Thursday, July 10, 2014
Friday, April 25, 2014
Today April 25 is World Malaria Day.
Malaria is a major cause of Maternal and Child deaths in Africa.
Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to malaria as pregnancy reduces a woman’s immunity to malaria, making her more susceptible to malaria infection and increasing the risk of illness, severe anaemia and death.
The parasites of malaria may be present in the placenta and affect the unborn child. Maternal malaria increases the risk of spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, premature delivery and low birth weight - a leading cause of child mortality.
Newborn babies have weak immune system and our not able to fight malaria.
Defeating Malaria means:
1. Keeping your environment clean
2. Sleeping in Insecticide Treated Mosquito Net
3. Preventive treatment during pregnancy
4. Prompt diagnosis and effective treatment of malaria infections.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Autism Awareness Month
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability
that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other
people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them.
The cause of autism is not known it can be due to genetics.
Do not blame yourself if your child has autism. If you child has this
condition what he/she needs from you is LOVE and PATIENCE. Do not
abandon them or send them begging on the streets. Show love and you will
find out their capabilities.
Early detection of autism can help you take good care of your child and understand his/her behaviour.
Here are a few signs to look out for:
They may not speak. But they may use things like pictures or sign language to communicate
--They may not understand what other people say.
-- They may copy what other people say.
--They may only talk about their favourite subject.
--They may not take part in games or activities with other people.
--They may like to play the same game or do the same thing every day.
They may be very interested in one thing and know a lot about it.
--They may be good at remembering information.
--They may do well at school, college and work.
--They may find co-ordination difficult. This means that they may find it difficult to do things like use scissors, use knives and forks, or ride a bike.
Early detection of autism can help you take good care of your child and understand his/her behaviour.
Here are a few signs to look out for:
They may not speak. But they may use things like pictures or sign language to communicate
--They may not understand what other people say.
-- They may copy what other people say.
--They may only talk about their favourite subject.
--They may not take part in games or activities with other people.
--They may like to play the same game or do the same thing every day.
They may be very interested in one thing and know a lot about it.
--They may be good at remembering information.
--They may do well at school, college and work.
--They may find co-ordination difficult. This means that they may find it difficult to do things like use scissors, use knives and forks, or ride a bike.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Things to consider if you want to conceive
Do you want to hold your baby this year? Are you newlywed and cannot wait to get pregnant?
Things to consider if you want to conceive;
1. Are you of AGE? There is less risk if you are above 18 years.
Biologically one is matured after menstruating for 5 years. So if one starts menstruating at 10 years old she is biologically matured at age 15. However it is not advisable for adolescent to get pregnant because their bodies are not fully developed and need more nutrients to do that. if an adolescent gets pregnant there is high nutrient need first for herself and the growing foetus. this high nutrient need may not be met and put the baby and adolescent mother at risk. Babies born to adolescent mothers mostly have low birth weight- they are below 3kg mainly because they did not receive the needed nutrients to grow well.
Adolescent mother may also not have enough strength to undergo normal delivery
2. Are you TOO OLD? Risks are high if you are above 35 years
High risk of giving birth to Down syndrome children. Cases of down syndrome babies have been mostly recorded to be of women above 35years old. As a woman gets older the number of viable eggs for conceiving reduces. It is advised women give birth before age 35
3. What is your WEIGHT? Being overweight and pregnant (BMI over29) put you at risk to maternal hypertension, diabetes and caesarean section (commonly known in Ghana as “operation”). If you are so thin (BMI under 20) during pregnancy can make you baby weigh less when born
4. Do you have high NUTRIENT STORES in body? When your diet is not nutritious, your baby will not grow well and baby's weight will be small.
Poor diet, food which is not nutritious, also affects a pregnant woman’s health. It leads to anaemia (commonly known in Ghana as "low blood") which can cause a woman to die during child birth.
NB: It is important to decide when you want to conceive so you prepare your body, mind, money for the journey of a life time.
Things to consider if you want to conceive;
1. Are you of AGE? There is less risk if you are above 18 years.
Biologically one is matured after menstruating for 5 years. So if one starts menstruating at 10 years old she is biologically matured at age 15. However it is not advisable for adolescent to get pregnant because their bodies are not fully developed and need more nutrients to do that. if an adolescent gets pregnant there is high nutrient need first for herself and the growing foetus. this high nutrient need may not be met and put the baby and adolescent mother at risk. Babies born to adolescent mothers mostly have low birth weight- they are below 3kg mainly because they did not receive the needed nutrients to grow well.
Adolescent mother may also not have enough strength to undergo normal delivery
2. Are you TOO OLD? Risks are high if you are above 35 years
High risk of giving birth to Down syndrome children. Cases of down syndrome babies have been mostly recorded to be of women above 35years old. As a woman gets older the number of viable eggs for conceiving reduces. It is advised women give birth before age 35
3. What is your WEIGHT? Being overweight and pregnant (BMI over29) put you at risk to maternal hypertension, diabetes and caesarean section (commonly known in Ghana as “operation”). If you are so thin (BMI under 20) during pregnancy can make you baby weigh less when born
4. Do you have high NUTRIENT STORES in body? When your diet is not nutritious, your baby will not grow well and baby's weight will be small.
Poor diet, food which is not nutritious, also affects a pregnant woman’s health. It leads to anaemia (commonly known in Ghana as "low blood") which can cause a woman to die during child birth.
NB: It is important to decide when you want to conceive so you prepare your body, mind, money for the journey of a life time.
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