Eat for a better you

A clean face, a well groomed hair, an impeccable complexion, these are some of the things women spend a lot of time and money caring about. Although it may come across as vain, these things actually make a woman feel comfortable in her skin. However, although what you put on your skin will make you look good, what you put into your skin will definitely make you feel better. Proper nutrition is something that cannot be 

over emphasised.

A woman will go through many changes in her lifetime especially when she hits puberty and when she starts bearing children. Women have to take care of the house, the children and even the husband. This requires a lot of energy if stress is to be avoided. Eating right is a good way to avoid such stress or keep them to a minimum. Eating right may not necessarily entail spending a lot of money. Sometimes the very cheap food 

stuff around us can really serve to balance the diet.

By eating right, you will not only increase your chance of maintaining a healthy body weight; you will also be reducing the chances of infection by chronic illnesses. It is important not to get confused with all the information that can be found around. In truth, what may work for one woman may not work for another.  All that is needed is an understanding of the different food types ranging from carbohydrates, protein to fats.

Carbohydrates are the source of energy in the body. Given that women need a lot of energy to carry out their daily responsibilities, it is important to incorporate carbohydrates into the diet. Carbohydrates can be gotten from potatoes, rice and many other tubers that available at relatively cheap costs. Most of the body is made up of proteins and these proteins are eventually broken down. Such lost proteins need to be replaced 

and this can be done by eating foods like meat, fish, beans and poultry.

Another important part of a diet is vitamins that have very special functions. For example, a vitamin like vitamin D will help the body to absorb the need amount of calcium. Vitamins can be gotten from a variety of foods including fruits. Fats are another type of food and although they are important to maintain bodily function, they should be consumed in moderation. Some fats are considered healthier than others but instead 

of cutting them out of your diet, it is better to be informed so as to make healthy choices.

Although the world may tell you that looking good means slapping packs of foundation on your face, nothing can ever replace a balance diet. While foundation may cover some blemishes, a good diet may even help prevent these blemishes. Whatever the case, always try to get the best food around and eat as much as you can of the fruits that are in season. A balance diet is more than food to fill the stomach, it is nourishment.  No matter how busy you think you are, take time to chew your food and enjoy every meal. As much as you can, try to avoid too much sugar or salt.

By Nwana Helen

Cancer – revealing painful facts of life

Every day in the morning when I put down my foot from bed, I think of the pain the day has to offer. I get drenched with fear! Suffering is not just physical but mental and psychological too. I end my day by throwing my pain-stricken body in the arms of silence sighing at the dismissal of the dusk. I pray to God to end the game as I don’t wish to be the lame. I am striving for drops of happiness. World is full of suffering is not new but everyday suffering has its new name. I gather bits of courage on regular basis to sustain life. 

I am a CANCER patient struggling for existence. My disease is at end stage. The treatment has its own pain.  I used to be a beloved child of my parents but poverty has a bigger role to play. My poor parents had to disown me owing to deteriorating health. They didn’t have money to continue my treatment. I don’t blame them as I know it wasn’t easy for them. They have to spend on the upbringing of 5 children including 4 boys, larger than picture size poor families. One can never end this gender game. My brothers were always more precious. If that was less then I was being harassed by a hospital staff few days back. At night, he caught hold of me. I was yelling and trying to run away. Thankfully a doctor came up. Unfortunately, they had hid the story to save the hospital’s reputation.

I am admitted into a hospital where there is no one to think about me. I am just a diseased body for them. I don’t know the future. Every day when I look into the mirror, I stare at my losing hair from scalp and eyebrows. I miss those days when I used to cuddle with my long brown hair. I might not see them again. I see people lying on fellow beds. I can sense their misery but it’s all in vain. After all, we are sailing in the same boat.  

I don’t want any other girl to feel this pain. I wish in near future few care centers could be established where people would actually be interested in the welfare of patients. Medical services especially for life taking diseases become freely available to all without any barriers even in villages. I also wish that cure of these dreadful ailments is discovered through research. World shall be a happy place what if it isn’t now for me but it will be.

-        Written by Dr Aakshi Kalra

The health benefits of the humble algae: jewels of the sea.

