WHO

SPEAK WEDNESDAY

WOMEN DEALING WITH SEXUAL VIOLENCE

Sexual violence is one of the most pervasive violation of human rights that occurs worldwide. According to the World Health Organizations (WHO), sexual violence is any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts to traffic or otherwise directed against a person’s sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, in any setting, including but not limited to home and work. It is also estimated by WHO that 35 per cent of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or sexual violence by a non-partner (not including sexual harassment) at some point in their lives. Also, some national studies show that up to 70 per cent of women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime. Evidence shows that women who have experienced physical or sexual intimate partner violence report higher rates of depression, having an abortion and acquiring Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), compared to women who have not.

In 2015, UNICEF reported that one in four girls and one in ten boys in Nigeria had experienced sexual violence before the age of 18. Sexual violence can have psychological, emotional, and physical effects on a survivor which could be immediate, short-term or long-term. Although these effects and repercussion of rape affects victims differently, individuals tend to suffer from similar issues found within the above categories.

In Nigeria, this act of violence against women is often overlooked especially those perpetrated by the spouse. Women and girls living below the poverty line or with fewer resources are at even greater risk of violence. They have no voices in the legal system because they cannot afford the fee unlawfully requested by the police so, many offenders go without prosecution. Also, women who get abused by a relation almost never seek justice because the family involved would rather choose to save the “family name” at the expense of the victim.

According to National Sexual Violence Resource Centre, the acts of sexual violence are under-reported and this may be as a result of inadequate support systems, shame, fear or risk of retaliation, fear or risk of being blamed, fear or risk of not being believed, fear of being socially ostracized, among others. Sexual violence and indeed every other form of violence against women is a major threat to social and economic development because it is inadvertently linked to poverty, lack of education, gender inequality, and maternal ill health. It also impedes national productivity since it occurs among persons in the reproductive age group who have to deal with the adverse physical and psychological consequences of the vice.

As much as the reform of the criminal justice system is an approach to stopping or reducing the occurrence of sexual violence, other approaches may include continuous review of the existing policies and laws on sexual violence in other to accommodate best practices of sexual violence strategies. Building the knowledge base and raising awareness about sexual violence is also essential in curbing this menace.

Speak Wednesday is an initiative of Centre for Family Health Initiative to stop the cycle of domestic violence by breaking the silence around gender-based violence and gender bias. Join us every Wednesday on all our social media handles for more episodes.

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MONDAY HEALTH BURST

Health, Mental Health, Monday Health Burst, WHO / cfhinitiative

STROKE – CAUSES, PREVENTION AND TREATMENT

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), stroke is defined as a “rapidly developing clinical signs of focal (or global) disturbance of cerebral function, with symptoms lasting 24 hours or longer or leading to death, with no apparent cause other than of vascular origin”. Stroke occurs when there is a sudden interruption of blood supply to the brain, preventing brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients.

World Stroke Organization (WSO) stated that 90 per cent of strokes are associated with 10 risk factors that can easily be identified: hypertension, exercise, diet, weight, smoking, alcohol, cholesterol, diabetes, depression and stress, and atrial fibrillation (AF, or AFib). They further stated that 1 in 4 people will develop stroke globally, and 58 percent of all stroke cases happen between the age of 25 and 70 which can be blamed on “modern lifestyle”. In Nigeria, just like other low and middle-income countries, the primary care services are often limited, leading to high burden of stroke mortality. About 1000 stroke cases are recorded in Nigeria yearly and still counting according to Web Med.

Stroke can be prevented in many ways across all boards, from government and policymakers to healthcare professionals to members of the community. Knowing the signs of stroke is the first step to its prevention. Hence, some of the ways to prevent stroke include increasing awareness, discovering risk factors for stroke and managing them appropriately, implementing population-wide preventive strategies, amongst others.

Over the years, Medical organizations worldwide have been working towards making sure there is improvement in the treatment of stroke. Treatment consists of blood thinners. Early treatment with medication like TPA (clot buster) can minimize brain damage. Other treatments focus on limiting complications and preventing additional strokes like cardiac monitoring (using an electronic device to heart rate and rhythm which can be done at home or in the hospital), carotid endarterectomy (this is a surgical removal of plague built up in the carotid arteries), speech therapy, rehabilitation, physical therapy, the use of natural herbs and supplements, among others.

