Are tampons safe?

Tampons are small finger-like cotton plugs that absorb menstrual blood. When inserted into the vagina, they expand like a flower and soak up the blood. Tampons also contain a string that hangs outside the vagina, which helps in pulling out the tampon comfortably. They are not only easy to use but are more comfortable than sanitary napkins that cause rashes.  However, there are many myths associated with using tampons which prevent women from using them.

Myth #1--You can rupture your hymen and lose your virginity after using tampons.

Truth–Hymen is an elastic tissue which can easily stretch to accommodate the tampon. It is not necessary that you might harm the hymen while using a tampon. Also, breaking the hymen doesn’t mean you lose your virginity. To lose your v-card you need to have penetrative sex. Remember, a hymen can break while exercising, cycling, horseback riding, stretching, etc.  Also, many women are born without a hymen. So an intact hymen is not the proof of your virginity. Not that you need to prove it to anyone!  Sanitary napkins vs tampons, menstrual cups, cloth pads and period panties, find out which are better.

Myth #2–Tampons can get lost inside the vagina.

Truth–No, nothing can get lost in the vagina. Yes, you might push the tampon a bit too inside but there’s a tiny string that will hang outside, and you can pull it out easily.  Also, once you get a hang of using tampons, you will know how far you have to insert it. They are safe.

Myth #3–Tampons can cause cancer.

Truth–There’s no scientific evidence which suggests that tampons can cause cancer.

Myth #4– It can cause toxic shock syndrome (TSS).

Truth–Toxic shock syndrome by toxins is produced by a bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus and can have life-threatening complications. However, it is important to note that it is very rare and is caused only when the tampon is left inside the vagina for more than eight hours.

Myth #5 — It Can cause other infections.

Truth–Tampons are very safe and do not cause infections. However, it is important to change it regularly. Maintaining hygiene and cleanliness further reduces the chances of getting an infection. Here are 10 menstrual hygiene tips every woman must know.

Myth #6– They are highly uncomfortable.

Truth–You might be worried that you are inserting a cotton wad inside your vagina, but remember if the vagina can accommodate an erect penis, it can easily accommodate a tampon. Also, tampons can be a little uncomfortable at the beginning because you will not be sure how far it can go in and feel like something is stuck down there, but after a few uses, you will get accustomed to them. Have a few questions about periods? Here are all the answers.

Myth #7–You can’t wear it inside water as it might come out.

Truth–There’s no way a tampon will slip out of the vagina inside the water. The fact is that many professional swimmers use it.

The Health Site 

Vaginal ring protects women from HIV infection

A vaginal ring emitting an experimental drug reduced HIV prevalence significantly among women when used properly and consistently, according to a clinical trial in four sub-Saharan African countries.

Researchers from the National Institutes of Health found the ring, which contains the antiretroviral drug dapivirine, was most effective at preventing spread of the disease among women older than 25 in a trial in Malawi, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

Overall, the ring was effective barely more than a quarter of the time because of improper use or women who did not use it. The spread of HIV was reduced significantly when used properly, though.

More than 25 million people in sub-Saharan Africa have HIV or AIDS, with 9 out of 10 children in world who have one of the diseases living there, according to the World Health Organization..

Researchers said the dapivirine vaginal ring could have more success at controlling the spread of HIV because women can fully control its use, unlike condoms, with which men can interfere. The $5 silicone ring can be worn for a month, does not need to be refrigerated and can sit on a shelf for five years.

UPI.com

Antiretroviral drug may have effects on fetal development when used by pregnant women.

The drug, Atazanavir, a protese inhibitor, is used with one or more other drugs as part of anti-retroviral regimens used not only to treat HIV patients, but also to reduce transmission of the disease.

The drug used to prevent the transmission of HIV from mother to child may have small but significant effects on infant development, researchers found in a new study.

Researchers at Harvard University found in a study of HIV-positive pregnant women that one of several drugs given to them could affect the development of their children, regardless of whether they are born with the disease.

A previous study at Harvard showed the drug may have some developmental effects, but researchers at the time said the risk was low and did not advise changes to people's treatment plans.