Today I felt I wanted to write about nutrition. What I am going to write about is perhaps rather exotic. And for many, unheard of even. And to some, redundant and superfluous, in view of our daily life tussles and the areas of grave concern that the world has.. So, surely these are not things people want to know about? Well. This is not a view that I have held. I always felt that we need to tackle issues at a ‘sub-atomic’ level, at the grass-root. We have problems in the world today. And some of these problems could be addressed using good information. As we know, knowledge is power; good information could be handy anywhere and anytime. Also, we need to learn and make available the very basics of life and living to all people.  We have to be more aware of our environment and our bounty. We need to learn. While educational institutes do provide us with the basic education, often what appears to be more streamlined understanding of some hitertho unknown areas could remain an unventured field in them. Leaving us rather ignorant. And this is where now and then, I feel, we must make it is our duty to utilize beaconlights and sentinels and spheres of expression like our writing assignments, to make known some greats when we can.

I have a passion for nutrition. Writing about health and nutrition in a website that seeks to discuss the agendas of the world, may seem unusual. But I feel everyone should know about some things that we are available in the world, which are invaluable to people.  And now and again, every area dedicated to every other issue, should devote the few minutes at times to something that is invaluable. Deltawomen reaches out to millions. And I felt Deltawomen could help educate everyone, not just women, about health and nutrition. But today we will not discuss about illnesses and we will not discuss about ways to manage them. We are going to talk about ways to improve our health. We will not talk about exercise and fresh air. We will talk about good nutrition and good food. If we could make healthy food and nutrition available to everyone, life would improve tremendously. A majority of life’s maladies would be averted. What prevents us from distributing nature’s bounty and goodness? Is it ignorance and entrenched lifestyles? Perhaps. Healthful and salubrious, these types of food should form major parts of our diets and should be made readily available to everyone. Let us remember, health is wealth . A large part of our human sufferings would disappear if health could be insured against all odds. Good food is an insurance. So, today I want to discuss about a type of food and spread the knowledge of its amazing goodness . The food item does sound rather exotic …………….hopefully not for long……It is called the seaweed/algae.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Algae or seaweed has been known to people since time immemorial! Yet, this little plant which is so nutrient dense rarely catches our attention and is often overlooked as people in supermarkets readily steal their glance away, looking at it curiously and then filling their baskets with the more well known options. Lack of popular knowledge and availability has made it a very exotic food ( and yet it is not that expensive! Though we are limited often by the varieties that are available) decorating the Japanese and Oriental food sections only perhaps. Historically, the seaweed was a part of people’s stable diets for those living in coastal areas. Today, people in Japan, Korea, China, Ireland and Scotland still consume this traditional food item.

The seaweed is very nutrient dense. It is especially rich in iodine which is required for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland and for other metabolic functions in the human body. It is also high in protein, vitamins and other mineral content. It grows in water and can be marine or freshwater. The freshwater varieties are toxic. Edible seaweed are the marine varieties. Some marine varieties can still cause gastrointestinal disturbance.

The seaweed is commercially marketed as thin dried sheets or in its dried form and as powder.

There are about 15 edible seaweed available in the market today. Here is a quick look at the most popular ones amongst them, their nutrient contents and their use, so that you can look for them in a supermarket or can prescribe them to an ill person who needs good nutrition but will not have any other food!

Kelp : Kelp contains phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and potassium in high quantities and is a source of vitamins A, B1, B2, C, D and E and several amino acids. Kelp is the saltiest of all sea vegetables and this makes it a popular salt substitute. It is low in sodium and so is a very healthy choice. Kelp is dried after harvesting and either cut into strips or powdered.

Nori: Nori has twice as much Vitamin C as oranges, is packed with beta-carotenes like carrots and is rich in iron and calcium. The sheets of seaweed sold in the supermarkets are usually made of Nori.

Arame: Arame is laden with minerals like magnesium, potassium, calcium and sodium.

Wakame : Wakame is iron-rich, has fucoxanthin that helps lose weight and has 10 times more calcium than a glass of milk! It is also rich in thiamine, niacin and omega 3 fatty acids. It is sold either fresh or dried. It takes upto an hour to rehydrate it and requires around 1 litre of water per 10g.

    Kombu : It is a rich source of glutamic acid, a natural substitute for monosodium glutamate and hence a flavour-enhancer. Some kinds are used in making an infusion similar to tea.

Spirulina : Spirulina contains about 60% protein, is a complete protein containing all the essential amino acids though with reduced amounts of methionine, cysteine and lysine when compared to meat, eggs and milk though in far greater quantity when compared to legumes.  Available as powder or tablets, it is usually taken as supplements. However one should be cautious with Spirulina intake. Due to very high Vitamin K content, patients undergoing anticoagulant treatments should seek medical advice as their medication level might need to be adjusted accordingly. People with the rare condition Phenylketonuria should avoid having Spirulina as it contains high amounts of phenylalanine.Studies on spirulina have not shown any toxic or teratogenic effects when taken as a supplement regularly.