Early detection will not just save lives but will reduce the effect of stroke. Most people do not check their mental state or relax as they ought to. Adequate medical checkup is essential as it will help to know when rest is needed and when you need to give yourself a break from certain duties.

Monday Health Burst is an initiative of Centre for Family Health Initiative (CFHI) to tackle issues of basic health concerns. Join us every Monday for more health related articles on all our social media platforms.

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SPEAK WEDNESDAY

Gender, Speak Wednesday, Suicide Prevention, WHO, Women / cfhinitiative

WOMEN DEALING WITH SUICIDE

Wikipedia defines suicide as the act of intentionally causing one’s own death. Suicide is a public health problem, and it is seen as a public health priority by the World Health Organization (WHO). According to WHO, Suicide is the result of an act deliberately initiated and performed by a person in the full knowledge or expectation of its fatal outcome. Close to 800,000 people die due to suicide every year and it is considered the third leading cause of death in 15-19-year old.

Studies show that women make more suicide attempts than men, but men are more likely to die in the attempts than women. In Nigeria, most people do not believe depression is an illness, neither do they know the extent to which it affects the mind. Yet, between January and June 2019 alone, there were 42 reported cases of suicide that occurred in different parts of the country. An example is the story of Hikmat Gbadamosi, a 100-level student of the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. She was alleged to have consumed two bottles of insecticide (Sniper) after showing signs of depression and had opted to live away from her colleagues in the school.

According to Centre for suicide prevention, identified risk factor for suicide attempts and other suicidal behaviours in women include postpartum depression (PPD) affects around 15% of women and is experienced after giving birth and for up to one year after, prenatal period (The time during pregnancy and the first year after the birth of a child)- most women who die during this period have an affective or anxiety-related disorder, domestic violence (women experience partner violence nine times more than men according to different research) which in turn leads to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and childhood sexual abuse. Other risk factors may include family history of suicide, family conflict, broken homes, anti-social behaviour, and poor peer relationships.

Suicide prevention begins with recognizing the warning signs and taking steps to make sure it does not happen. Though most people contemplating suicide often believe they are helpless, it is necessary to ask for external assistance, mostly a physician who can help find the medication or therapy that is suitable for the person. It is also important to take away harmful tools from their reach and make sure they are never left alone.

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MONDAY HEALTH BURST

Health, Health Communication, Healthy Dieting, Hygiene, Monday Health Burst, WHO, World Food Day / cfhinitiative

HEALTHY DIETING

According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015–2020, a healthy eating plan includes eating of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fat free or low-fat milk and milk products. They are low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars. While unhealthy diet includes overeating of fatty and greasy food, and of milky products, sweet foods, highly flavoured food, too pungent food, as well as drinking too much alcohol, leading to the formation of Damp-Heat.

Increased production of processed foods, rapid urbanization and changing lifestyles have led to a shift in dietary patterns. People are now consuming more foods high in energy, fats, free sugars and salt/sodium, and many people do not eat enough fruits, vegetables and other dietary fibre such as whole grains. Healthy eating is all about balance. Hence, it is possible to enjoy ones favorite meals, but the key point is eating them less often and balancing them with healthier foods with more physical activities.

Some general tips for healthy dieting include less intake of high-calorie foods and intentionally replace them with lower-calorie versions. Consuming a healthy diet throughout the life-course helps to prevent malnutrition in all its forms as well as a range of non-communicable diseases and conditions.

Monday Health Burst is an initiative of Centre for Family Health Initiative (CFHI) to tackle issues of basic health concerns. Join us every Monday for more health-related articles on all our social media platforms.

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SPEAK WEDNESDAY

Community Development, Gender, Health, International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, International Day of Rural Women, Speak Wednesday, WHO, Women, World Food Day / cfhinitiative

WOMEN DEALING WITH POVERTY IN RURAL AREAS

It is true that a concise and universally accepted definition of poverty has proven elusive because it affects many aspects of human condition. However, different criteria have been used to conceptualize the term “poverty”. Most analysts regard poverty as a function of income levels insufficient for securing basic goods and services.

