associated with cancer in 2020.

Cancer is a hereditary disease, which means that genetic abnormalities that affect how our cells function—particularly how they grow and divide cause the cancer.

Cancer-causing genetic alterations may occur because of mistakes that happen during cell division, environmental toxins including cigarette smoke’s compounds and the sun’s Ultraviolet radiation that destroy DNA. (National Cancer Institute).

Cells multiply erratically as a result of cancer. Tumors, immune system deterioration, and other potentially lethal conditions might result from this.

There are numerous causes of cancer, some of which can be avoided.

Risk factors for cancer, in addition to smoking, include:

* Excessive alcohol use
* Additional body weight
* Inactivity and poor nutrition

Other cancer-causing factors cannot be avoided. Age is currently the most important unavoidable risk factor.

There are about 100 types of cancer according to National Cancer Institute;

* Lung Cancer
* Breast Cancer
* Bladder Cancer
* Colon and Rectal Cancer
* Endometrial Cancer
* Prostate Cancer
* Kidney Cancer
* Liver Cancer etc.

In 2020, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), breast and cervical cancers were responsible for most cancer-related deaths in Nigeria.

Treatment for cancer can be inform of Chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, stem cell transplant, and surgery. Regular screenings are recommended for early detection.

In line with this year’s theme “Close the Care Gap”, CFHI recommends that all relevant stakeholders should address the barriers to Cancer diagnosis and treatment in Nigeria.

#MondayHealthBurst #CancerOverview  #CloseTheCareGap #WorldCancerDay

 

                                             

What is female genital mutilation (FGM)?

FGM can be described as the practice of the partial or total removal of the external genitals’ organs in young girls and women. It is mostly performed on young girls between infancy and adolescence, and occasionally on adult women. ~ World Health Organization

This procedure is carried out by a religious leader, elder or an amateur medical practitioner using a razor or a sharp glass.

There are four types of FGM as established by World health organization.

Type 1: is the partial or total removal of the clitoris glans (the external and visible part of the clitoris, which is a sensitive part of the female genitals), and/or the prepuce/clitoral hood (the fold of skin surrounding the clitoris glans).

Type 2: is the partial or total removal of the clitoris glans and the labia minora (the inner fold of the vulva), with or without removal of the labia majora (the outer folds of skin of the vulva).

Type 3: also known as infibulation, is the narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal. The seal is formed by cutting and repositioning the labia minora, or labia majora, sometimes through stitching, with or without removal of the clitoral prepuce/clitoral hood and glans.

Type 4: this includes all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, e.g, pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterizing the genital area.

FGM HAS NO HEALTH BENEFITS, ONLY HARM!

Speak Wednesday is an initiative of CFHI to address issues around gender-based violence and gender bias.

#SpeakWednesday #GBV #FemaleGenitalMutilation #FGM #Women’srights #genderequality #genderbias

 

                                                       

Did you know?

• Trypanosomiasis also known as “sleeping sickness” is caused by parasites of genus Trypanosoma
• They are transmitted to humans by infected tsetse flies.
• 663 cases were reported in the year 2020. (WHO)
• There is no vaccine or drug for prophylaxis against African trypanosomiasis. (CDC)
• Diagnosis and treatment of the disease is complex and requires specifically skilled staff.

The foundation of human rights principles is discrimination. Gender ideology and patriarchal interests have been the foundation of the discrimination against women that is deeply ingrained in our culture and societal norms.

Despite modernization, there are still a large number of cultural practices that discriminate against women and restrict their ability to exercise their human rights. These practices are still in use today and are supported by a sizable portion of the population. They include;
• Female genital mutilation
• Child marriage
• Forced marriage
• Virginity testing
• Harmful widowhood practices e.g, ritual cleansing, confinement, forceful shaving of hair, etc.
• Legalized wife battery, by a husband for the purpose of correcting his wife in the North recognized as lawful. ~ Section 55(1)(d) of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria.
• Female disinheritance

Women’s civil, economic, social, and fundamental rights are directly impacted by this marginalization of women on a cultural and societal level. International treaties like the Convention on the Political Rights of Women and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, both of which Nigeria ratified, have addressed these issues.

We can create a society devoid of discrimination against women by enhancing the legal protection of women, raising awareness, and empowering women.

Women are humans, and their rights are human rights too.

Speak Wednesday is an initiative of CFHI to address issues around gender-based violence and gender bias.

#SpeakWednesday #Women’sRights #HumanRights #GenderStereotype #GenderBias #GenderInequality

 

 

                                                                                         

 

 

Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection caused by the bacterium called Corynebacterium species that affects the nose, throat and sometimes, skin of an individual.

According to World Health Organization, In 2021, a total of 8,639 cases of diphtheria were reported worldwide.

Diphtheria may lead to paralysis, heart failure, or breathing difficulties. In some cases, it might even be lethal (Medical news).

According to Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the onset of signs and symptoms usually starts after 2 – 10 of exposure to the bacteria.

Symptoms

. In severe cases, a thick grey or white patch appears on the tonsils and/or at the back throat associated with difficulty breathing.

. Hoarseness and a painful throat

. Neck glands that are swollen (lymph nodes)

. Nasal discharge

. Fever

. Tiredness

. Red eyes (Conjunctivitis)

Some persons who contract diphtheria-causing germs simply experience a mild sickness or have no outward signs and symptoms at all.

Diphtheria germs typically pass from person to person through respiratory droplets such as those from coughing or sneezing. Additionally, contact with infected open sores or ulcers might make someone ill. Those who are more susceptible to illness include:

. People who live with the patient.

.People who have had frequent, close contact with the patient in the past.

. People who have been directly exposed to secretions from the patient’s suspected infection site, such as their mouth or skin (Center for Disease Control and Prevention).

Following the recent outbreak of Diphtheria in Nigeria, Parents should ensure that their children are fully vaccinated against diphtheria with three (3) doses of the pentavalent vaccine as recommended in the childhood immunization schedule and all healthcare workers with higher exposure to cases of diphtheria should be vaccinated against diphtheria.

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE!

#MondayHealthBurst #diphteria #SymptomsandCauses

 

                                                                   

The Nigerian federal law, Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act VAAP which was passed to address violence against women defines domestic violence as any act perpetrated on any person in a domestic relationship where such act causes harm or may cause imminent harm to the safety, and health, or well-being of any person. 

 

This violation of human rights can take many forms, including physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. Women are more likely than men to be victims of domestic violence. Women who experience intimate partner violence have more health needs and seek health services more frequently than the general population, and their use of these services rises as the frequency and severity of violence increases. ~ Black MC

According to World Health Organization, the health consequences of domestic violence on women can be immediate, acute, long-lasting or chronic, and the common ones include;

Physical Effects

• Acute or immediate physical injuries, such as bruises, lacerations, punctures, burns and bites, as well as fractures and broken bones or teeth
• More serious injuries, which can lead to disabilities
• Long term health problems and poor health status
• Death

Additionally, women who experience domestic violence are more prone to develop mental illnesses like post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, sleeping problems, and occasionally even suicidal thoughts.

In order to lessen domestic violence in our society, it is advised that victims of domestic abuse come forward or report the abuse to the appropriate authorities for assistance.

Domestic violence is unacceptable. Say no to domestic violence.

Speak Wednesday is an initiative of CFHI to address issues around gender-based violence and gender bias.

#SpeakWednesday #GBV #SayNoToDomesticViolence #Women’srights #genderequality #genderbias