Dulce: Dulce can be eaten directly off the rocks! Or it can be dried and powdered. In Iceland there is a tradition to eat Dulce with butter. Dulce can also be pan fried.

Hijiki: Hijiki is a black seaweed which is bought dried and needs to be reconstituted in water for about an hour. It develops a very strong flavour and aroma when cooked in oil.

These seaweeds are very versatile and can be eaten anyhow, providing abundant nutrition to our body, without the need for any supplements if taken regularly. Perhaps we can think of incorporating this humble little gift from nature in our daily diets: we would be doing ourselves good. And if we could make it available to people all across the world, we could perhaps alleviate unnecessary poor health in a lot of people.

Anusmita Baruah

The toilet

The sanitation and health condition of the marginalized section of the society is very acute in the Third World Countries. A case in point is the ability to enroll woman for education and primary education. it is true that for any development to be long lasting requires the participation of the woman of the society . In case their participation cannot be ensured then any development is not going to be deep rooted as half the intended beneficiaries have not been made party to the development process. It is in this context that the issue of sanitation assumes importance.

It is true that female enrollment in schools is low and gradually tapers down by the time the girl acquires puberty. One of the most functional problem that a female in third world country faces is the lack of adequate toilets  for them in any public place and in particular the schools. The aspect of cleanliness is not being touched upon as it is less said the better. However it is pertinent to note that separate toilet for girls in schools are next to nonexistent. Now in the absence of toilets the functional problems that the girl faces is simply phenomenal. In fact it is worth imagining that you are suppose to apply yourself to gain knowledge and when it comes to performing the most basic function you are left high and dry. 

At what cost? Going behind the bushes or behind a wall under the prying eyes of all antisocial elements. Thus the basic incentive to go to school is defeated. Even in the schools were the toilets are there they are common and are mostly dominated by the boys. As the girl grows the problem magnifies and as a result they find it better to leave the formal schooling and contribute to the family labour on farms or as labourer.

Thus the sanitation program of the third world country ought to have a very strong input of provisioning of toilets for females in schools and places of education. This is going to give a boost to the education level of females thereby imparting huge push to the various welfare measures being run concurrently.

By Rajiv Tewari

ALCOHOL: AN ADDICTION CLAIMING LIVES OF MANY WOMEN

Alcohol is an intoxicating constituent of many hard/alcoholic drinks. Alcoholism is lifelong and it can be both progressive and life threatening. Alcohol consumption has increased manifold in the recent years especially among women. Men and women under the age of 21 are strictly prohibited from drinking. Woman who are or planning to become pregnant should avoid drinking as well but no one really cares about the after effects. Alcoholic drinks can interfere with certain medicines and cause side effects. 

In spite of knowing the ill effects of alcoholism, women are increasingly getting indulged into this addiction. It is a potent source of depression contrary to what people normally think - that it makes them forget worries. 

Women are at greater risk than men for developing alcohol-related problems. Research suggests that as little as one drink per day can slightly raise the risk of breast cancer in some women, especially those who are postmenopausal or have a family history of breast cancer.

Women who are facing troubles in their career, close relationships, unmarried, divorced or separated are prone to alcoholism. Assaulted or sexually abused women face the same. They feel they have been rejected by society and it seems that alcohol keeps them away from troublesome worldly situations. Unfortunately, over drinking deteriorates their health and mental thinking and reacting abilities.

Stress coping is a daily phenomenon in a woman’s life. One of another reasons for drinking is stress coping.

Drinking too much often leads to impaired judgement, slurring of the speech, a tendency to violent behaviour and loss of short-term memory. As alcohol also irritates the stomach, heavy drinking can cause sickness and nausea, and sometimes diarrhoea. Alcohol also has a dehydrating effect, which is the main reason why excessive drinking can lead to a hangover. 

In the long term, alcohol can contribute to a variety of problems, including damage to an unborn child, liver disease, osteoporosis (thinning of the bones), pancreatitis, stomach ulcers, infertility, heart disease, raised blood pressure, stroke, dementia and brain damage. 

It can also lead to an increased risk of a variety of cancers, particularly breast cancer and cancer of the gullet. All these are adverse reactions of over drinking as it is well said, “Excess of everything is bad”

Let us try to make life better for womanhood so that worse situations do not drive her towards such addictions. There are numerous ways of coping up with this addiction but it is often a difficult path and requires full support and patience of the family along with the sufferer. Rehabilitation centers offer solutions to such problems. Peer and family care can make anyone overcome alcoholism in span of time. One day we all have to die, so why not die with a smile with nurturing family beside instead of dying with poisonous addictions and that too lonely!

