WOMEN, MOTHERS SHOULD LEAD SECURITY EDUCATION AT HOMES

Salamatu Ibrahim

Ace broadcaster and co-anchor of Kakkaki Programme on Africa Independent Television (AIT), Salamatu Ibrahim has  said that Nigeria’s security situation will improve for the better if women take the lead in teaching their children issues of security at the family level through constant orientation and monitoring of what they read and post on the social media.

Salamatu made this suggestion as one of the guest speakers at the Faculty of Humanities, Social and Managements Science seminar series held at the Bingham University, Karu, Nasarawa State.

According to her, “Despite the positive roles played by social media in exposing crimes, cases of kidnapping and other security issues in the country, the use of the social media has fueled terrorism with the tool of propaganda”.

She said, it is not uncommon to see posts that activates ethno-religious and political crises from those she called “unpatriotic Nigerians”, hence, mothers can help educate their children on the contents they post and read.

A Professor of Political Science at the Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, USA, called for trust between government, communities, religions and ethnic groups as the social media plays very important roles.

While emphasizing the impossibility of censoring contents on the social media, the University don said there is the need for those who handle government’s information to always provide accurate government information to avoid distortion by members of the public.

Other speakers at the seminar called for self-censorship, with a call on journalists to verify information they take from the social media platforms as the general election approaches.

WHY LATE MARRIAGE WILL AFFECT YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING PREGNANT

Dr Babatunde Okewale, 

An Obstetrician & Gynaecologist (O&G) and a fertility expert is the Chairman and Chief Medical Director of St Ives Specialist Hospital with branches in Lagos and Abeokuta, Ogun State. 
In this interview, he speaks on the reason for the increase in infertility in the world today, why Invitro Fertilisation (IVF) is expensive and how to prevent infertility.

What are the causes of infertility in men and women?

I think one of the best ways to understand the cause of infertility is first to know how conception occurs. There are basically five criteria for anyone who is trying to conceive. The first thing is that the husband’s sperm must be of good quality and quantity. The second requirement is that the woman herself must know her fertile period; when she is ovulating because it is only when they make love at that time that pregnancy can occur. The third one is that the inside of the womb of the woman must be able to accept and keep a pregnancy. So, there shouldn’t be anything in the womb that can disrupt pregnancy whether it is fibroid, adhesions or polyps. The fourth requirement is that the fallopian tube of the woman must be opened so that the eggs that are formed in the ovary can enter the tube and mix with the sperm that are coming so that fertilisation can occur. Finally, the woman must be producing quality eggs. If you see anybody that got pregnant naturally, what it meant was that those five requirements were fulfilled. Conversely, if there is a problem with any of those five things, it could cause infertility; if there is problem with the sperm, a woman has problem with her menstrual period, if  the inside of the womb cannot accept pregnancy, if her  fallopian tubes are blocked or she doesn’t produce quality eggs every month.

It seems cases of infertility are on the increase these days. What is responsible for that?

That is very true and it is not only in Nigeria, it is a worldwide phenomenon. And part of the reasons are these; as industrialisation increases worldwide, pollution increases, especially in the third world countries and there are quite a lot of pollutants that affect men’s sperm and sometimes affect women’s fertility. Some of the industries that have been implicated are industries such as plastic industry, industry that produce paints because you have heavy metals in paint production. Pollution generally affects the sperm count of men unknowingly because of the industrial pollution that goes into the water system of the populace, water gets contaminated. People are digging borehole and don’t know where the water they are getting is coming from. The second thing is that women are not getting married early again unlike in the past. The older a woman gets the more difficult it is to achieve a pregnancy. In fact, the best time, for any woman to achieve a pregnancy is between age 20 and 30. Once you are hitting 35, the ability to achieve a pregnancy starts decreasing at a very fast rate such that by 40, for most women, they find it extremely difficult to achieve a pregnancy. The other things are infections. The kind of infection that affect fertility has changed over the years. In the 70s, we were talking about Gonorrhoea which could be easily detected but the kind of s3xually transmitted disease that causes blocked tubes and affect sperms now are different. These ones are in the group of Chlamydia, they don’t show any sign and would have done their damage before you know it. So, indiscriminate unprotected s3x too can cause infertility. Also, excessive smoking and alcohol intake affect sperm but they are minor. Pollution, industrialisation and infections are playing a big role in infertility.

Is IVF the only solution to infertility?

