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“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.

According to World Health Organization, female genital mutilation comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injuries to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. The practice is mostly carried out by traditional practitioners. In several settings, there is evidence suggesting a heightened involvement of healthcare providers in performing FGM due to the belief that the procedure is safer when medicalized.

The fact that there are no health benefits of FGM, but harm cannot be overemphasized.

WHO is of the view that victims of FGM face the immediate risk of haemorrhage, severe pain, fever, genital tissue swelling, infections e.g., tetanus, genital tissue swelling, urinary problems, wound healing problems, shock, and death.

Girls and women who undergo FGM face a heightened risk of accumulated life-long health challenges which may not be detected on time after the cut due to their ignorance of the consequences of the act.

Equally, the long-term complications include urinary problems, vaginal problems, menstrual problems, scar tissue and keloid, sexual problems increased risk of childbirth complications etc.
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 degree, research has undoubtedly proved that FGM is only associated with endangering the well-being of women and girls whose effects could be suffered in a lifetime.

There is therefore an urgent need to increase the advocacy to end FGM, enlighten the entire populace about the health complications of FGM and provide free medical care for women and girls living with FGM.

In commemoration of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM 2022, the Centre for Family Health Initiative visited St. Theresa Catholic Church, Amurie Omanze in Isu LGA of Imo State to educate over 60 women on the dangers of FGM and on how to achieve zero records of FGM in the community.

International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation

Speak Wednesday is an initiative of CFHI to address issues around gender-based violence and gender bias.
#SpeakWednesday #FGM #SayNoToFGM #Women’sRights #Humanrights #RightToGoodHealth

 

                                                                                                                                                         

In Nigeria, prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy among men and a hospital prevalence of 182.5 per 100,000 male admissions was recorded in 2010 in Osun State(Enemugwem, R.A., Eze, B.A., Ejike, U. et al.).

Prostate cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the prostate. Males have a little gland called the prostate that resembles a walnut that secretes seminal fluid, which feeds and carries sperm.
According to the American Cancer Society(ACS), there will be around 34,500 new instances of prostate cancer and about 268,490 deaths from the disease in the United States in 2022.

In it’s early stage, prostate cancer may not show any symptoms, but may result in indications and symptoms like: difficulty urinating, a weaker stream of pee, blood in the urine, blood in the semen, bone pain, weight loss without attempting, and erectile dysfunction when the cancer becomes advanced (Mayo Clinic).

Options for treating prostate cancer rely on a number of variables, including how quickly the disease is developing, if it has spread, your general health, and the potential advantages or disadvantages of the treatment. Some of the treatment options include; surgery to remove the prostate, radiation therapy, freezing or heating prostate tissue, and hormone therapy.

Around 1 in 8 males will receive a diagnosis of prostate cancer at some point in their life. However, only 1 in 41 of these will die as a result. This is because treatment is effective, especially in the early stages. Routine screening enables doctors to detect many cases of prostate cancer before they spread.(ACS).

Individuals and organizations are encouraged to create awareness on the need for routine check-ups to prevent advanced stage of prostate cancer.

 

#MondayHealthBurst #MensHealth #ProstateCancer #MensDay  #InternationaMensDay2022

 

                         

 

The three main types of diabetes according to International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and World Health Organization (WHO) are;

• Type 1 diabetes: Type 1 diabetes can develop at any age, but occurs most frequently in children and adolescents. It is believed to be an autoimmune condition. This means your immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the beta cells in your pancreas that produce insulin.

• Type 2 diabetes is more common in adults and accounts for around 90% of all diabetes cases (IDF). It starts as insulin resistance. This means your body cannot use insulin efficiently. That stimulates your pancreas to produce more insulin until it can no longer keep up with demand. Insulin production decreases, which leads to high blood sugar.

• Gestational diabetes (GDM) is due to insulin-blocking hormones produced during pregnancy. GDM usually disappears after pregnancy but women affected and their children are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

The treatment for diabetes is dependent on the type and how well your blood glucose levels are controlled, and any other underlying medical disorders you may have. ~ Cleveland Clinic.

For Type 1 diabetes, you must take insulin everyday, since insulin production by the pancreas has ceased while, medications for diabetes and diseases that are risk factors for diabetes, insulin, dietary and lifestyle modifications like decreasing weight, choosing nutritious foods and increasing your physical activity level are all possible treatment for type 2 diabetes.