For the new study, published in the journal AIDS, researchers recruited 167 women who received Atazanavirduring their pregnancy and 750 who did not, comparing the effects of the drug based on developmental baselines when their children turned 1 year old.

For children whose mothers were given the drug as part of anti-retroviral treatment at all, language and social-emotional development scores were lower among children exposed to the drug while in utero than those who were not. Language development scores were found to be lower regardless of the trimester of exposure, though social-emotional scores were only affected in children whose mothers started the drug in the second or third trimester.

For cognitive, motor and adaptive behavioral development, children whose mothers received the drug all lagged behind children who were not exposed to it.

Researchers point out in the study the small statistical differences do not have large clinical implications, but are worth paying attention to because they "add another risk to the constellation of existing biological and socio-environmental risk factors to which these children are often exposed."

UPI.com

SALES OF APPLICATION FORMS!!! S.O.N. St. Gerard's Catholic Hospital Kaduna

Application forms for 2016 intake into School of 

Nursing St. Gerard's Catholic Hospital Kaduna for 

BASIC GENERAL NURSING TRAININGis 

on sale at the cost of  N 8,000only.

Date: Begins Monday, 15th February, 20-16

Time: 8:00am — 12:00noon each working clay

Venue: St. Gerard's Catholic Hospital - Kaduna

          (ACCOUNT'S OFFICE)

Closing Date. 10th June, 2016

Exam. Date: 18th June, 2016

Venue of Exam.: School of Nursing, St. Gerard's Catholic Hospital, Kaduna

Time: 7:30 am prompt

Entry Qualification:

Five (5) Credits in the following subjects: English language, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics and Biology in not more than two sittings in WAEC/NECO or combine.

NOTE ISSUES REGARDING FORMS AND SUBMISSION ERRORS E.T.C. SHOULD BE CLEARED LATEST 17TH JUNE, 2016.

Signed:

MANAGEMENT

Three ways to inject your nursing career with inspiration this year

Three ways to rekindle your nursing fire this year

BY KEITH CARLSON, BSN, RN, NC-BC

Nursing is dynamic, but nurses can still feel stagnant in their careers, even as the profession continues to transform. 
Feeling stuck is a dis-empowering feeling, so taking inspired action is highly recommended for the nurse who wants to evolve.

For some nurses, acquiring new knowledge and skills is enough to keep things fresh and the mind engaged. For others, more is needed in order to feel empowered by actively moving in a positive direction.

Here are three methods for injecting your nursing career with inspiration and continuing to grow:

• Seek intellectual challenges

Attending nursing conferences and seminars can be a powerful way to accumulate knowledge and feel intellectually challenged. 

Conferences can offer a glimpse into a nursing specialty or novel approaches that upend ingrained ways of thinking.

When you attend a conference, you have the opportunity to meet like-minded colleagues, hear the latest news and views on a variety of topics, and find inspiration and motivation.

• Feed your mind and spirit

While volunteerism may not seem like a powerful career booster, it may provide more than meets the eye when you consider how such endeavors can positively affect your career. 

Volunteering looks good on your resume, but also boosts your nursing self-esteem and supplements your life experiences.

If you work in a facility that utilizes multidisciplinary committees to explore new protocols, investigate innovative technologies, advance the adoption of evidence-based care or otherwise improve outcomes or practice, volunteering for a committee can provide you with insights and eye-opening information that may inspire you professionally and also looks great on your resume.

Outside of work, volunteering for organizations related to health or healthcare can be inspiring and may provide a feeling of connection and involvement. 

Volunteerism is food for your mind and your spirit.

• Take time to teach

There’s an old adage that we learn most readily by teaching others what we know. We also feel good when others support us and when we support others.

Do you remember a colleague in the course of your education or career who took the time to teach you something important? How did it feel to have someone take interest in you? If that hasn’t happened for you, why not make it a reality for someone else?

There are specific trainings to help you become a consummate mentor; you also can learn to be a mentor by dint of just diving in and doing it.

