SPEAK WEDNESDAY
GENDER THEORIES PART 4 – Social Learning Theory by Judith Butler.
(Masculinity and Femininity roles are not biologically fixed but socially constructed)
MONDAY HEALTH BURST – COMPLEMENTARY FEEDING
MONDAY HEALTH BURST – COMPLEMENTARY FEEDING
Complementary feeding is defined as the process starting when breast milk alone is not sufficient to meet the nutritional requirements of infants, and therefore other foods and liquids are needed along with breast milk. It is the transition from exclusive breastfeeding to family foods which typically covers the period from 6-24 months of age.
Complementary feeding prevents malnutrition, deficiency diseases, like anaemia and promotes growth. Children who are not started on complementary feeding by 6 months of age consume in-adequate variety and amount of food to meet their nutritional needs.
It is important to note that complimentary feeding is done during “weaning” and should be a gradual process. It could be tweaked or limited to semi solids for the first trials and then stepped up to solids. These feeds range from grains, vegetables, fruits, meat, dairy and other classes of food.
To meet evolving nutritional requirements, infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods, while continuing to breastfeed for up to two years. Exclusive breastfeeding is essential for the first 6months of life to achieve optimal growth, development, and health, after which weaning can commence.
When weaning is not instituted in time, children may be deprived of adequate nutrition to continue their growth and can affect the immunity and health.
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SPEAK WEDNESDAY
SPEAK WEDNESDAY – GENDER THEORIES PART 3
(OBJECT RELATIONS THEORY)
According to Object Relations Theory, humans are birthed with an inbuilt capacity to make and sustain relationships and to socialize in their various environment. Once a baby makes his/her first entry into the world, the innate capacity begins to develop immediately he meets “the object”. The object is usually an interior image of one who constantly cares for the infant. In most cases, the first object is the child’s mother. Other objects are the father or guardian who take up parenting responsibilities.
Sάndor Ferenczi initiated the first idea of the Object Relations Theory, followed by other scholars in the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s who extended the theory. However, in 1952, Ronald Fairbairn popularized his theory of Object Relations. These scholars who have contributed to the development of the theory are trying to explicate the role of “the object” in the development of a child psyche.
The theory proposes that family incidences as infants grow tend to structure the way people socialize with others in their environment. Experiences in adulthood may alter the individual’s personality but the impact from “the object” during childhood still greatly influences the person even as he/she grows older. Children raised in a home ravaged by Gender Based Violence tend to be aggressive as adults and see violence as normal in every home or develop low self-esteem. These positive and negative incidences shapen their character and behavior consciously or unconsciously.
Ronald Fairbairn believes that the first object (mother) plays a key role in the formation of a child’s character. Therefore, emphasizing the importance of raising children in a healthy environment. A mother takes care of her children and unconsciously her children begin to form character from the things they watch her do and say. Mothers’ Day is celebrated not just because a mother cares for her children but because the society understands that a mother plays a key role in producing either bad or patriotic citizens.
MONDAY HEALTH BURST
MONDAY HEALTH BURST
Studies are limited in how effective the use of face masks on healthy individuals affect the outcome of prevention of a respiratory virus. However, during the Covid-19 pandemic, we have seen nations use the precaution of implementing the use of face masks nationwide and have seen remarkable results on the prevention of the spread of the virus together with hand washing and social distancing. This among other studies led to the recommendation of non medical masks by WHO and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
According to WHO guidelines, appropriate use and disposal of face masks are essential to ensure that they are effective and to avoid any increase in transmission. Hence, the need for proper sensitization to the proper way of using a face mask and how to dispose it, since so many people had little or no knowledge of what a face mask is prior to the pandemic.
Below are recommended steps on the correct use of face masks by Practices in Healthcare Settings:
- Place the mask carefully, ensuring it covers the mouth and nose and tie it securely to minimize any gaps between the face and the mask.
- Avoid touching the mask while wearing it.
- Remove the mask appropriately by not touching the front of the mask but untie from behind.
- After removal, clean hands using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or wash with soap and water.
- Replace masks as soon as they become dampened.
- Do not re-use single-use masks.
- Discard single-use masks after each use and dispose of them immediately upon removal.
- For non medical masks, make sure to wash with disinfectant as well as soap and water after single use and make sure to dry under the sun. It is also advisable to have more than one non medical mask.
#StaySafe #MondayHealthBurst
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SPEAK WEDNESDAY- GENDER THEORIES PART 2
SPEAK WEDNESDAY- GENDER THEORIES PART 2
(STANDPOINT THEORY BY DOROTHY SMITH)
Through the standpoint theory, Smith argues that notions and beliefs are greatly influenced by location. “We begin from the world as we actually experience it, and what we know of the world and of the other is conditional on that location” (Smith 1987).