By Dr. Aakshi Kalra

Malnutrition among women and adolescent girls

Adequate nutrition, a fundamental cornerstone of any individual's health, is especially critical for women because inadequate nutrition wreaks havoc not only on their health but also on the health of their children. Children of malnourished women are more likely to face cognitive impairments, short stature, lower resistance to infections, and a higher risk of disease and death throughout their lives.

Although malnutrition's effects have been recognized for decades, there has been little measurable progress in addressing the specific nutritional problems of women and adolescent girls. Ignorance about the symptoms of malnutrition, such as the lethargy and depression caused by iron deficiency, may be dismissed as "normal" or unimportant, further exacerbating the problem.

Malnutrition poses a variety of threats to women. It weakens their ability to survive childbirth, makes them more susceptible to infections, and leaves them with fewer reserves to recover from illness. HIV-infected mothers who are malnourished may be more likely to transmit the virus to their infants and to experience a more rapid transition from HIV to full-blown AIDS. Malnutrition undermines women's productivity, capacity to generate income, and ability to care for their families.

Certain conditions and phases of a woman’s life need special attention in terms of nutritional value. The onset of menstruation in which lot of iron is lost each month during menstruation making teenage girls and women very prone to iron deficiency anaemia. One should ensure that they are getting adequate amounts of iron and vitamin C (which aids iron absorption) during this period, Pregnancy in which a well balanced diet will help a mother-to-be to stay healthy and supply sufficient nutrition to growing foetus. A good intake of all vitamins and minerals is essential during pregnancy. Calcium helps baby’s teeth and bone formation. Vitamin D helps the body to absorb calcium and folic acid reduces the risk of congenital neural tube defect in baby. Iron is required for making baby’s blood as well as for maintaining mothers own iron levels, Menopause in which women tend to lose more calcium and bone density making them prone to osteoporosis. At this age, one should eat plenty of dairy products, green leafy vegetables and avoid excessive caffeine and alcohol.

Addressing women's malnutrition has a range of positive effects because healthy women can fulfill their multiple roles like generating income, ensuring their families' nutrition, and having healthy children more effectively and thereby help advance countries' socioeconomic development. Women are often responsible for producing and preparing food for the household, so their knowledge or lack thereof about nutrition can affect the health and nutritional status of the entire family. Improving women's nutrition can also help nations achieve three of the Millennium Development Goals, which are commonly accepted as a framework for measuring development progress.

By Aakshi Kalra

World Hepatitis Day 2012: Is Enough Being Done to Help Women

In 2010, it was decided that every July 28th would be known as World Hepatitis Day. As one of four diseases to be granted a specific day (the other three being Malaria, HIV/AIDS, and TB), Hepatitis is known as a ‘silent disease’. Across the world some countries are tackling Hepatitis head on, but many are failing to give the disease the recognition it needs in order for it to be prevented. As a result of this, millions of women across the world are suffering.

For women, the lack of attention paid to Hepatitis can come with serious health implications. Unfortunately, it is women who are more at risk, and women who are less likely to access life-saving treatment. Hepatitis E, which is spread via the fecal oral route, is usually contracted as a result of poor hygiene practices and unsafe drinking water. Women who are pregnant are particularly susceptible to the disease; once they have caught it, there is no specific cure, and they are at risk of liver failure. In addition to this, the disease can spread to the fetus, and increase the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth.

Other more lethal forms of Hepatitis, such as B and C, are spread through the exchange of bodily fluids. Both types are on the rise among drug users and sex workers, and with many sex workers in the developing world experiencing poor access to barrier contraceptives, routine vaccinations, and sexual health screening, women are naturally at risk of catching the disease. As many female sex workers do not carry condoms due to the stigma attached, cannot afford costly Hepatitis B vaccinations, and are not aware of this silent disease, they often only recognize the signs of Hepatitis when it is too late.

Although 2012’s World Hepatitis Day highlighted successes in Australasia and the Far East, there are many areas of the world that are failing to meet the demands of this silent disease. For example, in Ghana a vaccination program is available, but at the cost of 60Cedi--a price that many Ghanians cannot afford. The same pattern is repeated across many African countries. However, the governments of such countries could learn from Nigeria, as its health service has made significant attempts to combat the disease.

