The World Health Organisation and its sister agency, UNICEF, have encouraged women to continue to breastfeed during the pandemic, even if they have confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection. According to them, active COVID-19 virus has not, to date, been detected in the breast milk of any mother with confirmed or suspected COVID-19.
On Wednesday, the UN Agency, released a statement via its website saying that COVID-19 would not be likely transmitted through breastfeeding due yo evidence
According to WHO, UNICEF, and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) countries are not properly stopping the harmful promotion of breast-milk substitutes. They noted that most companies are beginning to take advantage of the pandemic to push their products to the market and that breastfeeding is under threat.
“The numerous benefits of breastfeeding substantially outweigh the potential risks of illness associated with the virus,” the authors find.
Breast milk saves children’s lives by providing antibodies that give them a healthy boost and protect them against many childhood illnesses.
Some female patients had due to fear stopped breastfeeding which resulted in the use of breast milk substitutes.
Breast milk is the only accepted food recommended for infants for the first six months of their lives.
The agencies lamented that breastfeeding is under threat as health systems are stretched thin.
WHO also said the pandemic is having a negative effect on the health care services aimed at supporting mothers to breastfeed, including counselling and skilled lactation.
The Agencies have called on governments to urgently strengthen the legislation on the ban of all breast milk substitutes during the COVID-19 pandemic, including donations of breast milk substitutes in emergency situations.
The Code bans all forms of breast-milk substitutes promotion, including advertising, gifts to health workers and distribution of free samples. Labels must carry messages about the superiority of breastfeeding over formula and the risks of not breastfeeding.
There were some guidelines released for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 mothers who want to breastfeed their babies were also released. They include:
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand rub especially before touching the baby;
- Always wear a medical mask during any contact with the baby, including while feeding;
- Sneeze or cough into a tissue. Then dispose immediately and wash hands again;
- Regularly cean and disinfect surfaces after touching them.
Mothers are to follow the prevention measures listed, and should continue breastfeeding.
Reference: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/coronavirus/394992-who-unicef-urge-mothers-to-sustain-breastfeeding-despite-covid-19-fears.html
Ejiro Agambi, a graduate of Computer Science from Lagos State University, is a vibrant and an enterprising Nigerian committed to adding value and creating job opportunities.
She’s the Founder of JEOVIL GROUP which houses one of Nigeria’s leading cleaning companies; Jeovil Cleaning and Maintenance Services, LuxuryVox (The Gift Company) and other brands.
A 2019 SME100 Africa, 25under25 Awardee for professional service, an Alumnus of the U.S Exchange Program- Academy for Women Entrepreneurs.
1. Let’s meet you. Who is Ejiro
I am Ejiro Agambi, an enterprising Nigerian, committed to adding value and creating job opportunities.
My company is a market leader in the provision of detailed cleaning service for residential, commercial and industrial needs.
2. Your hobbies?
Singing, Reading & Graphic designing/ UX/UI
3. Mention three women who inspire you and why
The world is full of inspiring women to study and learn from. But, on a more personal level, I can attest that studying and learning from various great women in history has helped to shape who I am and becoming. They have informed the kind of leader I want to be as a CEO/as an individual as well as the kind of mother I want to be to my future children.
As asked, here are just three examples of the women who have made me the businesswoman and individual I am today.
(1) My mother (Dcns.Mrs.Evelyn Agambi)
She’s a teacher, leader and a business woman. I watched her influence her students, colleagues, women group members, customers and even her neigbours at her place of business simply by the way she carried herself, honour God, and with how hard she worked to solve and think through the problems of others.
She taught me, in this way, what it looks like to be a peoples’ person. How helping others solve problems requires thinking empathetically alongside them so as to truly understand what they’re going through and think about the problem from “their level.”
Thanks to her, I now know that being a real leader requires more than intelligence, ability, or even the capacity to inspire. It requires time, care, genuine concern and God’s grace .
Mrs Ibukun Blessing Awosika and Mrs Tara Fela Durotoye. They both have some ‘similarities’ role models worthy of emulation, they are an inspiration to thousands of women, young and old all around the world from them who have learnt how to effectively balance career, family and spirituality.
4. Your biggest fear?
Failure
5. When was JEOVIL GROUP birthed and what inspired you to start a cleaning company?
Jeovil Group was birthed few years ago. I notice details a lot and sometimes when I visit friends and relatives, I end up helping them to organize and clean their spaces, so I said to my self ‘why don’t I let other people know what it feels like to have an excellently cleaned space?’
6. As an award-winning entrepreneur with with a company that is a market leader in the provision of cleaning service, what has been the major challenge(s) so far?
Major challenges are finance, some contract staff ‘janitors’ disappointing at times, not meeting deadline, not being able to get the kind of high quality cleaning equipment I want but this has resulted to us birthing a Cleaning Equipment, Supply and Hygiene brand which will be launching soon.
7. You have divisions in Lagos, Abuja and most recently in Accra, how do you deal with the demands of operating in different areas and another country and what makes your brand unique?