At different parts of the world, harboring different kinds of people, beliefs, religions, ideologies and values define who we are and what we believe. To her, as we grow, our values developed from incidences around our environment and this is why the value placed on each gender differs in every society. Then, we begin to take stands (stand point) in our society from what we know through our experiences and the experiences of others.
In Africa, male children are celebrated over their female folks and this has in so many ways contributed to how less important females feel at home, school, social gathering and even at work place. This has affected the mind-set of most female children and as they grow into adulthood, they are made them see themselves as the weaker gender, whose voice should be heard only when asked.
Since we were all born at different locations of the world, we lack the entire knowledge of it. No one knows the entire information of the world. Smith therefore puts a limitation on the knowledge of man.
According to Smith, standpoint is individualistic. This means that no two persons can have the same standpoint irrespective of if they were born and raised in the same environment or society. She therefore encourages us to take our standpoint seriously because it explicates the totality of an individual.
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MONDAY HEALTH BURST – COVID-19 LOCKDOWN
MONDAY HEALTH BURST – COVID-19 LOCKDOWN
About five months ago, the world woke up to the news of a new Corona virus, a Novel virus which led to Nigeria’s decision of locking down her major cities to slow down the spread for the past 5 weeks.
During the recent address by Mr. President, it was stated that the stay at home order will be lifted by May 4th. However, it is important that as we go back to work, we need not throw caution to the wind and return to business as usual. It is expected that we remember why the lockdown was enforced in the first place.
According to worldometer figures, we are presently at over 3.2 million confirmed cases of the corona virus (Covid-19) and more than two thousand deaths. This means all hands must be on deck.
As we leave the lockdown, kindly follow the prescribed WHO guidelines of:
Hand hygiene; Washing hands with soap under running water for at least 20 seconds or use of an alcohol-based sanitizer.
Wear a face mask; WHO encourages the use of non-medical face masks for the fear of shortage for medical professionals.
When coughing or sneezing; Cough and sneeze in a flexed elbow or into tissue/handkerchief and dispose of it immediately.
Clean all surfaces; Regularly clean tables, counter tops, door handles, windows, etc, with bleach or disinfectant solutions.
When sick, stay at home; If you notice any symptom of Covid-19, stay at home and call NCDC hotlines in your state if need be.
Avoid public gatherings/places; As much as possible, regulate your movement till this pandemic is mitigated.
Keep social distance; Do not mistake eased restrictions to the end of Covid-19. Social distancing is very essential. This is not the time to visit or hold parties.
As much as possible, maintain the routines as stated while on lockdown. Spread the awareness not the virus. Let us all do our parts to flatten the curve and together with our medical professionals we will beat Covid-19.
#Stay Safe
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SPEAK WEDNESDAY – GENDER THEORIES (PART ONE)
Simone de Beauvior’s gender theory – One is not born a woman, one becomes one, differentiates sex from gender. This theory believes that gender is an aspect of identity gradually acquired. Everything we are is as a result of choices and what we build from our own resources and those which society gives us. We don’t only create our own values, we create ourselves.
It is said that sometimes, it is hard to become a woman because of the struggle for human freedom in the apparently disadvantaged female body. De Beauvoir argues that it is not the biological condition of women per se that constitutes a handicap: it is how a woman construes this condition that renders it positive or negative.
Becoming a woman takes conscious efforts and deliberate actions. What feminist philosophers like de Beauvoir aim to achieve is to open the space for that freedom to flourish. To her, gender was decided by the way parents treated and raised their children. Hence, gender identity is decided very early in life. This means that a girl is built up emotionally as the weaker sex, not to have a voice and a decision when she is with her “Male folks”, to always live as an assistant rather than a leader, not to dare or have a dream greater than a male.
This theory from Simone de Beauvior serves as a reminder that we are first human before gender, creating awareness so that we can change certain things about our societies for the better. It also calls attention to the negative effects of the way women are treated differently in the society.
Join us next week on Speak Wednesday for more gender theories.
#Gender #Womeninspire #Genderinequality.
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MONDAY HEALTH BURST – PROPER HYGIENE AND SANITATION
MONDAY HEALTH BURST – PROPER HYGIENE AND SANITATION:
Simply put, hygiene is the personal practices we imbibe that contribute to healthy living like hand washing, hair trimming and keeping nails short and clean, bathing, brushing of teeth morning and evening, among others. Sanitation on the other hand, is the actions and use of tools we combine towards keeping our environment clean, safe and healthy. These include effective drainage and proper waste disposal, how we prepare food, maintain toilet facilities and washing stations.
According to WHO, these practices are important towards the availability of clean water, combating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTP) like helminths via contaminated soil and water, lymphatic filariasis which affects 1 billion of the world’s poorest people in about 149 countries. It includes prevention of water borne diseases like diarrhoea, cholera and breeding of organisms that cause malaria and onchocerciasis.