For Gestational diabetes, if your glucose level is not too high, changing your diet and engaging in regular activity may be your primary treatment for Gestational diabetes. Doctors may begin medication or insulin administration if the target objective is still not achieved or if your blood glucose level is too high.

A basic diabetes screening via a simple blood sugar test can alert you to indicators of diabetes before the disease begins. CFHI in collaboration with HSDF, screened over 50,000 people for diabetes in Imo State, Nigeria.

Get screened today!

#MondayHealthBurst#AccessToDiabetesEducation#DiabetesDay
#WorldDiabetesDay
#WorldDiabetesDay2022

 

                                                                                                                                   

The trade of people for the purpose of forced labour, sexual slavery, or commercial sexual exploitation for the trafficker or others is referred to as human trafficking by the United Nations.

Although human trafficking is a violation of human rights that affects people of all genders, the U.S. Department of State reported that women and girls make up the majority of those who have been found to have been trafficked for both commercial sex and labour.

This can also be supported by the findings of the United Nation that stated that women and Girls represent 65 percent of all trafficking victims globally. While more than 90 percent of detected female victims are trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

The Nigerian government in 2022 identified 521 sex trafficking victims. Out of them, 158 were children, all girls, and the rest were women. As much as this is a global issue, it varies from country to country.

There are many factors that causes human trafficking. Among them are armed conflict, social and cultural practices, economic deprivation, gender discrimination, lack of education, lack of respect for human rights, poverty, etc. However, the root cause of human trafficking is traffickers.

Human trafficking is one of the most damaging hazards and injustices that women and girls face especially in crises ridden areas. Victims of human trafficking experience high rates of physical and sexual violence, including homicide, torture, psychological abuse, horrific work and living conditions, mental health problems e.g., depression, PSTD, etc. – American Psychological Association.

Government, private citizens, and other stakeholders are urged to take aggressive action to curb the occurrence of this gendered crime that preys on women and girls.

Speak Wednesday is an initiative of CFHI to address issues around gender-based violence and gender bias.
#SpeakWednesday #HumanTrafficking #WomenTrafficking #ChildTrafficking #HumanRight #GenderBias #GenderInequality

                 

 

Diabetes mellitus refers to a group of diseases that affect how the body uses blood sugar glucose.
About 422 million people worldwide have diabetes, the majority living in low-and middle-income countries(WHO).

According to Mayo Clinic, the actual cause of most kinds of diabetes is unknown. In all cases, sugar builds up in the bloodstream in every situation. This is as a result of inadequate insulin production by the pancreas. Diabetes of either type 1 or type 2 can result from a mix of hereditary and environmental factors. What those factors might be is unknown.

Diabetes symptoms vary depending on how much the blood sugar is elevated. Some people, especially those with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, may sometimes not experience symptoms. In type 1 diabetes, symptoms tend to come quickly and be more severe.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if one has any of the following diabetes symptoms, it is important to visit a medical doctor for a blood sugar test:

• Frequent urination especially at night
• Increased thirst
• Abnormal weight loss
• Increased hunger
• Blurry vision
• Numbness or tingling hands or feet
• Tiredness even when not stressed.
• Abnormal dry skin
• Having sores that heal slowly
• Frequent occurrence of infections.

#Diabetes #SymptomsandCauses #WorldDiabetesDay2022 #MondayHealthBurst @cdcgov

In Nigeria, there are various cultural customs that limit the advancement and protection of women’s rights. Women from all of Nigeria’s ethnic groupings generally experience some amount of marginalization in all facets of their lives due to the the patriarchal society that regards them as second-class citizens.

These cultural practices include;
1.Female genital mutilation
2.Child/forced marriage
3. Preference of a male child over a female child
4. Female infanticide
5.Widowhood rites, etc.

Gender inequalities in society as a whole are frequently reinforced and maintained by these harmful cultural norms.

Furthermore, these unfair societal attitudes and values promote and uphold the male patriarchy while restricting women’s access to political, economic, and educational opportunities as well as their sexual and reproductive health. This shows that female children are born with disadvantages from birth which prevents them from realizing their full potential as women in the future.

By eliminating harmful and discriminatory cultural practices, promoting female child education, and taking legal action against organizations or people who pose a danger to women’s rights, this narrative can be transformed.

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

#SpeakWednesday #CulturalRights #CulturalPractices #Women’sRights #GenderEquality #GenderBias #GenderInequality

A crucial factor in enhancing child survival and fostering healthy growth and development is infant and young child nutrition. The first two years of a child’s life are particularly crucial because good nutrition during this time promotes overall better development, lowers morbidity and mortality, and lowers the chance of chronic diseases.

