This high rate of maternal mortality in Nigeria can be attributed to several factors such as insufficient access to quality healthcare, limited education on maternal health, cultural practices that discourage women from seeking medical care, poverty, inadequate infrastructures, weak health systems, and many more.

In a bid to abate these challenging concerns and improve maternal health outcomes in Nigeria, HACEY introduced Project Agbebi, a multi-faceted initiative aimed at addressing maternal health issues. Project Agbebi strives to improve access to quality healthcare by strengthening healthcare professionals’ capacity, educating women on maternal health, providing training for healthcare workers, and addressing cultural barriers that hinder women from seeking maternal health care.

The project has recorded some encouraging milestones, including a medical outreach and training for expectant mothers across 30 communities in Osun, Ogun, and Oyo states, where beneficiaries expressed immense gratitude for the lessons learned and support received. Over 3000 birthing kits have been distributed to beneficiaries of the project. Some of who have been very grateful and shared their touching experiences and various insights regarding maternal health care. here’s what some of the beneficiaries had to say;

“Thanks to the excellent care I received from my healthcare provider during my pregnancy, I was able to deliver a healthy baby. I am grateful for the attention and support I received throughout my pregnancy, which made all the difference in ensuring a positive outcome.” – Sarah, mother of one.

“Honestly, I did not know I have been missing out by not coming to ANC at the health facility. In my family, we prefer to go to the traditional birth attendants to give birth but my friend told me that their community leader said they must come to the clinic because there is something for them, so I decided to follow her.  I have learnt a lot from the training sessions and thank you for the birthing kits, I’m very grateful,”-Aminat Ahmed from Oyo state.

“I did not plan to come for the program before because my body was aching and I just wanted to sleep, then go to the market to get some of the things I’d be needing for the delivery. But one of the elders in our community encouraged everyone to come. Thank God I came, because the training was very insightful and I am glad I don’t have to buy marking tosh again, I can use the money to get something else,”-Iyabo Agboola, Oyo State.

“Today, I got to know I can open an account for my kids (babies for that matter) and nothing will happen to their money. These are some of the insights I gathered from the training sessions and other key maternal information,”-Ganiyu Nafisat, Osun state.

“I am happy I attended today’s antenatal. The teaching was fun and I want to say a big thank you to the NGO and access bank for making today happen for us. I like the financial part where we are taught how to save for ourselves and the baby and not focus on things that don’t matter because we want to impress our neighbors. I also want to say thank you for the birthing kit,”-Folake Enochi from Ogun state.

Access Corporation’s investment in Project Agbebi serves as a model for other private sector organizations to follow, especially in areas where the government’s capacity to address critical social issues is limited. Collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors are essential to achieving sustainable development and improving the well-being of communities in Nigeria.

Overall, the comprehensive efforts of Project Agbebi’s initiative are expected to mitigate the maternal mortality scourge in Nigeria. Achieving this feat will require the various stakeholders’ collaboration, including the government, healthcare providers, and community leaders, working collaboratively to provide long-lasting solutions that would improve maternal health outcomes in Nigeria.

The post Reducing Maternal Mortality in Nigeria: Insights from Project Agbebi’s Multi-Faceted Approach appeared first on HACEY.

Keeping yourself hydrated with water throughout strenuous exercise is absolutely necessary. Water is essential for preventing dehydration and ensuring that the body contains the appropriate amount of fluid at all times.

As you sweat during your workout, water will help keep you from overheating. When you perspire, the extra heat from your body is lost to the atmosphere through the process of evaporation. This keeps the temperature of your body where it should be, which is optimal. Additionally, drinking water before, during, and after exercise helps your muscles recover more quickly and reduces the rate at which they become fatigued. Your muscles produce lactic acid as you exercise, which is what causes them to become sore. Maintaining a healthy level of hydration helps your body get rid of the lactic acid that builds up in your muscles at a faster rate.

The degree to which you are hydrated has a direct bearing on the amount of mental energy that you have available. Your brain cells are just like the rest of the cells in your body in that they require water to function properly. For optimal mental function, the brain needs a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients, which water helps to deliver. Dehydration of any severity can have a significant impact on a person’s mental energy levels. Memory loss and impaired cognitive function are two symptoms that can result from not drinking enough water.