It is now the case that a hotline is available in Nigeria to those who feel they may be at risk of, or have developed, hepatitis. This hotline allows Nigerians to access advice on treatment, symptoms, and prevention. In addition to this, it can direct those who call towards doctors who can treat the disease, as well as vaccination programs. This could be the way forward for women who otherwise would not be able to access vaccinations. Ultimately, what benefits women will also benefit their husbands and children. In addition to this, over 10,000 children were issued toothbrushes to combat Hepatitis types A and E, which are spread due to poor hygiene. This is a great example of how it is possible to combine prevention and education en-masse.

Although these measures are great, they should not be seen as silver bullets in the battle against this deadly disease. All governments, not just Nigeria’s, should make it their mission to educate those who are at risk. Sexual health programs across Nigerian schools would alert both men and women to the ways that Hepatitis is spread, and how to prevent it. Similarly, routine vaccinations for types A and B would significantly reduce the disease’s prevalence. As it stands, only 9% of Nigerian people are vaccinated against the disease, despite it being 50 x more infectious than HIV, and 19 million people having it. Finally, the stigma that surrounds the use of barrier contraceptives needs to be eliminated. This is particularly the case for female sex workers, who often fail to use them for fear of being persecuted.

In 2012, Hepatitis continues to be known as the ‘silent disease’. The World Health Organization have taken a big step by introducing World Hepatitis Day, and now governments across the world need to take a strong stance in order to prevent the disease. If each country were to honour this day by introducing educational programs, greater access to barrier contraceptives, and free vaccination programs, the prevalence of this disease could be reduced drastically.

08058206916 - Nigerian Hepatitis Helpline


By Laura McKeever

Menarche and our parent’s role

  

Puberty is a time of many changes. For young girls a defining event during this developmental process is menarche, which is defined as “the beginning of the menstrual function.”

Menarche according to Wikipedia, is the first menstrual cycle, or first menstrual bleeding, in female human beings. From both social and medical perspectives it is often considered the central event of female puberty, as it signals the possibility of fertility.

Menarche can be a stressful time for young girls, and the event is often met with mixed emotions. Like many other changes associated with puberty, it can be confusing. Many girls experience fear and anxiety related to their first menstrual cycle, largely because of misinformation or, more frequently, lack of information.

Girls who are prepared for menarche often have a more positive initial experience with menstruation. However, studies show that many girls are not prepared. In Delta women’s survey in involving 10 participants each from 25 local government in Delta State Nigeria, nearly one third of the respondents reported that they had not been told about menarche prior to its occurrence. Being caught unawares, the girls did not know what to do when it came.

Some of the most negative experiences have been reported by women who had no education about menstruation or menarche. In one study, when describing their menarche, women used words such as “panic,” traumatic,” embarrassed,” and “ scared” to recount their experience.

The sight of blood generally frightens people, since bleeding is usually associated with pain or injury. Thus, it is not difficult to see that when proper explanation or preparation is lacking, cultural stereotypes, myths, or even plain ignorance can cause one wrongly to associate menstruation with disease or injury or to view it as something of which to be ashamed. Young girls needs to know that menstrual bleeding is a normal process that all healthy girls experience.

There are many sources of information on menstruation, such as school teachers, health-care practitioners, printed material, and even educational films. Many parents find that these sources often provide valuable information on the biology of menstruation as well as menstrual hygiene. Still, girls may have questions and needs that these sources do not address. Even if they know what to do when their period comes. Girls are often uncertain about how to deal with the varied emotions and feelings associated with menstruation.

Mothers, older sister, and particularly grand mothers can help to provide the additional information and emotional support that young girls need. Most often, girls consider their mother to be most important sources of information about menstruation.

What about fathers? Many girls feel embarrassed to talk to them about menstruation. Some want their father to play an indirect role by offering support and understanding, while others prefer that he not be involved.

In some countries the number of single father households has increased over the past few decades.* Thus, more and more fathers will need to rise to the challenge of educating their daughters about menstruation. These fathers will need to be familiar with the basics of menstruation as well as with the other physical and emotional changes their daughters are facing. Fathers may choose to turn to their own mothers or sisters for practical advice and help in this regard.

Globally, the average age for menarche is generally between 12 and 13 years, although it can occur as early as 8 and as late as 16 or 17. In parts of Africa and Asia, the average age for menarche tends to be higher. For example, in Nigeria the average age is 15. Several factors, such as genetics, economic status, nutrition, physical activity, and altitude, can affect the timing of menarche.

