HACEY Health Initiative is pleased to announce a call for submissions for the 6th IDOTG Essay Competition for secondary school students in honor of the 2022 International Day of the Girl. The essay competition promotes critical thinking in pursuing solutions to Nigeria's girl-child issues.

Don't miss out on your chance to win a new laptop and 200,000 Naira in the 2022 International Day of the Girl Child Essay Contest.

It is open to all Nigerian secondary school girls.
All essays must include:
1. A cover page with the student's full name, age, class, school name, email address, phone number and state of residence.
2. Must be written in English
3. Not more than 750 words
4. Be the original work of the applicant.

Essay should be submitted to essays@hacey.org on or before 6pm on the 27th of September 2022. Check the flyer for more details.

Malaria is an insect-borne disease caused by mosquitos. Every year, around 210 million people are afflicted with Malaria, with 440,000 people dying due to the disease. Worst of all, young children and pregnant women are mostly affected by the disease. Malaria can be transmitted by blood through the use of shared needles or syringes and through an organ transplant or blood transfusion.

The most vulnerable group are pregnant women and under - 5 children. Malaria kills; however, it is preventable and curable. Click here to read more https://hacey.org/blog/malaria-transmission-symptoms-prevention/

Your mental health is as important as your physical health,

"Looking for a way out, I decided to act like everyone else. I wanted to taste human emotions and not be repeatedly called an alien because I was so introverted to myself. Oh! by the way, I heard my symptoms got a name tag called “Social Anxiety”. But I guess society masked herself so well, leaving her members confused about what is truly acceptable."

Read full story here: https://hacey.org/blog/mental-health-paralysis/

Amina’s Story

Everyone in Bomo village agreed that life had been unfair to Amina. Forced into early marriage by her parents in a weak attempt to ‘provide’ for her family and uphold their honour, Amina had to give up her dreams of becoming a Nurse despite being the best student in the village’s only primary school. After marriage, Amina became pregnant. Unfortunately, Amina developed a fistula during her delivery — she was delivering at home and went through a long, difficult labour. Eventually, the baby did not survive.

Amina has been suffering from Fistula for many years, not knowing about treatment or having access to it.

Obstetric Fistula

According to World Health Organization, Amina is one of the 50,000 to 100,000 women globally affected by Obstetric Fistula annually. Obstetric Fistula is an abnormal opening between a woman’s genital tract and her urinary tract or rectum. The development of obstetric fistula is directly linked to one of the major causes of maternal mortality: obstructed labour.

Read more here: https://hacey.org/blog/obstetricfistula/

No, Salt and water is not a contraceptive. It is a myth that Salt and water prevents pregnancy. More effective contraceptives are condoms, female condoms, IUDs, Birth control pills and many others.

Please visit www.hacey.org or www.tombey.org for accurate information.

illicit:
Does salt and water really work

It doesn't seem to have failed me tho

Yes, it is. Thank you!

elizabethbrown:
This is really a good thing for next generation. This will helps to stop the spreading of sexual health issues to the next generation.

All pregnant women – including those suspected or confirmed with COVID-19 – should continue to attend antenatal visits and deliver with a skilled health provider to optimize health outcomes for both themselves and their newborns. And, given the vulnerability of newborns during the first days of life, postnatal care services for mothers and their babies must continue to be prioritized.

Read full article here: https://hacey.org/blog/maternalhealthandcovid-19/

Substance abuse refers to the harmful or hazardous use of alcohol, prescription medicine, and other legal and illegal substances, (WHO 2021). Examples of these drugs include Tobacco, Alcohol, Heroin, Cocaine, Marijuana, Cigarettes (nicotine), Opiates, Inhalants, Hallucinogens, Cannabis, Methamphetamine (chalk, meths, crank & crystals), and Club Drugs (Ecstasy, Rohypnol & Ketamine) to mention a few.

Drug Abuse affects various aspects of not only the abuser's life but of those people around them. Overuse of drugs affects the liver, brain. It causes heart damage, dizziness, clumsiness, slow reflexes, shaking, and a high risk of infection with blood-borne viruses, to mention a few.

Read full story here: https://hacey.org/blog/effectsofdrugabuse/

Nevertheless, there are many different mental disorders with different presentations. They are generally characterized by abnormal thoughts, perceptions, emotions, behaviour, and relationships with others. Symptoms of mental disorders include depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other psychoses, dementia, and developmental disorders, including autism.

Many people exhibit characters that create mental health concerns from time to time. But a mental health concern becomes a mental illness when diagnosed and confirmed by an expert. Ongoing signs and symptoms affect one's ability to function properly. However, if certain signs appear in a short space of time, they may offer clues.

Read more here: https://hacey.org/health/mental-health/worldmentalhealthday2021/

“We always celebrate a great woman. But to be great, the girl child needs to be encouraged to excel from an early age.” ― Gift Gugu Mona.

Today, we celebrate all girls all over the world. The United Nations declared the International Day of Girl Child to amplify the voices of young girls worldwide and increase awareness of issues faced by them. According to the United Nations, achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment is an integral part.