Dehydration is one of the most common factors that can bring on headaches. The brain undergoes a momentary shrinkage due to the loss of fluid when a person is dehydrated. A headache is the result of the brain pulling away from the lining of the skull as a result of this condition. Next time you have a headache, give some thought to the possibility that you are simply dehydrated and that’s all it is.

When the stools in your colon do not receive an adequate amount of water, you may experience constipation. When you are dehydrated, water that would normally go to your large intestine will instead be used to rehydrate the rest of your body. If you drink less water, you may notice that your stools become dry, inflexible, and more difficult to move through your bowels. For the sake of your digestive health, be sure to drink plenty of water.

Stones in the kidney are solid deposits of salt and minerals that can form anywhere in the urinary tract or in the kidneys themselves. To prevent the formation of these stones, your system needs a sufficient amount of fluids so that the mineral concentration can be diluted. The color of your urine can be used as a useful indicator of how well hydrated you are. If you are dehydrated, your urine may have a darker color than normal. If your urine is a light yellow or clear color, this indicates that your body is receiving the proper amount of fluids.

HACEY is aware of the many positive effects that water can have on people, which is why, as part of our clean water project, we work to support local communities and schools by supplying them with clean water source. Visit hacey.org for further information.

Written By:

Michael Adegboye

The post Water as an Essential Element In Preventing Dehydration appeared first on HACEY.

Lack of quality information, capacity building, counseling, and mentoring often resort in poor development for the girl child, which in turn hampers development in many countries, leaving them with less access to opportunities and less power over their own destiny. Restrictions on access to education and opportunities for women’s health and well-being perpetuate a generational cycle of poverty. It is imperative that we invest in the girl child by conceiving and implementing strategic programs that promote their growth, health, and well-being.

Safe space is a place where people can be themselves without fear of being harassed, bullied, or otherwise harmed, and where they can express themselves without fear of being judged or ridiculed. For girls, safe spaces are especially important because they provide a welcoming and empowering setting to develop the necessary knowledge and skills for a bright future.

Our PAVE for Girls program which is to be implemented in two local government areas (LGAs) in Lagos state: Ikorodu and Lekki, will engage and empower the girl child. Due to the fact that the primary health facilities in the project locations are most times not youth-friendly, this may create a barrier to access sexual and reproductive health care services and may lead to increased unfavorable outcomes such as pregnancy at a young age. We solicit the participation and cooperation of girls, educational institutions, and other important community organizations (including community leaders).

viding access to resources (human and information) on mental, sexual, and reproductive health and rights for adolescent girls is one of our project’s main goals. It also aims to empower girls to make their own decisions and take advantage of opportunities by providing life-skills training, mentorship, and information on financial literacy and vocational training.

Please visit our website, hacey.org, for additional information on the PAVE for Girls Project.

Written By:

Michael Adegboye

The post PAVE For Girls Project: Empowering And Amplifying The Voices Of The Girl Child Copy appeared first on HACEY.

Lack of quality information, capacity building, counseling, and mentoring often resort in poor development for the girl child, which in turn hampers development in many countries, leaving them with less access to opportunities and less power over their own destiny. Restrictions on access to education and opportunities for women’s health and well-being perpetuate a generational cycle of poverty. It is imperative that we invest in the girl child by conceiving and implementing strategic programs that promote their growth, health, and well-being.

Safe space is a place where people can be themselves without fear of being harassed, bullied, or otherwise harmed, and where they can express themselves without fear of being judged or ridiculed. For girls, safe spaces are especially important because they provide a welcoming and empowering setting to develop the necessary knowledge and skills for a bright future.

Our PAVE for Girls program which is to be implemented in two local government areas (LGAs) in Lagos state: Ikorodu and Lekki, will engage and empower the girl child. Due to the fact that the primary health facilities in the project locations are most times not youth-friendly, this may create a barrier to access sexual and reproductive health care services and may lead to increased unfavorable outcomes such as pregnancy at a young age. We solicit the participation and cooperation of girls, educational institutions, and other important community organizations (including community leaders).

viding access to resources (human and information) on mental, sexual, and reproductive health and rights for adolescent girls is one of our project’s main goals. It also aims to empower girls to make their own decisions and take advantage of opportunities by providing life-skills training, mentorship, and information on financial literacy and vocational training.