By the grace of God, we’ve put in place proper structures to enable us handle operations in our different locations effectively. We are unique because our focus is EXCELLENCE and we do not deliver less. We are very detailed and I mean detailed to the core.
8. You are a graduate of Computer Science from Lagos State University. Any plans to venture into tech in the nearest future?
Definitely.
9. If given the chance to be the President of Nigeria for a day, what will you change?
Ohh… there’s a lot to change! From insecurity to electricity to the rules that govern businesses in Nigeria.
10. Luxury Vox is a gift company under JEOVIL GROUP alongside other brands with several awards to your credit, where do you see the group and your brands in the next five years?
I look forward to Jeovil being an household name across Africa and to provide more jobs in the next 5 years.
11. Favourite quote
My favorite quote is “ When you fail to plan , you plan to fail” there’s a lot to this quote, PREPARATION IS IMPORTANT.
12. What keeps you up at night?
(Giggles) I sleep at night.
13. If you were given the opportunity to address a group of girls five years younger than you, what will be your advice to them?
Don’t be too hard on your self, take things one step at a time, draw closer to God, have direction, have a picture of what you want in life, what you want to be.
Turn your goals into prayer requests, strive to develop your self physically, mentally, emotionally and academically. Grow without seeing failure as the end of the world, because failure is a stepping stone to success, I mean if you don’t fail sometimes how will you know what you’re not doing right? No one is perfect, we are bound to be failures sometimes and it’s okay but don’t dwell on it, glean every lesson you can from that experience, and move ahead. Lastly, remember to stay humble and consistent.
According to her, after the Police concluded their investigation, the report has been handed over to the Ministry of Justice in Abuja for onward prosecution of Biodun Fatoyinbo but there has been silence from the Ministry.
Busola also explained that a letter they wrote has gone unanswered, with stories of manipulation. But a woman resolute in her determination cannot be stopped. The letter below;
She says, “Instead, my lawyers and my family have heard about all manner of manipulation and foul play being attempted to stop the ministry from beginning prosecution immediately.
Or even to get the police report manipulated.”
Read her post below.
It is now officially one year after since I came out and told the most important story of my life up until this point. That when I was a teenager, Biodun Fatoyinbo violently raped me. It wasn’t just me. In the media, on social platforms and in private, women have been sharing stories of how this man either destroyed their lives or tried to.
A lot has happened in that time: and my heart is glad that consciousness continues to be raised about the great evil that sexual abuse is, and how widespread it is, and how much women are at risk, and why we need to ensure justice for those who find the strength to speak out.
Awareness is victory. But we are pushing to another even great victory: Justice.
When the courts last year decided to rule in favour of the man who assaulted me, people were crestfallen. I understood.
What they didn’t know however is that before we even began, we had been prepared for a long haul battle that may take years because the Nigerian legal system isn’t wired to help sexual abuse victims get justice.Today, I have a major update. The police has concluded its investigation. And handed over its report to the Ministry of Justice in Abuja for onward prosecution of Biodun Fatoyinbo. He clearly has a case to answer.
But there has been silence from the ministry. Silence. A loud silence!We have written a letter but for over a month we have no response.
Instead, my lawyers and my family have heard about all manner of manipulation and foul play being attempted to stop the ministry from beginning prosecution immediately.
Or even to get the police report manipulated.My name is Busola Dakolo, a survivor of one of the most horrific acts -rape. My voice will not be shut down. My case will not be silenced. I am thankful to those in and out of the police, the ministry and the corridors of power who have called in solidarity and to reassure me that they are monitoring the ministry of justice and that this pressure to bury the case will not succeed.
I am updating the Nigerian public because you all made my story matter. You joined me to say enough is enough. With you, this has been an easier process.
#wearetired
#notinmychurch
#justice
Photosource: @busoladakolo
Akilah Moore is a single mother who has been through life’s struggles alone, and has simply managed to pull her way up to growth. Ms Akilah who is from Washington DC, in the US, lost both parents at a young age,
She dropped out of high school after she got pregnant, and the father of the child left, leaving her with nobody to turn to.
“I dropped out of high school when I had my first child. The father didn’t stick around so I had to take care of my child by myself.
Now a Security Officer Howard University Middle School of Math & Science, she narrated her story which was shared in Unsung Heroes.
“I worked in every type of job just so I could provide. I worked at produce places inside of deep freezers, and I cleaned toilets. All of those jobs never lasted more than 5-6 months. It was frustrating, especially because I had to depend on the government. I had $300 a month to travel back and forth with 3 kids.”
“My parents died when I was young so I didn’t have anyone to fall back on. One day, I decided that enough is enough. It took me a lot of courage to go back to high school. I was embarrassed but my child kept me focused and motivated. It’s amazing how much my life has changed since I decided to take that extra step and get my education. I’m getting my life together and providing for my kids. I own a 5 bedroom house, my kids are doing well in school, and I’m healthy.”
With her inspirational story, it goes to show how hardwork and not giving up pulls off.
Toolz, Tolulope Oniru Demuren has shared her pregnancy journey experience in the latest episode of Life Lessons with Betty Irabor. Like some women, Toolz has initially not had it together when she was trying for a baby.