According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 2.7 million child fatalities per year, or 45% of all child mortality, are attributed to malnutrition.

A child’s growth and capacity for learning are enhanced by adequate nutrition prior to delivery, through the mother’s health, and during the early years of life. Additionally, healthy eating helps avoid disease.
Children that are underfed do not develop properly, they are smaller than other kids their age and are typically quite selective and less interested in eating food. When they play, they are less engaged in exploring and learning and are less energetic.
In addition, malnourished children are frequently unwell. A body that is already weak from insufficient nutrition is more prone to sicknesses.

Everyone in the society should work together to ensure that child nutrition is prioritized from conception, child’s birth and all through their development stages in order to ensure the society’s future healthiest generations.

Monday Health Burst is an initiative of CFHI to address issues of basic health concern. Join us every Monday on all our social media platforms for more episodes.

#InfantNutrition
#YoungChildFeeding
#MondayHealthBurst

Breast self-examination have not been shown to be effective in detecting cancer or improving survival for women who have breast cancer. Regardless, health practitioners believe that there is value in women being familiar with their own breasts to help them understand what is normal and report changes promptly.

Centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) in September 2022 noted that “Regular mammograms are the best tests doctors have to find breast cancer early”.
A mammogram is an X-ray picture of the breast, otherwise known as a screening mammogram. This phenomenon when used in relation to breast cancer, means checking a woman’s breast for cancer before there are any visible signs. With a mammogram, doctors occasionally detect signs of cancer up to three years before it can be felt (CDC).

Treatment of cancer depends on the cancer stage. It could consist of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.

Thus, it is vital that routine breast screening is done to greatly increase the chances of winning breast cancer and screening is done at any approved hospital or clinic.
Early detection is key.

Monday Health Burst is an initiative of CFHI to address issues of basic health concern. Join us every Monday on all our social media platforms for more episodes.

#breastcancer
#ScreeningandTreatment
#breastcancerawarenessmonth
#breastcancersurvivor
#RISEforBCAM
#MondayHealthBurst

Cancer has been defined by Oxford languages as a malignant growth or tumor resulting from an uncontrolled division of cells.
Breast cancer is thus a cancer that forms in the cells of the breasts.Breast cancer is more prevalent in women and occurs only very rarely in men.Breast cancer is known to be the most common and invasive type of cancer in females. It is also recorded to be the leading cause of deaths from cancer.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2020, 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer and about 685 000 deaths occurred from breast cancer globally.
Historically, breast cancer was low in Nigeria, but we have experienced an increase as a result of lifestyle changes as well as urbanization. Currently approximately 18% of deaths in the country are attributed to breast cancer.

The American Cancer Society stated that the most common types of breast cancer are:

Ductal Carcinoma in situ (DCIS) , Invasive Breast Cancer (IDC/ILC), Triple-negative Breast Cancer, Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC), Paget disease of the Breast, Angiosarcoma of the Breast and Phyllodes Tumor.

There are four known stages of breast cancer. Stages one to four being the most common stages. Stage zero is sometimes used to describe cancer that still is localized to the area In which it started hence they are easily treatable. They are even considered precancerous by some healthcare providers.

The most common symptoms of breast cancer includes;

A lump in the breast, abnormal nipple discharge,
changes in the shape or texture of the nipple or breast, discomfort in the breast, redness of skin around the breast.

While the risk factors include;

Genetic mutations, incressing age, having dense breasts, personal history of breast cancer or certain non-cancerous breast diseases, family history of breast or ovarian cancer, previous treatment using radiation therapy.

Other risk factors include;

Not being physically active, being overweight or having obesity after menopause, taking hormones or certain oral contraceptives (birth control pills), reproductive history (Having the first pregnancy after age 30, not breastfeeding, and never having a full-term pregnancy), harmful use of alcohol, smoking, female gender is the strongest breast cancer risk factor.

There are many reasons for lumps to develop in the breast, most of which are not cancer.

Often, the most common first detectable site of spread is to the lymph nodes under the arm although it is possible to have cancer-bearing lymph nodes that cannot be felt.

#BreastCancer
#SymptomsandRiskFactors
#BreastCancerAwarenessMonth
#BreastCancerSurvivor
#RISEforBCAM
#MondayHealthBurst