Please visit our website, hacey.org, for additional information on the PAVE for Girls Project.

Written By:

Michael Adegboye

The post PAVE For Girls Project: Empowering And Amplifying The Voices Of The Girl Child appeared first on HACEY.

To understand postpartum depression, it is necessary to understand the chemical, social, and psychological changes that occur when a woman gives birth. The term refers to a variety of physical and emotional changes that many new mothers experience. Medications and counseling can be used to treat PPD.

After childbirth, hormone levels begin to fall rapidly. There’s no conclusive evidence that this decline contributes to depression. Pregnancy raises levels of estrogen and progesterone, the female reproductive hormones, by 10 times. After that, they begin to decline rapidly. The levels of these hormones return to pre-pregnancy levels within three days of childbirth.

It’s also possible to develop depression due to the social and psychological changes that accompany having a child.

Postpartum depression is a common occurrence for new mothers. Women who have given birth to a child are more likely to suffer from a more severe and long-lasting form of postpartum depression. It is estimated that one in a thousand women will suffer from postpartum psychosis.

Signs and Symptoms of Postpartum Depression.

When it comes to postpartum depression, the symptoms can be difficult to spot. Following childbirth, many women experience the following symptoms:

• Inability to fall asleep
• Food habits change
• Severe fatigue
• Lower libido
• Mood swings on a regular basis.

When you have Postpartum Depression, you may also experience other signs and symptoms of major depression that aren’t typical after childbirth, such as:

Feeling disinterested in your baby or a lack of connection with the baby.

 Constantly crying, often for no apparent reason.

• depressed mood
• Extreme rage and irritability
• Dissatisfaction
• A sense of worthlessness, hopelessness, and helplessness 
• Suicidal or homicidal thoughts
• Thoughts of harming another person
• Inability to focus or make decisions

Hacey provides support for women, especially those who are expecting or nursing a baby. Our work in maternal health, has enabled us assist numerous women. Visit the website at hacey.org for more details.

Written By:

Michael Adegboye

The post The Symptoms of Postpartum Depression: What Is It? appeared first on HACEY.

A combination of genetic and environmental factors can increase an individual’s risk for anxiety disorders. You might be at increased risk if you have or have had:

• Certain personality traits, such as shyness or behavioral inhibition — feeling uneasy around unfamiliar people, situations, or environments and avoiding them.

• Stressful or traumatic experiences during infancy or adulthood.

• A family history of anxiety or other mental disorders.

• Specific physical conditions, such as thyroid issues and heart arrhythmias (unusual heart rhythms).

Types of Anxiety disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder: This is a chronic disorder involving excessive, long-lasting anxiety and worries about nonspecific life events, objects, and situations. It is the most prevalent anxiety disorder, and victims are not always able to pinpoint the source of their anxiety.

Panic disorder: Panic disorder is characterized by brief or sudden attacks of intense fear and apprehension. These attacks can cause trembling, confusion, vertigo, nausea, and difficulty breathing. Ten minutes after the onset of a panic attack, it typically reaches its peak. Nevertheless, a panic attack can last for hours. Typically, panic disorders are triggered by frightening experiences or prolonged stress, but they can also occur spontaneously. A person experiencing a panic attack may misinterpret it as a life-threatening illness and make drastic behavioral adjustments to prevent future attacks.

Specific phobia: This is an irrational fear and avoidance of a particular object or situation.   Phobias differ from other anxiety disorders because they are rooted in a specific cause. A person with a phobia may recognize that their fear is irrational or excessive, but they are unable to control their anxiety in response to the trigger. Situations and animals, as well as commonplace objects, can trigger a phobia.

Agoraphobi: It is a fear and avoidance of places, events, or situations from which it may be difficult to escape or from which help is unavailable if one becomes trapped. This condition is frequently misunderstood as a fear of open spaces and the outdoors, but this is not the case. A person with agoraphobia may be afraid to leave the house, use elevators, or take public transportation.

