Sexual and Reproductive Health with Isaac Eranga

Posted by Isaac Eranga Maiduguri - An emergency polio vaccination campaign aimed at reaching 25 million children this year has begun in parts of Nigeria newly freed from Boko Haram Islamic extremists, with fears that many more cases of the crippling disease will likely be found. Two toddlers discovered last month were Nigeria's first reported polio cases in more than two years, putting the world on alert just months after the African continent was declared free of the disease. One member of the Rotary Club's "End Polio Now" drive said he almost cried when he got the news. It was a major blow to global efforts to stamp out polio, which persists in only two other countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Associated Press joined the vaccination drive in northeastern Nigeria, a campaign going to extraordinary lengths to fight the disease in areas still threatened by Boko Haram extremists who violently oppose Western medicine. Health workers using military helicopters,

The Lagos State Government has reiterated its resolve to continue with the implementation of activities and strategies geared towards the reduction of maternal and child deaths in the State through its Maternal and Child Mortality Reduction Programme, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Primary Health Care, Dr. Olufemi Onanuga has said. ‎ Onanuga, who made this known to signal commencement of activities for the implementation of the first round of year 2016 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCH) celebration in Lagos, noted that the state government would not rest on its oars at ensuring that preventive measures against maternal and child deaths are embraced and adequate care for maternal and child health are available.

A 25-minute do-it-yourself Urine Malaria Test (UMT) kit has been released to the Nigeria public by a United States based Company-Fyodor Biotechnologies Corps through Geneith Pharmaceuticals Nigeria Ltd. The strip works the same way pregnancy strip works. The malaria kit is the first-ever non-blood malaria test kit that will tell in about 25 minutes if a fever is caused by malaria or not. According to the company, what is required is just a few drops of urine without any reagent or equipment. According to Eddy Agbo, Fyodor Biotechnologies Corps Chief Executive Officer, half a million people die of malaria yearly, stressing that most malaria deaths occur within 48 hours of fever onset and children under-five years are particularly vulnerable. UMT was the first to have its clinical trial validated in Nigeria. The test process is simple: add patient urine into sample cup provided in kit; dip and leave UTM strip in the sample for 25 minutes; read result: one line

Female condoms could be fun when used as a family planning method in preventing unwanted pregnancy and child spacing. The following below are basic tips about female condoms: *It is inserted into the vaginal before sexual intercourse. *Sperms are collected in the condom and therefore do not enter the vagina to fertilise the ovum. *Remove the condom soon after the intercourse, and before standing up to prevent spillage. *It offers good protection if used correctly during every intercourse. *It also provides protection against sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS.

Female condoms could be fun when used as a family planning method in preventing unwanted pregnancy and child spacing. The following below are basic tips about family planning: *It is inserted into the vaginal before sexual intercourse. *Sperms are collected in the condom and therefore do not enter the vagina to fertilise the ovum. *Remove the condom soon after the intercourse, and before standing up to prevent spillage. *It offers good protection if used correctly during every intercourse. *It also provides protection against sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS.

* The pill contains artificial hormones like those produced by the body when a woman is pregnant. * The ovum (egg cell) is not released while a woman is on the pill. * One pill is taken at the same time everyday. Family planning expert will advise you on how to take it. * If instructions are followed carefully, the pill is very effective. * it is easy to take, safe and cheap. * Most women do not suffer from any serious side effects. A few women may have a temporary minor side effects similar to pregnancy (e.g. nausea and headaches). These will soon go away. * You can take the pill as long as you do not want to have a baby.

It is now an acceptable fact that there is link between violence against women (VAW) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), says report. Studies have revealed that directly addressing VAW and gender iniquality has significant potential to make HIV prevention programmes more effective. Gender is used to refer to ideals about characteristics of women and men that are socially constructed, while sex refers to anatomical and biological characteristics of people's bothers: male, female or intersex (possessins both male and female traits). Gender analysis identifies, analyses and informs action to address iniqualities that arise from the different social roles assigned to women and men, the unequal power relationships between them, and the consequences of these iniqualities on their lives, their health and wellbeing. Gender analysis in HIV programming highlights how iniqualities constrain women's ability to protect themselves from HIV, and to seek safe testing, ca