The 2019 Nigerian Living Standards Survey (NLSS) carried out by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) highlights that 40 percent of the total population, or almost 83 million people, live below the country’s poverty line of 137,430 naira ($381.75) per year. The report also shows that 52.1% of rural dwellers in Nigeria are poor, while only 18.04% of urban dwellers are classified as poor. Also, according to data released by NBS, women ranked the highest when it comes to unemployment. The report shows that unemployment hits 12.2 million females as against 9.5 million men.

The fate of Nigerian women living in rural areas is highly appalling considering the patriarchal nature of the Nigerian society and how women are being marginalized in the labor force. The societal disadvantage and inequality they face because they are women shapes their experience of poverty differently from that of men, it increases their vulnerability, and makes it more challenging for them to climb out of poverty. Indeed, more than half of these rural women live below the nationally defined poverty line, lacking access to basic education, decent nutrition, adequate health and social services. They perform complex multiple roles as mothers, workers and managers of households, taking care of their husbands, children and members of their extended families. They perform the majority of the work in food processing and dominate the rural and urban informal sector activities. Yet an abysmal number of these women own their own farm lands, they have limited access than men to inputs, services, rural organization, agricultural credits, productive infrastructure and technologies to enhance their productivity and incomes.

Women in poor households bear a disproportionate share of the work and responsibility of feeding and caring for family members through unpaid household work. They bear an unequal burden of unpaid, unrecognized, unvalued domestic responsibilities and are overrepresented in informal and risky jobs. Women in poor rural households will often sacrifice their own health and nutrition, or the education of their daughters, by recruiting them to take care of siblings or share in other household tasks.

This lack of investment in the human capital of women propagates a brutal, intergenerational cycle of poverty and hardship that is partly responsible for the persistent nature of poverty. Policies and programs to alleviate poverty must, therefore, take account of gender inequality and gender differences to effectively address the needs and constraints of women. According to the United Nations Women, Women’s economic empowerment is central to realizing women’s rights and gender equality, boosting productivity, increasing economic diversification, and income equality in addition to other positive development outcomes. This economic empowerment could include paid care work (child care, home care, seniors/disabled/palliative care), non-exclusion from inheritance and property ownership, girl child education and scholarships, adult education and scholarships for mothers, continued education during teenage pregnancy, provision of grants, and many more.

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MONDAY HEALTH BURST

Blindness and Visual Impairment, Health, Monday Health Burst, WHO / cfhinitiative

MONDAY HEALTH BURST – BLINDNESS AND VISUAL IMPAIRMENT

Blindness is a complete or partial loss of vision. It is presenting visual acuity of 3/60 or less. Visual impairment on the other hand is often defined as a best corrected visual acuity of worse than 20/40 or 20/60. These could be cataracts, the infectious river blindness, trachoma, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, uncorrected refractive errors, and some cases of childhood blindness.

There are variations in the causes of visual impairment across countries. For example, the proportion of visual impairment attributable to cataract is higher in low- and middle-income countries than high-income countries. In high income countries, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration are more common. Also, the leading cause of vision impairment among children in low-income countries is congenital cataract, whereas in middle-income countries it is more likely to be retinopathy of prematurity.

The categories of people at risk for blindness include people with eye diseases, such as macular degeneration and glaucoma, people with diabetes, stroke, people undergoing eye surgery, people who work with or near sharp objects or toxic chemicals, and premature babies. However, according to World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1 billion people worldwide are living with vision impairment because they do not get the care they need for conditions like short and far sightedness, glaucoma, cataract in time. This World report on vision by WHO estimates that 80% of visual impairment is either preventable or curable with treatment.

Many people with significant visual impairment benefit from vision rehabilitation, changes in their environment, and assistive devices. In some cases of vision impairment, use of eyeglasses, contact lenses, surgery, and medication may help restore vision, but in the case of irreversible partial or complete blindness, rehabilitation is recommended. Children using glasses are advised to go for medical checkups annually, glaucoma patients for monthly checkups, and people without any confirmed eye problem to go for eye check-up atleast once in 6months.

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SPEAK WEDNESDAY

DISRUPTING PATRIARCHY, Gender, Health, Health Communication, Mental Health, Speak Wednesday, WHO, Women, Women in Leadership / cfhinitiative

DISRUPTING PATRIARCHY

According to Wikipedia, Patriarchy is a social system in which men hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege and control of property. Some patriarchal societies are also patrilineal, meaning that property and title are inherited by the males only.