Mentoring another nurse can help you reconnect with your passion and love for nursing; it also can empower you by reminding you of the depth and breadth of your knowledge and expertise. 

Seeing the light bulb switch on for your mentee may just create some sparks for you, as well.

Rekindle the fire

If your career feels flaccid or uninspired, it’s time to rekindle the fire within you. Whether it’s mentoring, attending a conference, volunteering or another activity, your mindset and motivation can be your guide.

Be the nurse who looks for more; rekindle the fire, get inspired and move your career forward.

nurse.com

VALENTINE + ONLINE = VALONLINE

...So am chatting with a friend and she was like:

"My DATE hasn't arrived. Am still waiting for him"

"Where did he go to and why would he keep you waiting on such a beautiful day?" 

"Well, I haven't got the slightest idea where he would be".

I asked her to call but she said the lines she tried were not connecting. I was mad at this guy who was keeping a pretty lady waiting.

Angrily, I asked in Pidgin English: "Who be this guy sef!??"

" I don't know ooo. I just ordered a DATE." 

"You what?!"

"You know... Same way you order a phone"

"What!!?"

"Yea"

"That's Funny." "You order DATE online?!" "na phone?" I asked in Pidgin English.

She said she chose to have an e-date because she didn't trust the guys around. 

"They could be fake, you know?"

Well, she said it was KONGA.com o! But her worries are that they may not deliver today.

"The problem is if they deliver tomorrow, chicken go don FINISH"

"So why didn't  you use Jumia?"

"Ah! Jumia whey dey fall person hand every time?! I don stop to dey trust those guys oo"

I sympathized with her and ask her to call CUSTOMER CARE to find out if they had shipped her date....

HAPPY VALENTINE PEEPS!!

OR

HAPPY VAL-ONLINE!!

Areas with Zika As At 3rd February, 2016

Where has Zika virus been found?

·       Prior to 2015, Zika virus outbreaks have occurred in areas of Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands.

·       In May 2015, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an alert regarding the first confirmed Zika virus infections in Brazil.

·       Currently, outbreaks are occurring in many countries.

·       Zika virus will continue to spread and it will be difficult to determine how the virus will spread over time.

Zika in the United States and its territories:

·       No locally transmitted Zika cases have been reported in the continental United States, but cases have been reported in returning travelers.

·       Locally transmitted Zika virus has been reported in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and America Samoa.

·       With the recent outbreaks, the number of Zika cases among travelers visiting or returning to the United States will likely increase.

·       These imported cases could result in local spread of the virus in some areas of the United States.

  

Countries and territories with active Zika virus transmission

AMERICAS

·       Barbados

·       Bolivia

·       Brazil

·       Colombia

·       Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, US territory

·       Costa Rica

·       Curacao

·       Dominican Republic

·       Ecuador

·       El Salvador

·       French Guiana

·       Guadeloupe

·       Guatemala

·       Guyana

·       Haiti

·       Honduras

·       Jamaica

·       Martinique

·       Mexico

·       Nicaragua

·       Panama

·       Paraguay

·       Saint Martin

·       Suriname

·       U.S. Virgin Islands

·       Venezuela

OCEANIA/PACIFIC ISLANDS

·       American Samoa

·       Samoa

·       Tonga

AFRICA

·       Cape Verde

Content source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Symptoms, Diagnosis, & Treatment Of Zika Virus

 Symptoms

·        About 1 in 5 people infected with Zika virus become ill (i.e., develop Zika).

·        The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, or conjunctivitis (red eyes).

·        Other common symptoms include muscle pain and headache. The incubation period (the time from exposure to symptoms) for Zika virus disease is not known, but is likely to be a few days to a week.

·        The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week.

·        People usually don’t get sick enough to go to the hospital, and they very rarely die of Zika.

·        Zika virus usually remains in the blood of an infected person for about a week but it can be found longer in some people.

Diagnosis

·        The symptoms of Zika are similar to those of dengue and chikungunya, diseases spread through the same mosquitoes that transmit Zika.

