Monday Health Burst

MONDAY HEALTH BURST ON IMPORTANCE OF MENSTRUAL HYGIENE

Monday Health Burst /

Menstrual hygiene is of utmost importance for menstruating individuals’ overall well-being and health, and it’s all about maintaining cleanliness during menstruation to prevent infections and promote comfort and dignity. Here are some key reasons why menstrual hygiene is crucial:

Preventing infections: Poor menstrual hygiene can lead to various reproductive tract infections, including urinary tract infections and vaginal infections. Using clean, sanitary products and maintaining proper hygiene reduces the risk of bacterial growth and diseases.

Maintaining health: Menstrual blood provides an ideal environment for bacterial growth. By using hygienic practices such as regularly changing menstrual products and proper cleaning, individuals can minimize health risks associated with menstrual blood and ensure their overall well-being.

Reducing stigma and promoting dignity: Menstruation is still surrounded by social stigma and taboos in many societies, which can lead to adverse psychological and emotional effects on individuals. By practising good menstrual hygiene, individuals can feel more comfortable, confident, and empowered, challenging the stigma associated with menstruation.

Ensuring access to education: Inadequate access to menstrual hygiene products and facilities can hinder girls’ and women’s ability to attend school or work during their periods. By addressing menstrual hygiene needs, we can help create an enabling environment that ensures equal access to education and opportunities for everyone.

To adequately promote menstrual hygiene, it is essential to ensure access to clean and affordable menstrual products, educate individuals about proper hygiene practices, and challenge the social stigma surrounding menstruation. In addition, governments, organizations, and communities play crucial roles in creating supportive environments prioritizing menstrual health and well-being.

CFHI commemorated Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) Day, 2022 in Foma Academy Kubwa,Abuja and also partnered with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to educate and provide menstrual materials to girls and women in attendance. In addition to joining the awareness walk to promote policies favourable to women and girls who menstruate, CFHI will continue to provide sustainable solutions to end period poverty through a holistic approach that combines education with infrastructure and products (Safepad) to tackle societal taboos and stigma surrounding menstrual health.

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.

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MONDAY HEALTH BURST ON MALARIA – CAUSES AND PREVENTION

Health, Monday Health Burst /

Malaria is a serious and potentially deadly disease that affects millions of people around the world every year.

In 2022, the World Health Organisation (WHO) in their World Malaria Report, recorded 619,000 Malaria deaths globally. 31% of those deaths (19,890) occurred in Nigeria.

Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female mosquitoes.
The Plasmodium parasites P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. malariae are some of the several species that cause malaria and the most prevalent and deadly strain of the illness is P. falciparum.

Some factors that contribute to the risk of malaria transmission include;
High population density, limited access to healthcare, and poor sanitation.

According to WHO, severe infection is more likely to occur in newborns, children under five, pregnant women, travelers, and those with HIV or AIDS.

Malaria can be prevented by;

The use of antimalarial drugs.

The use of insecticide – treated mosquito nets.

Wearing of protective clothing

The use of insect repellent.

Elimination of mosquito breeding sites like stagnant water and dirty environment.

Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent the disease from becoming severe or even fatal.

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.

#MondayHealthBurst #Malaria #CausesandPrevention

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MONDAY HEALTH BURST ON ENDOMETRIAL CANCER

Health, Monday Health Burst, WHO, Women /

Endometrial cancer is a type of uterine cancer that affects the inner lining of the uterus.

As recorded by the World Cancer Research Fund International, endometrial cancer is the sixth most commonly occurring cancer in women and the fifteenth most common cancer overall, with four hundred and seventeen thousand new cases recorded in 2020.

Approximately 3 in 100 women will be diagnosed with uterine cancer at some point in their lives. More than 80 percent of people with uterine cancer survive for 5 years or longer after receiving the diagnosis according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

The symptoms of endometrial cancer include; vaginal bleeding after menopause, change in the length or heaviness of menstrual period, pelvic pain, and vaginal bleeding between periods or spotting.

Mayo clinic stated that doctors do not know the exact cause of endometrial cancer, but it occurs as a result of mutations in the DNA. This mutations lead to the growth of abnormal cells which unlike the healthy cells doesn’t die but accumulate to form tumor and later spread to other parts of the body.

Some of the factors known to increase the risk of having the cancer are; not bearing children, a late natural menopause ( after the age of 55), Tamoxifen- a hormone therapy, obesity, being tall, physical activity, and consumption of coffee (WCRI).

The treatment for endometrial cancer is majorly surgery to remove the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries depending on the cancer stage. Other treatment include radiation, hormone therapy and chemotherapy.

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.