It is best to start sharing information with your daughter before she has her first period. Hence conversations regarding body changes and menstruation should begin early, perhaps when your daughter is about eight years of age. You may feel that this is too early, but if your daughter is between the ages of eight and ten, it is likely that her body is already beginning to mature internally in response to surges of hormones. You will notice external physical changes associated with puberty, such as breast development and an increase in body hair. Most girls experience a growth spurt (rapid increase in height and weight) right before menarche.

Girls who are approaching menarche are often curious about what to expect. Likely they have heard other their peers at school discussing the subject. They have questions, but many have difficulty formulating exactly how to ask about it. They may be embarrassed about the subject.

The same is true for parents. Although mothers are usually the primary sources of information about menstruation, they often feel ill-prepared and awkward when discussing the subject.

Pre-teen girls who are approaching menarche are likely to understand simple, concrete information. Such information might include how often a period occurs, how long it lasts, or how much blood is lost. Thus, in the early stages of menstrual education, it may be best to focus on the more immediate and practical aspects of how to deal with menstruation.

You may wish to discuss details of the biology of menstruation. Oftentimes, you can get educational materials from health –care practitioners or from the library or book-store. Such reference works may be helpful in explaining the details. Some girls may prefer to read this material themselves. Others may feel comfortable if you read the material to gather with them.

Pick a quit place to start the conversation. Begin with a simple discussion about growing up and maturing. Perhaps you could says:

“Someday soon you are going to experience something very normal that happens to all girls. Do you know what it is?” Or a mother might start with a personal comment, such as:

“When i was your age, I started to wonder about what it was like to have a period. My friends and I talked about it in school. Have your friends started talking about it yet?” find out what she already knows about menstruation and clears up any misunderstandings. Be prepared for the fact that in your Initial conversations, you may need to do most if not the talking.

As a woman who no doubt experienced your own anxieties and concerns about menarche, you can draw upon your personal experience when discussing this subject. What did you need to know? What did you want to know? What information was helpful? Endeavor to provide a balanced view of the positive and negative aspects of menstruation. Be open to questions.

Menstrual education should be viewed as a continuing process rather than as a one-time discussion. You do not need to cover all the details in one sitting. Too much information all at once be overwhelming for a young girls. Children learn things in stages. Also, repetition of information on different occasions may be necessary. As young girls grow older, they are more able to understand additional details.

Another factor is that girl’s attitudes toward menstruation change throughout adolescence. After young girls gain more experience with their periods, they will likely face new concerns and questions. Hence, you need to continue to share information with them and answer their questions. Focus on what is most meaningful and appropriate for their age and ability to understand.

References

1.      ^ http://www.emro.who.int/publications/emhj/0601/06.htm

2.      ^ http://rmohamed.kau.edu.sa/Files/140/Researches/59054_29400.pdf

3.      ^ http://indox.org.uk/node/34

4.      ^ Anderson SE, Dallal GE, Must A (April 2003). "Relative weight and race influence average age at menarche: results from two nationally representative surveys of US girls studied 25 years apart". Pediatrics 111 (4 Pt 1): 844–50.doi:10.1542/peds.111.4.844. PMID 12671122. 

5.      ^ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21110899

6.      ^ http://vstudentworld.yolasite.com/resources/final_yr/gynae_obs/Hamilton%20Fairley%20Obstetrics%20and%20Gynaecology%20Lecture%20Notes%202%20Ed.pdf

7.      ^ Magnússon, T.E. (May 1978). "Age at menarche in Iceland.". American journal of physical anthropology 48 (4): 511–4. doi:10.1002/ajpa.1330480410. ISSN 0002-9483. PMID 655271. 

8.      ^ http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2011/06/08/peds.2010-2267.abstract

9.      ^ Frisch RE (August 1987). "Body fat, menarche, fitness and fertility". Human Reproduction 2 (6): 521–33. PMID 3117838. http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=3117838. 

10 Field work 2012(delta state)

11 Wikipedia.

Written by

Agboje Okwualefe Peace, Egbonimali Shadrack and Kirthi Gita Jayakumar

Waiting in Need

(Lagos) January 7, 2012 – Thousands of children in northern Nigeria need immediate medical treatment and dozens of villages remain contaminated two years into the worst lead poisoning epidemic in modern history, Human Rights Watch said today while releasing a video on the issue. Four hundred children have died, according to official estimates, yet environmental cleanup efforts have not even begun in numerous affected villages.