To this end, HACEY Health Initiative has conducted a safe space (leadership and health) workshop. 30 girls were trained at the workshop, with knowledge on sexual and reproductive health, financial management, career development, life building and digital skills to strengthen their capacity to make informed decisions regarding their health and productivity. In the end, the girls were empowered with information, technical skill and resources crucial to amplify their voices and advance their rights.

Read more here: https://hacey.org/blog/internationaldayofthegirl/

Let’s look at Grace’s story (real name withheld). At 17, Grace got admission to the great University of Lagos to study Medicine & Surgery. Grace was excited to move with her Uncle in Lagos, away from her parents, because she heard Lagos was fun. Uncle Gbade, a single working-class man who lived in a rented apartment, was happy to receive Grace. However, two weeks upon arrival, the COVID-19 lockdown was announced, and Grace and Uncle Gbade were locked in the apartment.

One day, while Grace was making dinner for the two of them, Uncle Gbade walked behind and started caressing her. Grace became uncomfortable and warded him off, but Uncle Gbade wouldn’t desist from her. He eventually raped her several times.

Continue reading here: https://hacey.org/health/srhr/sexualandreproductivehealthawareness/

The United Nations Population Fund Youth Participatory Platform (UNFPA) has partnered HACEY Health Initiative to educate over 100,000 youths on sexual and reproductive health.

In a statement, the Coordinator, UNFPA/YP, George Adjete, disclosed that the collaboration by both organisations was aimed at raising awareness, training and granting young people access to available sexual and reproductive health, education.

The statement also indicated that over 100,000 youths in four states: Oyo, Lagos, Osun and Ekiti would be trained successfully under the initiative, Beyond Treatment For You Project (BT4U).

It noted that the project was piloted in response to the new political declaration on AIDS 2021, as well as the emergence of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The statement revealed that over 300 adolescents were trained on menstrual hygiene. While 63 got free HIV testing services, over 50 young SRHR Policy advocates were trained on evidence-based advocacy.

For more stories: read here www.hacey.org

An Independent Working Group (IWG) formed by HACEY Health Initiative has visited the Ondo state Ministry of Health to discuss ways to improve youth’s access to sexual and reproductive health information.
HACEY Health Initiative, a leading development organisation focused on improving the health and productivity of the vulnerable and under-served population in Africa formed the group and tasked them with the role of advocating for improved access to Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) information and services for young people.

Read more: https://hacey.org/blog/hacey-independent-working-group-visits-ondo-health-ministry-to-discuss-youth-access-to-srh-information/

How do you define mental health? �

Tell us! We want to know.

Again, do you know that Mental Health affects how we think, feel and act?

Well, we hit the streets and gathered opinions of Lagosians on their definition of mental health.

You don't want to miss out on their hilarious response, so watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/pn-FFoBTESs

#haceyhealth #haceyhealthmha #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness

There are many myths surrounding the use of emergency contraceptives, and the question of what it is and when to use it is just a fraction of the controversy surrounding this arguably new practice.
Emergency contraceptives are methods of preventing pregnancy after the act of unprotected sexual intercourse. It does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases. This article breaks down some myths about emergency contraception.

Read More here: https://hacey.org/blog/dispelling-the-myths-behind-emergency-contraceptives/

There are many myths surrounding the use of emergency contraceptives, and the question of what it is and when to use it is just a fraction of the controversy surrounding this arguably new practice.
Emergency contraceptives are methods of preventing pregnancy after the act of unprotected sexual intercourse. It does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases. This article breaks down some myths about emergency contraception.

Read More here: https://hacey.org/blog/dispelling-the-myths-behind-emergency-contraceptives/

Young people’s Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) is an integral part of their total wellbeing, as such, it needs to be hugely prioritized. In a conservative society like ours, sex education is frowned at and believed to lead to increased sexual behaviour. However, sexual health education enables young people to make informed decisions regarding their sexual health and rights.

Click to read more: https://hacey.org/blog/srhr-services-in-nigeria/

With the vital role that Community Birth Attendants play in providing maternal health services, they need to have adequate information, tools and practice in maternal health, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

HACEY Health Initiative thus launched the CBA COVID-19 response program. The program was implemented to ease the difficulty of community birth attendants in underserved communities in Ogun State by providing them with adequate information, hygiene materials and training to reduce the risk of contracting the virus and ensuring client safety while providing maternal health services. During the program, 200 Community birth attendants were engaged, and 200 community birth attendants were trained.

See pictures here: https://hacey.org/blog/maternal-health-and-covid-19/

This opportunity is for all secondary school girls in Nigeria. You stand a chance to win a brand new laptop and 50,000 naira in the International Day of the Girl Essay Competition. 15 days left to the application deadline. Don't miss this opportunity for yourself/daughter/friend/younger sister. View full details here. https://hacey.org/education/idotg21-essay-contest/

CALL FOR ESSAY SUBMISSIONS. Are you a female secondary school student in Nigeria? Here is an opportunity to showcase your writing skills and win prizes just for you! Try your hands on the 5th IDotGC Essay Competition. Submit an essay on the topic: The role of the Nigerian Government and society in achieving gender equality in Nigeria. Stand a chance to win a brand new laptop and some cool cash. All essays should be submitted to essays@hacey.org on or before 16th September 2021.

For more information, check https://hacey.org/education/2021-international-day-of-the-girl-child-essay-competition/