No. In fact, IVF is just one of the solutions in infertility. It is not all the infertility causes that you need IVF for. If you have menstrual disorder, all you just need is an ovulation drug that would correct the problem, or if the problem is fibroid that is blocking some passage ways that will allow sperm to meet with eggs; if you remove the fibroid that should sort out the problem. IVF is however the first treatment option in women that have blocked tube. What it does is that it bypasses the tube and makes fertilisation occur outside of the womb.

Some women have done IVF four, five times without it resulting in pregnancy and some of them later conceive naturally. What is responsible for that?

The truth of the matter is; before you embark on IVF you must be sure that that is what is needed. It is not a situation of let me try IVF then try other things. There are some indications for IVF that lent themselves into the fact that after having an IVF, you can still conceive naturally. For example in cases of unexplained infertility (when all examination had been done and there is no reason for why pregnancy has not occurred), we advice IVF because what it does is to ensure that both the egg and the sperm meet. In such couples, they had IVF, got pregnant and have a baby. Subsequent conception does not have to be IVF. The drugs used in the IVF have made some correction in their reproductive hormones. It does happen but it is very rare. So, the reason IVF fails is that people don’t go for test to find out whether that is what they really need. Another reason IVF fails is either because the quality of the woman’s egg is low or the quality of the womb is not fertile or okay. But if the womb is very fertile, if you put an embryo there, it will grow. The problem in women is that as a woman grows older, the quality of the egg and the quality of the womb start deteriorating.  IVF is usually very successful in women below the age of thirty. As a woman grows older, the failure rate of IVF starts increasing. In fact, let me give you some statistics; if a woman is  below 30, her chances of getting pregnant in a cycle of IVF is 60 per cent, while in a woman who is 40 years old, her chances of getting pregnant in more than one cycle is not more than 25 per cent. What have made the differences are the age and the quality of the egg and the inside of the womb. The best time for pregnancy in women either naturally or IVF is below the age of 35. Most failures in IVF are in women who are using their own eggs above 35 years old. The converse again is if a woman is 60 and wants to get pregnant by IVF and decides to use the egg of a younger person, the chance that she will get pregnant with the egg of a 3o-year-old is high.

 

Talking about pregnancies, why do women have miscarriages?

Generally speaking, the incidence of miscarriages in natural conception is about one in four. Most people might not know that.  In fact, most people have miscarriages even before they missed their periods. What causes miscarriage in the early stage of pregnancy mostly is abnormality in the formation of the embryo. Again, if people get married late, the incidence of abnormality increases. Any woman who gets pregnant above the age of 35 should ideally be screened for Down syndrome. For most abnormal pregnancies, the way the body deals with them is to let them go (miscarriage) before 12 weeks.

 

IVF is on the high side for many Nigerians, especially in the rural areas. What are you doing to ensure that they too can benefit from this procedure?

What we have been doing for the past 10 years is that we work closely with a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) that twice in a year our patients pay only 50 per cent while it pays us the balance. So, we do a promo twice a year courtesy the NGO. Ideally, the government should step in, in such situation. In UK and some other socially responsible societies, the government steps in. In UK for instance, the government ensures that you have free IVF for the first three cycles it is only if nothing happens after three cycles, that you start paying. And people that can’t afford it, it is highly subsidised because infertility is a social problem. Although our governments don’t see it that way, they are more interested in population control so more money is being put into contraception. But for a couple trying to conceive, infertility is a social problem and government should be able to help. Having said that, IVF is an expensive procedure all over the world not only in Nigeria.  Part of the reason is that an IVF laboratory is a high tech lab. There must be light 24 hours and there is a level of sanitation that must be present in the lab. Though it is not as expensive as heart or kidney transplant. The only problem is that people don’t see infertility as a diseased process, they only see it as a lifestyle issue.

5 REASONS YOU SHOULD NOT MARRY A WOMAN WHO LOVES MONEY.

Since to say someone loves money implies that this is a bad thing, no man who loves himself should go for a woman who loves money. Using this thread, I will highlight the 5 reasons why it is a bad omen to marry a money-loving woman.

1 SHE WILL BE INSATIABLE

You can never satisfy a woman who loves money. No matter the amount she has or the amount you give to her, her satisfaction can never be met. Save yourself the trouble.