Patriarchy influences different areas of the society including culture, family, school, the workplace and relationships. Its presence can translate to inequality and gender-based violence. The idea of patriarchy is not peculiar to a specific group of people, but one that extends and supersedes all borders, socioeconomic class, race, and more.

In Nigeria, it is observed by different researchers including European Scientific Institute that . Hence, there is the commonality of general belief system that the best place for women is in the ‘Kitchen’. This trend has brought about tremendous misrepresentation of women right at the level of the family down to the circular society. Women are therefore discriminated upon from, in most cases, acquiring formal education, accessing proper health care, receiving equal pay, among others.

In so many parts of the world, women are forbidden to own landed properties or inherit any. In cases where the diseased did not have male children, his properties are distributed amongst his male relatives, excluding his widow and daughters who are left to fend for themselves. In these societies, women who are financially stable have to buy properties in the name of their fathers or other male relatives. All these expose women to violence before they are born until they are aged.

Zig Ziglar once said, the first step to finding a solution is to recognize there is a problem. Because of how ingrained patriarchy is in the society, it may be difficult to identify. However, if patriarchy can be learnt, it can be unlearnt. Together we can achieve a society with equal opportunities for all human irrespective of the gender differences.

Speak Wednesday is an initiative of Centre for Family Health Initiative to stop the cycle of domestic violence by breaking the silence around gender based violence and gender bias. Join us every Wednesday on all our social media handles for more episodes.

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MONDAY HEALTH BURST

COVID-19, Health, Mental Health, WHO, Women / cfhinitiative

MONDAY HEALTH BURST – MENTAL HEALTH

Mental health according to Oxford Dictionary refers to “a person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being.” Wikipedia also defines mental health as “The level of psychological well-being or an absence of mental illness”.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), one in four Nigerians (about 50 million people) are suffering from some sort of mental illness, and as the seventh largest country in the world, Nigeria has Africa’s highest caseload of depression, and ranks 15th in the world in the frequency of suicide. Also, WHO stated in December 2016 that less than 10% of mentally ill Nigerians have access to psychiatrists or health workers.

Mental health issues include and are not limited to mood disorders, psychotic disorder, suicidal thoughts and behaviours, anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, autism, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, eating disorders, personality disorders and many more. Factors that affect mental health can be grouped into biological factors (genetic or heredity factors, injury to the brain, deficits of the brain cause during development in pregnancy and during birth, infection, substance abuse and poor nutrition), psychological factors (emotional and physical trauma, neglect and abandonment) and social factors (poor social interaction, verbal abuse, severe stress or being overworked). These and more are root causes of mental illness according to several reports.

There are some important signs of mental illness that can be observed like prolonged periods of grief, sadness or irritability, extreme highs or low mood swings, increased level of fear, anxiety or worry, withdrawal from society, dramatic changes in daily life habits like eating, exercising, sleeping, and more. When these signs occur, it is important to seek help from a health worker or a psychiatrist because early diagnosis and treatment are essential to speedy recovery.

Maintaining a positive mental health can also be achieved by regular exercise, eating balanced and healthy meals, opening up to people when in tough situations, taking a break when needed, reflecting on beautiful memories or something you are grateful for, and sound sleep. These can help reduce drastically the burden of mental illness in the society.

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MONDAY HEALTH BURST

Hygiene, Monday Health Burst, WHO, World Rabies Day / cfhinitiative

RABIES: SYMPTOMS, CAUSES, PREVENTION AND TREATMENT

Rabies is a viral disease that causes inflammation of the brain in humans and other mammals. It is caused by lyssaviruses, which includes the rabies virus and Australian bat lyssavirus. Some of the known ways of spreading rabies are scratches or bites from an infected animal on human or other animals, and infected saliva’s contact with the eyes, mouth, or nose.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), dogs are the most common animals infected with rabies globally. In countries where dogs commonly have the disease, majority (99%) of rabies cases are the direct result of dog bites. However in America, bat bite is the most common source of rabies infection in humans, and less than 5% of cases from dogs.