Selective mutism: Some children experience selective mutism, a form of anxiety in which they are unable to speak in certain places or situations, such as school, despite having excellent verbal communication skills around familiar people. It could be an extreme case of social anxiety.

Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia is characterized by a fear of being negatively evaluated by others in social situations or by public humiliation. The symptoms of social anxiety disorder include stage fright, a fear of intimacy, and anxiety regarding humiliation and rejection.

These disorders can cause individuals to avoid social situations and human contact to the point where daily life becomes extremely challenging.

If you notice any of these anxiety disorder, please visit a proper Mental Health Consultant. For more on mental Health visit hacey.org.

Written By:

Michael Adegboye

The post Mental Health: Types Of Anxiety Disorder appeared first on HACEY.

The following are some strategies that can help in dealing with stigma:

• Seek medical attention: It’s possible that you’re hesitant to acknowledge that you require treatment. Do not let the worry that you will be diagnosed with a mental illness prevent you from getting the assistance that you require. The diagnosis and treatment of an illness can provide relief by determining what is wrong and reducing symptoms that cause disruption in one’s professional and personal life.

• Seek professional counseling: It’s not just other people’s opinions that contribute to stigma. It’s possible that you’ve come to the erroneous conclusion that your condition is an indication of your own personal weakness or that you ought to be able to control it without any outside assistance. Seeking professional counseling, educating yourself about your condition, and making connections with others who also struggle with mental illness are all things that can assist you in overcoming destructive forms of self-judgment and gaining self-esteem.

• Don’t keep to yourself all the time: If you suffer from a mental illness, you might feel uncomfortable discussing it with other people. If your family, friends, members of the clergy, or other members of your community are aware of your mental illness, they may be able to offer you support. Reach out to the people in your life whom you have faith in to receive the compassion, support, and understanding that you require.

• Refrain from equating who you are with your illness: You are not an illness. Therefore, it is preferable to say “I have bipolar disorder” rather than “I am bipolar.” Say “I have schizophrenia” to yourself rather than referring to yourself as “a schizophrenic.”

• Enroll in a peer-counseling program: Some local and national organizations, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), provide local programs and internet resources that help reduce stigma by educating people who have mental illness, their families, and the general public. Support is available for people struggling with mental illness through a variety of state and federal agencies and programs, including those that concentrate on vocational rehabilitation and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

• Speak out against stigma: Think about voicing your thoughts publicly by attending events, writing letters to the editor, or posting on the internet. It has the potential to educate the general public about mental illness and to instill courage in those who are coping with similar challenges. The judgments of others are almost never found on information that is based on facts, but rather on a fundamental lack of understanding. It can make a significant difference if you seek support, learn to accept your condition and identify what steps you need to take to treat it, and share your knowledge with others.

Hacey’s mental health project has been of great assistance to many, for more information, please visit hacey.org

This review was featured on Twinkl’s blog about Different ways to help keep your mental health in check.  

Written By:

Michael Adegboye

The post Dealing With Stigma Associated With Mental Illness appeared first on HACEY.

 innovation in health-tech appears to be concentrated in the continent’s largest tech hubs, Nigeria and South Africa, two of Africa’s largest economies and tech ecosystems, jointly account for 46% of identified health-tech start-ups, with Kenya and Egypt trailing shortly behind.

Africa is making progress within the tech space as the continent is fueling growth and attracting substantial investment in various sectors; ranging from finance, agriculture, entertainment and health. Currently, over 60% of the youth population in Africa access basic care. This is projected to increase over the next 20 years.

There is, however, a disease burden. The World Health Organization states that approximately 2300 under-five-year-olds and 145 women of childbearing age die daily in Nigeria due to poor access to healthcare

Nonetheless, there is hope emerging in health tech as access to medicines, remote consultation electronic medical records, digital diagnostics and tech enable response system are now part of the ecosystem, from Nigeria to Kenya, from Egypt to South Africa. This is a good development, and there is a need to maintain the trajectory across the continent.