2 HER INSATIABILITY WILL MAKE HER CHEAT

There is a cause and effect relationship between a woman who loves money and tendency to cheat. A woman who loves money will follow the highest bidder. It is money that controls such women as they are all about the money.

3 SHE WILL PUT UNNECESSARY PRESSURE ON HER PARTNER

If you go with a money-loving woman, just know that you will forever live in an unending web of pressure. The desire to meet her demands from time to time is a never ending cycle.

4 SHE WILL LIMIT YOUR GROWTH

A money loving woman will stunt your progress. Because of your desire to please her desires, you will run into a debt if proper care is not taken. Instead of you to work on things that will bring progress, you will spend all you have on her fruitless cravings.

5 FINALLY, WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH SHE WILL FLY

And if you are with a money loving woman and things are no more rosy, expect her to fly away into thin air and leave you in your predicament.

DOS AND DON’TS DURING BREASTFEEDING

A healthful breastfeeding diet is essentially the same as a nutritious diet when not breastfeeding. The main difference is that people who are breastfeeding need more calories.

Specific nutrients, such as iron, calcium, potassium, and vitamins A and D, are particularly beneficial when breastfeeding. Eating a wide variety of foods is also essential, as this will expose the baby to different tastes and may result in them being more receptive to solid foods later on.

WHAT TO EAT WHILE BREASTFEEDING

When breastfeeding, aim to include the following foods in each day’s meals:

FRUITS: Grapefruits and oranges are good sources of essential nutrients. Fruits are a rich source of many nutrients. They may also help relieve constipation, which some people experience after giving birth. Aim for about 2 cups of fruit per day, which should include a wide variety of different fruits.

People who are exclusively breastfeeding should aim to eat 3 cups of vegetables a day. Those who are combining breastfeeding with formula-feeding should eat 2.5 cups of vegetables each day.

The recommended vegetables  due to their potassium and vitamin A content includes:

Spinach, cooked greens, such as kale and collards, carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, tomatoes, red sweet peppers

GRAINS

Grains offer vital nutrients, especially whole grains, such as brown rice and whole-wheat bread. People should aim to eat 8 ounces (Oz) a day if they are exclusively breastfeeding, or 6 Oz if they are also formula-feeding.

Some grains, such as quinoa, are also high in protein, which is an essential nutrient to eat when breastfeeding.

Fortified cereals provide added nutrients and are also a good option. It is best to stick to whole-grain cereals that do not contain added sugar.

PROTEIN

When you are breastfeeding, the body requires an extra 25 grams (g) of protein per day and at least 65 g per day in total. Experts recommend including some protein with every meal.

The recommended sources of protein includes: Beans and peas, nuts and seeds, lean beef, pork, and lamb, oysters, crab, and mussels, salmon, herring, Pollock, sardines, and trout, Seafood is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which can support healthy brain development in the baby. Salmon, sardines, and trout are excellent choices because they are high in omega-3s but low in mercury.

FOODS TO AVOID

The list of foods that a person should avoid during pregnancy is long. This may be why some people believe that they must also eat a restrictive diet when breastfeeding.

In fact, there is no list of foods that people who are breastfeeding should avoid altogether. Instead, they should eat food that is healthful and pay attention to cues from their body.

Breast milk comes from nutrients that pass into the blood. Many of the potentially dangerous ingredients that could cross the placenta during pregnancy do not get to the breastfeeding baby.

Some experts warn against so-called gassy foods, such as cruciferous vegetables, but most babies are unaffected by these foods. Likewise, there is no reason to avoid spicy or strong-flavored foods unless the baby reacts negatively to them.

Medical authorities and parenting guides often provide mixed or unclear advice regarding alcohol consumption when breastfeeding.

Alcohol is dangerous during pregnancy because it crosses the placenta, but a breastfeeding baby only gets the amount of alcohol that passes into the blood of the person breastfeeding. In other words, the blood alcohol content of the person breastfeeding is the amount of alcohol that reaches a breastfeeding baby.

With moderate consumption, this amount of alcohol is negligible and unlikely to cause harm.

It's recommended that no more than one drink per day should be taken, where necessary, during breastfeeding. It's also suggested to reduce the risk further by waiting at least 2 hours to breastfeed after drinking alcohol.

UNICEF COUNSELS MOTHERS ON EXCLUSIVE BREAST FEEDING FOR NEW BORN BABIES.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has advised mothers in Nasarawa State and Nigeria at large to embrace exclusive breast feeding, in the interest of the health of their new born babies.

