RH Weekly News Roundup: Can You Treat Ovarian Problems with Healthy Food Choices?

Renovations on the Cards for Primary Care Centres?

The Lagos State government reiterated its plans to upgrade its primary and secondary care facilities throughout the state. Many of the clinics and care centres are terribly underequipped to handle the cases that should be treated in them. As a result, many patients head straight to hospitals and tertiary care facilities… and so do the qualified doctors and nurses. The need is clear; however, it is unclear when these activities will commence.

The big news seems to be the development of an N49b medical park in Lagos. The construction of this facility which will include a wide variety of health care services was awarded to MEDIPARK, a consortium of American hospitals and care providers. No, the Lagos State government isn’t paying for it, but it is providing two acres of land at the old Nursing School in Ikoyi.

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Time to Boogie (Not Quite) All Night Long

Dancing is good exercise. If you’ve ever spent a night dancing until your legs were a little sore, you know just how much physical exertion it requires. And, we’ve always had a suspicion that dancing is good for mental health too. It releases tension and allows you to really express your emotions, whether they’re happy or sad.

Now, we’ve got some more good news; dancing might just make you more resistant to pain! Now, to qualify that, we need to tell you that it’s coordinated dancing with other people that makes the difference (you know salsa with a partner or those funny, repeated steps you do with a line of people). But still, that’s good news for… just about everyone; just remember how your thighs feel in the morning before you dance until dawn.

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Women Protest for Safety in Enugu

In the past week, a coalition of civil and faith-based women’s groups staged a peaceful protest, marching from Okpara Square to the Enugu Government House. Once there, the women begged an audience with the state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. The protestors asked for protection from the state following attacks suspected to have been caused by herdsmen.

In addition to the destruction of property, upwards of 20 people were killed, with many others reporting severe injuries. Many fled their homes and are afraid to return. And, when the protestors enquired why an IDP camp hasn’t been set up, the response from government was that no one wanted to return, suggesting the governor intended to raise such a camp in the area where the attacks occurred. While perhaps not the safest place for a camp, we applaud the work of women standing up for their rights peacefully.

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Stop Bullying Our Women!

If you blinked, you might have missed it, but the International Girls in Information Communication Technology Day was celebrated this past week in Abuja. The celebration was meant to draw attention to the need to increase the number of women working in technology through increasing access to schooling for girls in communication and technology. Sadly, it was here that the CEO of the National Communication Commission reported that Nigerian women and girls are often the targets of cyber bullying.

Of course, these are indeed two different issues, but at the heart of both is gender disparity which is rampant in Nigeria, in Africa, and in many other parts of the world. But, there are organisations working to correct these issues – even the role of African women in technology. MEST, for example, is trying to close the gender gap across the STEM disciplines in Nigeria. Want to get involved? Why not reach out to MEST to see how you can help? At the very least, make sure you take a stand against bullying in all its forms.

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No More International Medical Treatments for Nigerian Officials

The Nigerian president is paying a lot of attention to the fact that Nigerians often leave the country to pursue medical treatment elsewhere. Not only has he said should stop, but he’s also said it must stop; and he is willing to dole out harsh penalties for anyone referring patients out of the country on the government’s bill. That goes for government officials too!

More importantly, Nigerians may not have to travel for medical procedures in the near future. Although there are plenty of issues in the healthcare sector, there are a few bright spots – such as the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, which has recently carried out a successful bone bridge surgery, a handful of cochlear implants, and a remarkable kidney transplant. We look forward to positive news from the other critical surgeries planned at this facility.

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Can You Treat Ovarian Problems with Healthy Food Choices?

Maybe! Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a condition affecting up to 20 percent of women of child-bearing age. Not only can it cause infertility, it also contributes to diabetes and depression, plus an increased risk for heart problems. You may be able to detect this hormonal imbalance by a loss of hair on the head and an increase of hair or acne on the face, alongside hormonal irregularities.

No one can say exactly what causes PCOS, which means that clear-cut treatments are hard to come by. But, diet can play a big factor in the management of this condition. Sufferers may find that low-glycemic diets and frequent, small meals may help to ease PCOS. The first step? A trip to the gynaecologist for a check-up.

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Food Bill Gets Another Read

Food security is becoming a reality in Africa, and the future doesn’t look all that bright at the moment. Famine is on the cards for many, many people as a result of natural disasters and the economic state of many African countries. Nigeria is one of those countries.

No one is taking this issue lightly, not even the government. The Nigerian Senate swiftly passed through the second reading of the “Food Bill” which would establish a Food Security Agency (FSA). The primary purpose of this organisation would be to fulfil the right to (hopefully nutritious) food to the most vulnerable, including children in the most remote parts of the country. If you want to stop hunger now, why not visit the Global Foodbanking Network to see how you can get involved?