After a bite or other rabies exposure, the rabies virus has to travel through the body to the brain before symptoms can surface. This time between the exposure and the appearance of symptoms is called the incubation period. The incubation period may last for weeks to months depending on the distance between the bite wound and the brain, the type of rabies virus, and existing immunity.

The first symptoms of rabies may be very similar to those of the flu like general weakness, fever, or headache. Symptoms may also be discomfort or a prickling or itching sensation at the site of the bite, progressing within days to acute symptoms of cerebral dysfunction, anxiety, confusion, and agitation. As the disease progresses, the person may experience delirium, abnormal behavior, hallucinations, hydrophobia (fear of water), and insomnia. The acute period of disease typically ends after 2 to 10 days. Generally, by the time the symptoms appear, it is usually too late to save the patient.

Rabies is a serious disease, but individuals and governments can take actions to control and prevent the spread. These preventive strategies include: Regular ant rabies vaccinations for all pets and domestic animals; bans or restrictions on the importation of animals from infected countries; widespread vaccination of humans in high risk areas, and awareness creation.

Once clinical signs of rabies appear, the disease is nearly always fatal, and treatment is typically supportive. After exposure and before symptoms begin, a fast-acting dose of rabies immune globulin should be delivered as soon as possible, close to the bite wound to prevent the virus from infecting the individual. Also, rabies vaccine should be given to train the body to fight the virus whenever it is exposed.

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SPEAK WEDNESDAY

Community Development, Cultural practices in Africa, WHO, Women, Women in Leadership / cfhinitiative

FEMALE ROLES IN ERADICATING HARMFUL CULTURAL PRACTICES

Certain cultures in different parts of the world accommodate harmful practices that encourage forms of exploitation, violence, abuse, injustice, discrimination and marginalization, committed primarily against women and children. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), child/forced marriage, initiation rites, infanticide, male preference, honour killings, forced begging, stoning, acid attacks, bonded labour, sexual slavery, breast ironing, and nutritional taboos are harmful practices that are detrimental to the health and wellbeing of its victims.

Significant progress has been made thus far to eradicate harmful cultural practices globally, but the economic, physical and social disruptions caused by the ongoing pandemic could deter the advancement. The new United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) projections in April 2020 predict that the COVID-19 pandemic may cause about 2 million more cases of Female Genital Mutilation and about 13 million new child marriages in the next decade because of significant delays in programmes organized to tackle harmful cultural practices and economic hardships.

Women are at the forefront raising their voices against harmful cultural practices and providing interventions to support its victims even amidst the pandemic. Stephanie Linus is an award winning Nigerian actress, filmmaker and activist passionate about women and child rights. ‘Dry’ an award winning movie produced by her exposes the evils of child marriage and the physical and psychological consequences associated with it. Through her foundation ‘Extended Hands’ she has partnered with local and international organizations in building awareness on fistula prevention, maternal health, family planning and has provided various medical interventions to indigent girls and women suffering Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) in Sokoto, Kebbi, Cross River, Oyo, and Kwara states in Nigeria. Her foundation has continued to provide more interventions to vulnerable women and girls, deflating the number of new victims of harmful traditional practices in the COVID-19 era. She was recently appointed as the UNFPA Regional Goodwill Ambassador for West and Central Africa.

It is important to note that women are the most qualified advocates to fight for the eradication of harmful traditional practices. This is because women are the highest fatalities who have experienced and survived the repercussions of these practices. Hence, more women should be encouraged to speak up and empowered to be self-reliant.

Centre for Family Health Initiative (CFHI) continues to echo the call for an end to the suffering of girls and women caused by harmful traditional practices through community outreaches, policy-oriented research, and media campaigns. CFHI has through the United States Consulate Women And Youth Empowerment (WYNE) project, mitigated the rate of female genital mutilation, child marriage, violence against women, land disinheritance, gender (Son) preference, Incest, rape and harmful widowhood practices in Ngor Okpala community, Imo State, Nigeria. After having ten community dialogues with the community stakeholders, resolutions on these harmful practices were reached, leading to the development of a community charter that was signed by the paramount traditional ruler and representatives of the villages that make up the community. Operation-Know-Your-Right Campaign was thereafter organized through which over 735 women and 28 youths were sensitized with the right knowledge to stand against harmful cultural practices within and outside the community.

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