Ms Chinwe Ezeife, Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF Kaduna Field office, gave the advice on Friday when members of the organisation were on assessment tour to one of its service centres in Keffi.

She said that exclusive breast feeding was good for the health of new born babies, hence the need for mothers to feed their children exclusively for six months of life.

“We are encouraging mothers to embrace exclusive breast feeding. One hour after the birth or delivery, mothers should put their babies to breast feeding.

`She should feed the child exclusively for six months of life.

“After that, the mother will introduce other complementary foods because after six months, only breast milk cannot satisfy the nutrient requirement of the child,” she said.

Ezeife also called for collective efforts to address the challenges of malnutrition in the country.

“My call on the parents, especially the mothers and fathers is for them to join hands to ensure that the child is given exclusive breast feeding.

“We know that mothers own the breast, it is also left for the fathers to do their part, to be supportive in terms of providing the necessary needs required by the mother.

“This is necessary so that the child can be breast feed well,” the nutritionist said.

She restated the commitment of the UNICEF to continue to key into good projects and policies that had direct bearing on the nutritional need of the children in order to improve on their standard of living.

Also speaking, Dr Zakari Adam, the Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Kaduna, said that the tour was for him to see things, with the view of addressing any challenge, if any.

He expressed happiness with the commitment of health workers and other community volunteers of the centres toward tackling the challenges among malnourished children and urged them to sustain the tempo.

According to him, the Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), provided by the UNICEF are given to children free of charge.

While thanking UNICEF, Mr Ibrahim Gambo, the Director, Primary Health Care, Keffi Local Government Area said 146 malnourished children had been treated and cured of malnutrition in the area.

According to him, the achievement is possible because of the support received from UNICEF toward addressing the challenges associated with malnourished children.

WHAT EVERY MARRIED WOMAN SHOULD KNOW

I chose to write this thread cos of the growing trend of many ladies leaving their marriages for reasons that will make a sane person puke and it is so funny that these ladies see no big deal in jumping out of their marriage thinking men out there will just jump at them when there are countless numbers of beautiful never married ladies out there.

One big fact i want every married lady to know is this ....

The moment you are married,the seal of spinsterhood is broken and such seal can never be fixed...in other words...if you leave that union,you can never be seen as a never married or single lady so to say but you automatically become a divorcee. And in most cases also,when men approach divorcees for romantic union,they usually have the mindset that it's a favor they are rendering to these ladies which is why many lady divorcees end up single for a very long time and many end up as intimacy gadgets in the hands of randy men. 

Why this sermon? it is to tell ladies that they must really think before they go into any marriage because it is better to be never married at 40 than to be a divorcee at 30.Ladies should see marriage as a very special Institute they must guard and should never take for granted at a time guys don't need a wife to enjoy what husbands enjoy as sex is cheap and it is quite easier getting a baby mama rather than going through the stress of fatherhood...it is quite easier for a guy to spend his money on himself rather than spending on a family.

Believe it or not,most guys in marriage of 5 years and above secretly wish that they have the chance to be with a new lady but only few remain disciplined so it is your duty to guard your marriage and take it very seriously.

For those ladies who are quick to say "I will leave my marriage if my hubby cheats on me"...have you ever thought of the fact that when he eventually cheats on you to your face then he really wants you to leave.

Most ladies who say marriage is not necessary usually enjoy hopping from one man to another and i wonder if that is their preferred option. I will advise them to wake up from their delusion and have a rethink. Marriage is more of companionship than sexual intimacy and no matter how beautiful a lady is,in most cases,once she gets into her 40s,the hype of having men flock around her will dwindle and loneliness becomes the order of the day,...only then will she understand that indeed,marriage is an important aspect of life no woman should joke with.

Marriage is more spiritual than physical and nothing gladdens the Devil more than seeing marriages crumble since it is the very institution GOD meticulously established so it is your duty as a lady to guard your marriage and the only logical reason for you to leave your marriage is if your life is seriously threatened...any other reason can be worked out. No matter how many times you change men,there will always be a reason to leave so stop running about and make your marriage work.

There is no good or bad choice of spouse but what we have is your choice and what you make out of it.

NEVER ALLOW ANOTHER LADY PUSH YOU OUT OF YOUR MARRIAGE OR YOU MAY REGRET IT.

This will definitely make no sense to many ladies.