Technology appears to be the recurrent theme as an enabler and catalyst. On Thursday, June 2nd healthcare innovators, funders, providers, users, and influencers converged at Radisson Hotel Ikeja to discourse the possibilities of new ideas to propel the health industry through technology.

The post Leveraging Technology in the Health Industry appeared first on HACEY.

The girl child victims experience an increased risk of sexually transmitted infections, pain, illness, unwanted pregnancy, social isolation, and psychological trauma and, in turn, have resorted to risky behaviors such as substance use, as well as suicidal tendencies in other to cope with trauma. Experiencing child sexual abuse can also increase a person’s risk for future victimization. For example, recent studies have found that; Females exposed to child sexual abuse are at 2-13 times increased risk of sexual violence victimization in adulthood, and people who experienced child sexual abuse are at twice the risk for non-sexual intimate partner violence. In most cases, the girl child is abused and then made to feel personally responsible, guilty, or persecuted. They are often threatened with violence if they speak up about the sexual abuse or abuser, which has affected victims’ self-esteem and confidence. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, the year 2020 recorded a fourfold increase in various forms of violence against women and girls. This underscored the need to continue to fund, respond to, prevent the occurrence and collect robust evidence of violence against them.

No community has developed mechanisms that ensure that none of their female children will be sexually abused, but there are several ways we can help to stop this social menace in our society and this includes; Speaking to a girl child in your family or community about sexual abuse, tell them that unwanted contact is never acceptable and that it’s OK to speak up if someone makes them uncomfortable; Perpetrators should be held accountable for abuse and ensure victims know that justice is served to their abuser; Also members of the society should support survivors and call out sexual violence and harassment when they see it, this would help girls to live and work in safety as they grow up. Parents should watch those they bring to their homes, particularly the so-called aunties, uncles, and family friends. They should also create the time to interact with their children as this would help the children open up when they have challenges or have suffered any form of sexual abuse.

In conclusion, a comprehensive campaign is needed that combats sexual abuse, gender-based inequalities, discrimination, exploitation, oppression, inhuman values, and violations of human rights against the girl child. People must radically change their attitudes and actions towards girl children, this is because the girl children are not a commodity or sex objects but “humans’ worthy to be loved, respected, valued and cared for.”

Visit us at www.Hacey.org for more on the girl child.

Written By:

Mercy Kalu

The post Handling Sexual Violence Against Children appeared first on HACEY.

Evidence has proven the effectiveness of antenatal care in reducing maternal mortality. Antenatal care is a type of preventive healthcare for pregnant women. It is commonly known as pregnancy or maternity care. It is provided in the form of medical checkups, consisting of recommendations on managing a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy. It is a means to identify high-risk pregnancies and educate women so that they might experience a healthier delivery and outcome. Antenatal care has reduced the frequency of maternal death, miscarriages, birth defects, low birth weight, neonatal infections, and other preventable health problems.

Antenatal care is very important during pregnancy as it is easy to detect complications and address them on time to avoid death (death of a child, mother, or even mother and child).  The major goals of antenatal care include to; promote and maintain the physical, mental, and social health of mother and baby by providing education on nutrition, personal hygiene, and the birthing process; detecting and managing complications during pregnancy, whether medical, surgical, or obstetrical; develop birth preparedness and complication readiness plan and help prepare the mother to breastfeed, successfully experience normal puerperium, and take good care of the child physically, psychologically, and socially.

Antenatal care is advocated as the cornerstone for reducing children’s deaths and improving maternal health, therefore every pregnant and expecting mother is expected to take the antenatal care program seriously in other to prevent maternal mortality. All women need access to high-quality care during pregnancy and after childbirth. If pregnant women can become responsible for their health and the health of their unborn child by visiting a health facility for proper maternal education and care, then we are halfway to solving the problem of maternal mortality in Nigeria. It is also important that all births are attended by skilled health professionals, as timely management and treatment can make the difference between life and death for the mother as well as for the baby. 

Maternal mortality is a global phenomenon, though some countries are more affected than others.

To learn about our Maternal Health Project visit www.HACEY.org.

Written By:

Mercy Kalu

The post How Antenatal Care Lower Rates Of Maternal Mortality appeared first on HACEY.