#EndometrialCancer #UNFPA #WHO #NCI #MondayHealthBurst

 

                                                             

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MONDAY HEALTH BURST ON PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING IN CHILDREN

Exclusive Breastfeeding, Monday Health Burst, WHO /

                                               

                                               

The impact of breast feeding on the growth of a child cannot be overstated. Breastfeeding is responsible for intimacy and bonding between mother and child. This intimacy and bond created during breastfeeding, can provide long lasting physical and psychological benefits. Research has shown that there is a connection between the breastfeeding experience of a child and the cognitive development later in life.

An assessment carried out by Bernard et al (2013), on the cognitive and motor development in 2 and 3 year old children showed that improved problem solving abilities in children were associated with prolonged duration of exclusive breastfeeding. Another study showed that there was a reduced risk of cognitive impairment among children when breastfed immediately after birth (Diepeveen et al., 2017).

According to WebMD, breastfeeding has a deep and lasting effect on the behaviour, mental health, thought and understanding in children. For instance, babies who are breastfed are likely to have stronger critical thinking and reasoning skills, better memory, early language ability, and enhanced motor skills.

Breastfeeding is encouraged to be practiced by every mother as its benefits extend to almost every area of a child’s growth, that is, physical, emotional, social and psychological growth.

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.

#Breastfeeding #UNFPA #WHO #ChildHealth #PsychologicalBenefitsofBreastfeeding #MondayHealthBurst

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MONDAY HEALTH BURST ON BREASTFEEDING:A PROTECTIVE FACTOR FOR BREAST CANCER

Breast Care, Monday Health Burst /

                                                                  

Breastfeeding lowers the risk of breast cancer, especially if a woman breastfeeds for more than one year.

According to Amy Van Deusen, a large-scale analysis of nearly 150,000 women published in ‘The Lancelot’ in 2002 discovered that among women who breastfed, for every 12 months of breastfeeding (either with one child or spread over multiple children), the risk of breast cancer decreased by 4.3 percent compared to women who didn’t breastfeed at all.

Then a study published in 2014 by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that women of African ancestry have a high risk of developing the aggressive and hard – to- treat forms of breast cancer called estrogen receptor-negative and triple-negative, and the risk actually goes up when a woman gives birth, but breastfeeding negates this risk.

There are several reasons why breastfeeding protects health;

*Producing milk 24/7 limits breast cells ability to malfunction.

*Most women have fewer menstrual cycles when they are breastfeeding (added to the 9 missed periods during pregnancy) resulting in lower estrogen levels.

*Many women tend to eat more nutritious foods and follow healthier lifestyles (limit smoking and alcohol use) while breastfeeding.

Women are therefore encouraged to breastfeed their children for up to 1 year at least especially if the family has a record of breast cancer.

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.

 

#Breastfeeding

#AprotectiveFactorforBreastCancer

#who #unfpa #MondayHealthBurst

 

                                                                             

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Monday Health Burst on Benefits of Exclusive Breastfeeding to Babies

Monday Health Burst, WHO /

 

                                               

Breastfeeding is the act of feeding an infant breast milk from the breast. Exclusive and continued breastfeeding could help prevent 13% of death globally among children under five years old.

World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six months and encourages continuing breastfeeding even after solid foods are introduced until the age of two. It is also recommended, that Children initiate breastfeeding within the first hour of birth.

The benefits of exclusive breastfeeding cannot be understated as it includes;

Brain development: A US study showed that toddlers and preschoolers who had been exclusively breastfeed for at least three months had brains with twenty to thirty percent more white matter which connects different regions of the brain and transmits signals between them than those who had no breast milk. Therefore, Infants who are breastfed exclusively are more likely to have higher intelligence quotient (IQ) than formula fed babies.

Life long benefits: Children who were breastfed are less likely to suffer from diseases such as leukaemia and lymphoma and tend to have better eyesight, and straighter teeth than those who had formula milk.
Breastfeeding also helps to lower baby’s risk of becoming obese or developing type 1 or type 2 diabetes as adult.

Exclusive breastfeeding is known to considerably decrease infant mortality on account of common childhood illness. It is one of the ways to minimize the chances of a baby getting diarrhoea, allergies, pneumonia and suffering from malnutrition.

Sadly, three in five babies are not breastfed in the first hour of life and two out of three infants are not exclusively breastfed for the recommended six months.

More awareness should be created on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding.
Support from family members and friends is vital in encouraging mothers to breastfeed their infants exclusively.

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.