She had earlier had a baby bump, which few months later was lost. This she openly admitted in an interview, and now she is sharing the experience of losing a child, the disbelief and agony she endured as well as her journey to healing.
Here are some excerpts from the session:
- After her wedding she got pregnant, few months after she noticed she no movement but stillness in her.
- She eventually travelled to the UK for proper hospital care, and a scan showed that her baby was too small and may not survive, she said, “I never once thought that the health of my child would be an issue,” more scans were conducted and the doctors tried what they could but a final scan showed the baby was no longer moving and she was told she’ll have to push the baby out.
- She was given some medications to help push the baby out. The medications were given to her on Thursday and she was told to come back on Sunday. However, she went into labour on Saturday.
Watch the new episode below: directed by Ruyi Irabor and produced by Toyosi Etim-Effiong.
28 May, is known as Menstrual Hygiene Day. This is because on an average, the menstrual cycle for a lot of women is 28 days and the menstruation period for most women is five days. This year’s theme is “Periods in Pandemic”.
Due to the current pandemic, lots of businesses and human activities have been halted in the past months and as UNICEF rightly said in a tweet, “Periods don’t stop for pandemics – it’s every girl’s right to manage her period safely and with dignity.”
On a daily basis, women menstruate around the world which in numbers, can be estimated at about 300 million.
They need to know how to manage menstruation safely, hygienically, with confidence and with dignity which is critical for their health, education, human rights, economic development and overall gender equality as rightly advised by Theodore Aidoo of Face to face Africa.
She however noted that, for many people in the African continent, this is not the reality. “Menstrual hygiene is often seen as a taboo subject in many communities within the region. Menstruation is rarely easily talked about both in schools and at home probably because of some myths surrounding it,” she wrote.
Reference: Face to face Africa -https://face2faceafrica.com/article/myths-surrounding-menstruation-in-africa-you-probably-dont-know
People experience depression in different ways. Some get their moods affected while others get the effects on their bodies. Symptoms may also be ongoing, or they come and go.
This mental condition, can also influence relationships and also cause some chronic health conditions. Feeling down at times can be a normal part of life. Sad and upsetting events but, if you’re feeling down or hopeless on a regular basis, you could be dealing with depression.
The symptoms of depression can be experienced differently among men, women, and children differently – we have compiled this categorized list originally from Healthline which is a trusted source.
For men they may experience symptoms related to their:
- mood, such as anger, aggressiveness, irritability, anxiousness, restlessness
- emotional well-being, such as feeling empty, sad, hopeless
- behavior, such as loss of interest, no longer finding pleasure in favorite activities, feeling tired easily, thoughts of suicide, drinking excessively, using drugs, engaging in high-risk activities
- sexual interest, such as reduced sexual desire, lack of sexual performance
- cognitive abilities, such as inability to concentrate, difficulty completing tasks, delayed responses during conversations
- sleep patterns, such as insomnia, restless sleep, excessive sleepiness, not sleeping through the night
- physical well-being, such as fatigue, pains, headache, digestive problems
Women may experience symptoms related to their:
- mood, such as irritability
- emotional well-being, such as feeling sad or empty, anxious or hopeless
- behavior, such as loss of interest in activities, withdrawing from social engagements, thoughts of suicide
- cognitive abilities, such as thinking or talking more slowly
- sleep patterns, such as difficulty sleeping through the night, waking early, sleeping too much
- physical well-being, such as decreased energy, greater fatigue, changes in appetite, weight changes, aches, pain, headaches, increased cramps
Children may experience symptoms related to their:
- mood, such as irritability, anger, mood swings, crying
- emotional well-being, such as feelings of incompetence (e.g. “I can’t do anything right”) or despair, crying, intense sadness
- behavior, such as getting into trouble at school or refusing to go to school, avoiding friends or siblings, thoughts of death or suicide
- cognitive abilities, such as difficulty concentrating, decline in school performance, changes in grades
- sleep patterns, such as difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
- physical well-being, such as loss of energy, digestive problems, changes in appetite, weight loss or gain.
Common causes could include: Family history, childhood trauma, brain structure, medical conditions and drug use.
However, in many cases, healthcare providers are unable to determine what’s causing depression but it is advisable to seek help and practice meditation in some mild conditions.
Lami Phillips Gbadamosi has written a short note to women to encourage them to “be kind” to themselves. The singer and actress said that women have been taught to “be quiet” when mistreated and this has made them struggle with “self validation”.
The american born, who grew partly in Nigeria and the Uk also wrote, “Women have been taught to be quiet when mistreated. We have been raised to tolerate nonsense and serve condescension. Many women struggle with self validation because over time the beauty in their identity was not celebrated. Dear woman please become what you were destined to become! Own that superstar status! You are worthy of peace of mind. You deserve to be treated well too. Patience should not be foolishness and suffering. Be kind to yourself. You are doing an amazing job .,, and I celebrate you.”
In honour of Biafra Day which is celebrated every May 30, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has this year spoken about her award-winning book, “Half of a Yellow Sun“.
Her book which profiles what the war era looked like with its storyline speaks about what motivated her to write the book.
Watch the video below:
