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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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MONDAY HEALTH BURST- World immunization day

Vaccines are a less potent version of the disease they aim to fight against. There are very important because when one has an immune system prepped to identify and fight a disease, the possibility of contacting the disease is highly mitigated. Even after having direct contact with an infected person. 

There are various types of vaccines, but the main two are; live attenuated and inactivated vaccines. Like the names imply, Live attenuated means that a weakened version of the disease causing organism is prepared and used to create immunity, which can confer a life time immunity to the disease. While Inactivated is the killed disease causing organism used to give immunity. Unlike the live attenuated, inactivated vaccines do not confer life immunity and requests booster shots to keep immunity up.
Other types of vaccines involve using of components to the disease causing organism. Like using a protein or toxin to help the immune system target the specific component on the organism in a way to fight off the disease.

Vaccines have helped save millions of lives by preventing childhood illnesses and curbing epidemics and pandemics all over the world. With continued work on creation of vaccines, the present Covid-19 pandemic will soon be highly mitigated.
Until then, remember to take responsibility by practicing the hygiene rules and obeying set down rules from World Health Organisation and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
#StayhomeStaysafe
#VaccinesWorkforAll
#WorldImmunizationWeek

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SPEAK WEDNESDAY

 

Welcome to another episode of Speak Wednesday.

Domestic violence has become an everyday phenomenon around the world. It is an act of physical, verbal or emotional intimidation that has become an epidemic. Domestic violence is not new to the Nigerian society. Recently, we have witnessed murder and violence across religion, age, gender, ethnic groups and social classes.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of a “horrifying global surge” in domestic violence during the coronavirus crisis and urged governments to step up efforts to prevent such.
Lagos state government earlier announced some emergency helplines for domestic violence victims at the onslaught of the lockdown because it is perceived that with couples indoor having little or nothing to do, there is bound to be misunderstanding which when not well managed, can lead to violence.
Let us join hands to prevent violence everywhere as we work collectively towards ending Covid-19. As we stay at home, let us endeavour to stay safe. Speak up when there is the need to do so.
#StayAtHomeAndStaySafe #SayNoToDomesticViolence

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Health workers day 2020

MONDAY HEALTH BURST- Health Workers

2,000 medical doctors leave Nigeria yearly' | The Guardian Nigeria ...

 

World Health Organization (WHO) has set the year 2020 as the international year of nurses and midwives. Nurses and midwives play a vital role in providing health services and with the present pandemic, we are ever grateful to have these professionals on the field of action. Today, we acknowledge and appreciate the work of nurses in caring for those who have been infected with the novel corona virus and other severe health related cases, the midwives caring for the pregnant women, doctors, physiotherapists, pathologists, microbiologists and many others who are at the frontline helping to curb COVID-19 pandemic and other diseases. To those that have lost the battle to the disease in the wake of their work, losing their families as a result of isolation and quarantine, we can’t thank you enough.
It is time for everyone to be responsible too

  • Do not panic or fret.
  • Keep to the recommendations of serial hand washing, use of sanitizers, refrain from touching nose, mouth and eyes.
  • Do not overwhelm those at the frontline with easily treated at home cases. The hospital is not safe for you this period either.
  • Stay at home for them as those at the frontline continue to work to control this menace from spreading further.

Stay safe everyone!

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MONDAY HEALTH BURST

 

WHO | Health workforce - Migration

 

World Health Organization (WHO) has set the year 2020 as the international year of nurses and midwives. Nurses and midwives play a vital role in providing health services and with the present pandemic, we are ever grateful to have these professionals on the field of action. Today, we acknowledge and appreciate the work of nurses in caring for those who have been infected with the novel corona virus and other severe health related cases, the midwives caring for the pregnant women, doctors, physiotherapists, pathologists, microbiologists and many others who are at the frontline helping to curb COVID-19 pandemic and other diseases. To those that have lost the battle to the disease in the wake of their work, losing their families as a result of isolation and quarantine, we can’t thank you enough.
It is time for everyone to be responsible too:
– Do not panic or fret. Always provide in anyway possible for the nurses and doctors on a 24 or 48hr shift, unable to get the much needed time for self care.
– Keep to the recommendations of serial hand washing, use of sanitizers, refrain from touching nose, mouth and eyes.
– Do not overwhelm those at the frontline with easily treated at home cases. The hospital is not safe for you this period either.
– Stay at home for them as those at the frontline continue to work to control this menace from spreading further.
Stay safe everyone!

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MONDAY HEALTH BURST- Covid 19

 

MONDAY HEALTH BURST – COVID19
According to the WHO,coronaviruses are a family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as severe acute
respiratory syndrome(SARS)and the Middle East respiratory syndrome(MERS).
These viruses were originally transmitted from animals to people. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans.
Covid-19 is an infectious disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus Sars-cov-2 which was not previously identified in humans.

MODE OF TRANSMISSION
COVID19 can be transmitted via respiratory droplets from an infected individual
during sneezing,coughing or blowing of the nose. The virus can also stay on surfaces of objects when it comes in contact with them for a period of time.

SYMPTOMS
According to the WHO,signs of infection include fever, cough,shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.
In more severe cases,it can lead to pneumonia,multiple organ failure and even death.
The most common symptoms of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are fever, tiredness,and dry cough.
Most people(about 80%)recover from the disease without needing special treatment. Older people,and people with other medical conditions(such as asthma,
diabetes,or heart disease), may be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill.

INCUBATION PERIOD
The incubation period ranges from 1-14days. Most infected people show
symptoms within 5-6days.

PREVENTION
To help stop the spread of coronavirus, practice handwashing with soap and water regularly for 20 seconds, sanitize your hands, door handles etc, with alcohol-based hand sanitizer, cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue or flexed elbow when you cough or sneeze, avoid touching your face, maintain social distance (1 meter or 3 feet) and stay at home and self-isolate from others in the household if you feel unwell.
There is currently no treatment or vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease(COVID-19).
People may need supportive care to help them breathe.

SELF CARE
If you have mild symptoms, stay at home until fully recovered. You can relieve the symptoms if you rest and sleep, keep warm, drink plenty of liquids, use a
room humidifier or take a hot shower to help ease a sore throat and cough.

MEDICAL TREATMENTS
If you develop a fever, cough and have difficulty breathing, promptly seek medical care. Call in advance and tell your health provider of any recent travel or recent contact with travelers.

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, Covid-19 is a deadly infection which spreads very fast. There is no current vaccine or drug for the cure of this disease, hence taking preventive
measures will help limit the spread, morbidity and
mortality.

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Women Entrepreneurs

Speak Wednesday – Women Entrepreneurs

Speak Wednesday – Women Entrepreneurs

 

In recent years, most women venture into small scale enterprises, especially in developing Countries. This is mostly among uneducated women, who dropped out of school due to marriage, lack of sponsors or religious believes.

More women than men are involved in small scale enterprises because it has been the only way they can support their families and make ends meet, since women do not have the same access as men to finance, assets, technology or better services. They often have relatively lower levels of education, vocational training, and have to juggle the management of their businesses with domestic responsibilities.

Some of the major reasons women entrepreneurs experience difficulties in growing their businesses, is because the daily gains are spent on family expenses, rather than growing the business. Also, women cannot own or inherit landed properties in many agricultural societies, hence the inability to work independently and the right to associate in cooperatives and credit unions.

Women are better managers and history has shown how prudent they could be with funds. A little push and adequate monitoring can make women better entrepreneurs.

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MONDAY HEALTH BURST- Tuberculosis

 TUBERCULOSIS (TB)

 

Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases responsible for millions of deaths annually across the world. One in three persons across the world representing 2–3 billion individuals are known to be infected with Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (M. Tuberculosis) of which 5–15% are likely to develop active TB disease during their lifetime.

TB is an airborne bacterial infection caused by M. Tuberculosis which affects any part of the body and most commonly the lungs. It is exposed to the air as droplet nuclei from coughing, sneezing, shouting or singing of individuals with pulmonary or laryngeal TB. While TB is present in every country majority of TB sufferers live in low income and middle income countries especially in regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia.

The transmission of tuberculosis occurs through inhalation of droplet nuclei which passes through the mouth or nasal cavities, the upper respiratory tract, bronchi and finally reaches the alveoli of the lungs.

According to World Health Organization, People ill with COVID-19 and TB show similar symptoms such as cough, fever and difficulty breathing. Both diseases attack primarily the lungs and although both biological agents transmit mainly through close contact, the incubation period from exposure to disease in TB is longer, often with a slow onset.

Other symptoms of TB include; coughing up blood, chest pain, loss of appetite, unexpected weight loss, night sweats, etc. In the case of extra-pulmonary TB presenting symptoms will often be dictated by the part of the body affected, although, some symptoms such as loss of appetite, night sweat and fever may be more general.

Common tests used in the diagnosis of tuberculosis include mantoux test, AFB and sputum gene expert, and the first line drugs used in the treatment of TB are; Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide and Ethambutol.

Early diagnosis and treatment is essential in mitigating the rate of morbidity and mortality from the disease.

 

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