#Breastfeeding #who #unfpa #unicef
#EducateandSupport
#BuildingBackBetter
# MondayHealthBurst

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MHB Viral Hepatitis

Viral Hepatitis – Overview

#ViralHepatitis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Monday Health Burst, PMTCT, Viral Hepatitis, WHO /

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by a variety of infectious viruses and non-infectious agents leading to a range of health problems which could result in fatality. There are five main strains of the hepatitis virus, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E and they all cause liver disease. However, they differ in significant ways such as modes of transmission, severity of the illness, geographical distribution and prevention methods.

Viral hepatitis B and C leads to chronic disease in hundreds of millions of people and together are the most common cause of liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and viral hepatitis-related deaths.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), about 354 million people worldwide live with hepatitis B or C, and for most, testing and treatment remain beyond reach and in 2019, approximately 290 000 people died from hepatitis C.

Viral Hepatitis types are contacted through ingestion of contaminated food or water, unsafe contact with infected body fluids, receipt of contaminated blood or blood products, Mother-child transmission, sexual contact etc. Symptoms may be mild or severe at the onset of the infection.

Some types of hepatitis are preventable through vaccination while there is currently no effective vaccine against hepatitis C. Hepatitis if not treated with caution at the early stage will progress to cirrhosis and other chronic conditions of the liver.

WHO’s global hepatitis strategy, aims to reduce new hepatitis infections by 90% and deaths by 65% between 2016 and 2030.

 

 

#hepatitis #who #liverdiseases #livercirrhosis #mondayhealthburst #cfhi #unfpa #unicef

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MONDAY HEALTH BURST – HIV/AIDS Common Myths and Facts

Monday Health Burst /

On today’s Monday Health Burst, find out some HIV/AIDS common myths and facts. This topic is of great importance to the ending of AIDS because false myths arise due to lack of facts or having inaccurate information.

Myth 1: HIV can be cured.

Fact: There’s no cure yet for HIV, but antiretroviral treatment

Myth 2: I can get HIV by being around people who are HIV-positive.

Fact: HIV is not spread through touch, tears, sweat, saliva, or urine

Myth 3: Mosquitoes spread HIV.

Fact: Several studies show that mosquitoes do not spread HIV, even in areas with lots of mosquitoes and cases of HIV.

Myth 4: I don’t need to worry about getting HIV. Drugs will keep me well.

Fact: Antiretroviral drugs (ART) improve the lives of many people who have HIV and help them live longer. But many of these drugs are expensive and have serious side effects. Prevention is cheaper and easier than managing a lifelong condition and the problems it brings.

Myth 5: I am HIV-positive. My life is over.

Fact: ART allows people with HIV or AIDS live longer, normal, and productive lives when taken correctly and in time. One may live as long as s/he would have without the virus.

Myth 6: Now that I have HIV, I can’t have kids.

Fact: When pregnant, a doctor will prescribe HIV drugs to protect the mother and baby. The baby may also be given medication after birth. This will help protect the baby from being infected with the virus.

Myth 7: HIV is a spiritual curse.

Fact: HIV is not a spiritual curse, it is a disease contracted via unprotected sex, sharing of infected sharp objects, blood transfusion, exchange.

Join us next week on #MondayHealthBurst as we shall be discussing Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).

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SPEAK WEDNESDAY – PREDIABETES

Diabetes, Health, Healthy Dieting, Monday Health Burst, Prediabetes /

PREDIABETES – YOUR CHANCE TO PREVENT TYPE 2 DIABETES

According to Centre for Disease Control (CDC), prediabetes is a serious health condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, yet not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. If one has prediabetes, it shows that the cells in the body do not respond normally to insulin. Hence, the pancreas makes more insulin to try to get cells to respond and eventually will not be able to keep up. The blood sugar then rises, setting the stage for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Studies have shown that 1 in 3 American adults have prediabetes. In Nigeria, the prevalence of prediabetes is also high with hypertension emerging as the possible driving force. Though the exact cause of prediabetes is unknown, family history, genetics, lack of regular physical activity and being overweight with excess fat around the abdomen appear to be important factors. Other factors include ever having gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or giving birth to a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds and having polycystic ovary syndrome.

Often times, one could be with prediabetes for years with no clear symptoms, so it often goes undetected until serious health problems such as type 2 diabetes show up. However, some people experience increased thirst, frequent urination, excess hunger, fatigue, blurred vision, and darkened skin on certain parts of the body (neck, armpits, elbows, knees and knuckles).

To reverse prediabetes, keep an active lifestyle by getting at least 150 minutes a week of brisk walking or a similar activity, avoid refined carbohydrates, cut back on sugar, eat healthy foods, drink less alcohol, get sufficient sleep, reduce food portion size. More so, periodic screening is key to detecting and reversing prediabetes. Simple Blood Sugar Test done in time could stop prediabetes from developing into type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

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