Globally, 2.4 billion people lack access to proper toilet facilities, hence, the high rate of open defecation. Over 946 million people worldwide practice open defecation according to a WHO report, leading to contamination of the soil and nearby water bodies, often resulting in diseases affecting communities.
To ensure we understand the scope and scale of the need for hygiene and sanitation, we need to start with us as individuals, making sure we imbibe hygienic practices and sanitize our environment by disposing waste properly, recycling, cleaning of our homes and surroundings, culminating in the next step of community led sanitation. Communities can provide proper latrines and waste disposal means which is an important part of sanitation and can drastically reduce diseases in the communities.
To help build and maintain a healthy community and personal health, especially in this prevailing pandemic, we must embrace proper hygiene and sanitation.
#HygieneAndSanitation #MondayHealthBurst #Stayhome #Staysafe
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WORLD MALARIA DAY 2020
WORLD MALARIA DAY 2020: ZERO MALARIA STARTS WITH ME:
“From 2000 to 2015, several countries made tremendous progress in the fight against malaria. Globally, malaria deaths fell by more than 50%. Seventeen countries eliminated malaria, and six were certified by the WHO as malaria-free”. This exceptional progress demonstrated that malaria elimination is achievable.
Despite the progress made in the fight against malaria, half of the world population is still at risk of this devastating disease. According to WHO’s World Malaria Report for 2019, the scourge of malaria continues to strike hardest against pregnant women and young children in Africa. Scaling up efforts to reduce cases and deaths among these two populations would provide significant boost in the fight against malaria.
With the present Covid-19 pandemic concerns taking the front line, there is need to ensure that efforts and progress gained in the fight against malaria are not lost and there is continued testing and treatment of malaria cases even within this pandemic. WHO warned on Thursday, April 23, that the number of deaths caused by malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa could double to 769,000 this year, as efforts to curb the disease are disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is essential that we keep to the guidelines of cleaning the environment and dispensing stagnant waters around homes, ensuring proper covering of openings, fumigate regularly, appropriate clothing especially for children at night and most importantly the use of insecticide treated mosquito net. In as much as we enjoin everyone to stay at home, never hesitate to seek medical help if fever occurs.
Happy World Malaria Day!
#StaySafe #WMD2020
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SPEAK WEDNESDAY – WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS
WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS – LOCKDOWN PRESENTING OPPORTUNITY FOR INDOOR AND CONTROLLED OUTDOOR SPORTS
The number of women who currently participate in sports or who closely follow sporting events is steadily increasing, despite the traditional believe that women are not allowed to participate in games exclusively for men.
On 19 April 1967, Kathrine Switzer made history by circumventing the ban that prevented women from competing in a marathon. She also did this in the oldest marathon in the world — the Boston Marathon. She did not just run it, she finished it with a time of 4 hours and 20 minutes despite the organizers’ boycott.
Times have changed, and the International Olympic committee (IOC) has played an important role in establishing a positive trend to enhance women’s participation in sports.
Over the last 30 years, the IOC has been advocating for the participation of women at all levels, encouraging National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and International Federations (IFs) to enhance the presence of women in sports at all levels.
The success of the IOC Women in Sports Policy is noticeable in terms of women’s participation in the games. The number of women competing at the games has increased significantly over the last 30 years – from 26.1 percent at Seoul 1988 to a record of 45.2 per cent at Rio 2016. In October 2018, the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Buenos Aires 2018 was the first fully gender balanced Olympic event ever.
Women have over the years carved a niche in the sport arena. There can’t be mention of some sports without the big-name women players.
Serena Williams has taken it upon herself to see that the U.S. remains an international force to be reckoned with in tennis. She has won 13 individual Grand Slams as at 2014—not to mention eight doubles Grand Slams and three Olympic gold medals.
Ronda Rousey has emerged as one of the biggest stars in MMA. Russian tennis pro Maria Sharapova is not just one of the top women sports, she is in the conversation about who rules the sport. NASCAR driver Danica Patrick is a polarizing figure in the sports world.
Nigeria is not left behind as Blessing Okagbare is a light bearer in the athletic world. Loveliness Obiji paralympic gold medalist is also a force to reckon with, Asisat Oshoala (Football), Funke Oshonaike (Table Tennis), just to mention but a few.
According to the Women and Sports report, women who participate in sporting activities at school have a 76% chance of remaining interested in sports for the rest of their lives. So, we need to encourage the children and wards to give it their best shot.
Women are known to put in their best in their choice career, so the world must change her mindset. The present lockdown presents opportunity for indoor and controlled outdoor sports. It is important now more than ever to discover new passion, because sport has long since ceased to be a man’s game.
#EndInequailtyinsport #Womeninspire #Womeninsport.
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