Artisanal gold mines are found throughout Zamfara State in northwestern Nigeria, and high levels of lead in the earth and the use of rudimentary mining methods have resulted in an epidemic of lead poisoning among children, Human Rights Watch said. Research by Human Rights Watch in Zamfara in late 2011 found that children are exposed to this lead dust when they process ore in the mines, when their miner relatives return home covered with lead dust, and when the lead-filled ore is manually or mechanically crushed at home. Children can also be exposed to toxic lead in contaminated water and food. Healthcare workers in Zamfara State told Human Rights Watch that there have also been high rates of infertility and miscarriage among affected adults.

“Zamfara’s gold brought hope for prosperity, but resulted in death and backbreaking labor for its children,” said Babatunde Olugboji, deputy program director at Human Rights Watch. “People living in Zamfara State should not have to trade their lives, or their children’s lives, for the chance to mine gold and make a living.”

The Zamfara State government, in partnership with international organizations such as Medecins Sans Frontieres and the United States Centers for Disease Control, has treated more than 1,500 children with acute lead poisoning, but thousands more children urgently need the life-saving chelation therapy treatment that removes lead from the body, Human Rights Watch said. Unless their homes are cleaned up and their relatives have access to safer mining techniques that minimize exposure to lead-contaminated dust, treatment will not be effective as children will be repeatedly re-exposed.

Lead is highly toxic and can interrupt the body’s neurological, biological, and cognitive functions. Children are particularly susceptible, and according to the World Health Organization, high levels of lead exposure can cause brain, liver, kidney, nerve, and stomach damage, as well as permanent intellectual and developmental disabilities. Lead poisoning is rarely fatal, but medical workers in Nigeria reported that the lead concentration in the Zamfara State ore is so toxic that in 2010 in villages such as Abare, Dareta, Duza, Sunke, Tungar Daji, Tungar Guru, and Yargalma, the mortality rate was estimated as high as 40 percent among children who showed symptoms of lead poisoning.

In late 2011, the Zamfara State government took an important step when it put together a clean-up team, Human Rights Watch said. The team is now cleaning up the largest and most contaminated village, Bagega, which is estimated to have at least 2,000 children in need of treatment. However, the scope of contamination in the region requires a sustained and comprehensive effort that will be difficult for the state government to manage without adequate funds, personnel, and expertise.

“For the past two months we’ve seen a renewed state government commitment to cleaning up heavily lead-contaminated areas in Zamfara,” Olugboji said. “This effort needs to be sustained and expanded, and international donors should help ensure that all affected children and villages are reached.”­­

Children as young as 8 work in Zamfara’s informal mining sector, dropping down into the mines, processing the ore, using mercury to extract the gold, and selling goods at the processing site. Much of this work, which can be extremely hazardous, qualifies as among the worst forms of child labor under international law, Human Rights Watch said.

Nigeria is party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Both treaties obligate Nigeria to protect the health of its children and to ensure their physical and mental development to the maximum extent possible. Nigeria has also ratified International Labor Organization Convention No. 182 on the worst forms of child labor, which protects children from hazardous labor, such as exposure to hazardous substances, agents, or processes.

“By failing to address this epidemic, the Nigerian government is needlessly sacrificing its children,” Olugboji said. “The federal and state governments need to educate people about the risks of lead, put safer mining programs in place, end child labor in gold mining, and dramatically expand treatment and environmental cleanup programs.”

Human Rights Watch Press release

The S Trait

The S trait

A True story

It is always a time of celebration when a child is born in to a family, especially a boy. So it was for the family of Mr. and Mrs. Dodo. Their son, the second child was privileged to be born in a developed country. Amidst the joyful event, came a call from the hospital to inform the parents that the newborn screening test which was conducted on their son showed that he has sickle cell disease. The newborn screening test consists of different tests conducted on newborn babies to diagnose present and future health conditions of babies.
Mr. Dodo confidently told them that there was definitely a mix-up somewhere.
‘No, Mr. Dodo confidently told the healthcare providers. My wife and I know our genotypes. I am AA while my wife is AS, so it is not possible for our child to be an SS”.
Series of follow up tests were conducted which finally revealed that Mr. Dodo is a carrier of the S trait which resulted in the son being diagnosed with sickle cell disease.
Mr. and Mrs. Dodo were devastated. “This cannot be happening, Mrs. Dodo wailed. Why does our son have to go through this for the rest of his life?”
Mr. Dodo looked on, overwhelmed and not knowing how to respond. This was caused by the inadequate genotype tests he received from his home country Nigeria.
The couple had to be counseled and was comforted by the hospital that with early diagnosis and preventive medication, their son would be hale and hearty.
What then is sickle cell disease?
According to Allan F. Platt, James Eckman and Lewis Hsu in their book, Hope and Destiny, The Patient and Parent’s Guide to Sickle Cell Disease and Sickle Cell Trait, sickle cell disease is an inherited, lifelong problem that is located within the red blood cells of human body. It is caused by a change in the DNA code blueprint that alters the structure of hemoglobin. This alteration is called a mutation. Hemoglobin is an important chemical that delivers oxygen to the entire body. Sickle hemoglobin does not function properly because hemoglobin molecules stick together after they give up their oxygen in the small blood vessels of the body.
 A single chemical substitution in the protein hemoglobin, inside the red cell, causes that cell to assume a hard sickle shape instead of the normal soft, stretchable, doughnut shape that allows red cells to move through blood vessels. The sickle shape causes blood flow blockages. It also causes the red blood cell to break apart causing anemia, or a low red blood cell count. The body pains and other complications in people with sickle cell disease are caused by these blockages and by anemia making it life threatening.
Sickle cell disease for long has been a global concern because of high mortality rate evidence especially in poor regions. Prevalence is higher in people from geographic areas where malaria was endemic. Today it is found in many countries around the world as populations have moved from place to place. Africa still has the highest incidence of trait and disease, with the incidence of sickle cell trait approaching 60% in some areas around the equator. Other territories around the world and the incidence of sickle trait are:
Brazil 7-10%        Saudi Arabia 5-25%             Cuba 5%        Surinam 15%
Ghana 15%                  Greece 8-27%                        India 9-38%        Puerto Rico 5%
Nigeria 24%                Jamaica 10%                          W/Africa 15-25%       Curacao 12%
Panama 12-14%                Southern Italy 10%              Venezuela 11%       
Incidence of Sickle Cell Disease worldwide http://www.who.int/genomics/public/geneticdiseases/en/index2.html#SCA
Given these alarming figures, what do we do to give hope to those that have been diagnosed with the disease? Allan and his friends put together these basic principles to help us remember ways to prevent problems associated with the disease. In a simple acronym they are called FARMS where:
F is for fluids and fever. Drink plenty of water and manage fever by going to the hospital immediately.
A is for air. Make sure you get enough oxygen.
R is for rest. Get plenty of sleep and breaks when your body feels tired.
M is for prevention medications, like daily penicillin for children under six and vitamin folate (folic acid) needed to make new red blood cells.
S is for situations to avoid, like avoiding smoking, alcohol, or illegal drugs.
In addition to FARMS, immunizations should be cornerstone in the agenda of local and central governments through health institutions. This will help prevent infections which often trigger pain and other sickle cell crisis.  A current listing of all recommended vaccines is available at government sites like www.cdc.gov.  
Currently, the only cure available now for sickle cell disease is to destroy a person’s bone marrow with medications and replace it, or implant it, with marrow from another person, such as a sibling or other close relative. Today, however, there is much good news! In general terms, people with sickle cell disease live longer and more productive lives, due early detection, preventive medications, better education about the disease, and new treatments.
For the most part, developing countries especially those in the sub-Saharan Africa still have much to do to achieve success. Nigeria like many developing countries still grapples with problems associated with poor health facilities. This is worse in rural areas where large populations are not educated especially as it relates to awareness of certain health concerns and how to prevent or treat such when they occur. Interestingly, basic health education in areas like genes and human diseases if given adequate attention could bring about change needed.  
It should be a norm in our society that intending couples planning marriage know their genotype. Consequently, experts and health systems should function to create awareness and educate people to know their genotypes before wedding. Future couples need to know the medical and long life condition which they are likely to encounter in the event that their genotypes are formed in such a way that they are both carriers of the S trait (AS). That inadvertently means that a child born has the probability of getting an S trait from each parent, making him or her carrier of two S which means he or she has the Sickle cell disease. Expectedly, this situation is heightened if one of the parents is AS and the other SS or both parents are SS.
Two carriers of one sickle cell gene, though they don’t have the disease themselves and do not suffer any symptoms may bring into the world a child with sickle cell disease who does suffer its serious effects. It is therefore important for intending parents to be mindful of what their child or children might suffer in the future. As complicated as educating people on such genetic issues might be, due to social and religious reasons, the need to reduce sickle cell disease should not be compromised. Community-wide concerted efforts involving influential people like traditional and religious leaders and elites like elected leaders, teachers especially college professors and government officials can help reach awareness goals. Hence institutions and unrestricted places like churches, mosques, schools, market places, parks, and hospitals are good avenues to educate the public on sickle cell disease. Since it takes the whole village to train a child, the whole village can prevent sickle cell disease through education and public awareness.


By Hadiza