·        Your healthcare provider may order specialized blood tests to look for Zika or other similar viruses like dengue or chikungunya.

Treatment

·        There is no vaccine to prevent or specific medicine to treat Zika infections.

·        Treat the symptoms:Get plenty of rest.

·        Drink fluids to prevent dehydration.

·        Take medicine such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) to relieve fever and pain.

·        Do not take aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

·        If you are taking medicine for another medical condition, talk to your healthcare provider before taking additional medication.

·        If you have Zika, prevent mosquito bites for the first week of your illness.

·        During the first week of infection, Zika virus can be found in the blood and passed from an infected person to a mosquito through mosquito bites.

·        An infected mosquito can then spread the virus to other people.

More detailed information can be found on CDC’s Zika virus web page for healthcare providers

Redeemer’s University develops Lassa fever test-kit

FEBRUARY 7, 2016.

Ikenna Asomba 

Redeemer’s University, Osun State, has developed a test kit known as Pan-Lassa Rapid Diagnostics Test (PL RDT), that enables the testing of urine, faeces and blood samples of humans or multimamelar rats for Lassa fever in 10 minutes.

The Vice Chancellor of RUN, Professor Debo Adeyewa, said the university made new discoveries when Ebola was raging and now also made new discovery on Lassa fever virus.

 Explaining the research breakthrough, Prof. Christian Happi, who was a member of a team that performed the first Lassa fever Positive Reverse Transcription (PCR) diagnosis in Nigeria in 2008, 39 years after it was discovered in the city of Lassa in 1969, said: “In 2014, we developed and tested the first generation of Lassa fever rapid diagnostics test (RDT). Although, the test showed great potential in the field, its sensitivity was low compared to the gold standard, Positive Reverse Transcription (PCR), because the test could not pick up all the three lineages of the Lassa virus circulating in Nigeria. We went back to work to improve on the RDTs, and in January 2016, we successfully developed a Pan-Lassa fever test that is highly sensitive and specific.”

According to the don, the Lassa fever virus originated from present day Nigeria, 1,060 years ago and spread out of Nigeria 400 years ago to other West African countries. “A comparison between the Lassa fever and Ebola viruses showed that Lassa fever is less adapted and efficient for human-to-human transmission unlike the Ebola virus, pointing out the fact why Lassa fever outbreaks are less disastrous than Ebola,” he added

vanguardngr.com

Mental Health Services for Victims of FGM

Christina - not her real name - is 42 and lives in West London. She was circumcised in Eritrea, east Africa, when she was six.

According to her, she was called into a room after being told her grandmother had come to visit.

"I went in and I was held down by four ladies and that's when they did it," she said.

"I was screaming for my mother but she wasn't there.

"My father didn't even know about it."

Christina has been having counselling sessions with healthcare professionals and now is into painting as she trys to help deal with the impact of the experience.

"I'd say right now, more than the physical part, it's the mental part I find difficult," she said.

"I started having flashbacks, it was a shock. It felt like it had happened now and not 36 years ago."

FGM refers to any procedure that alters or injures the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.

A recent study estimated that about 137,000 people in England and Wales have been affected by FGM.

Between July and September last year, 1,385 cases were reported, with the highest number in London.

The Hillcrest Surgery in Ealing, West London, is one of the only practices in the UK to provide specialized support to those affected by FGM.

Deqa Dirie is a healthcare advocate at the clinic and runs discussion groups where women have a safe space to talk about their experiences.

She said: "We see people from a number of different cultural backgrounds.

"It's important for professionals to be trained so that if they come across a lady who has FGM they know the best way to help her, not just physically but mentally too."

Mental health services will be developed to provide specialized support for victims of female genital mutilation in England.

Healthcare professionals will be trained to understand how to treat FGM's psychological impact, the government said.

The news comes on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM.

'Obvious step'

The Department of Health has been working alongside survivor groups and charities to understand mental health implications.

Online training tools and guidance for NHS healthcare professionals will be developed, with advice on the specific mental health needs of women affected.

The announcement aims to ensure NHS staff in England are better equipped to deal with the long-term effects of the practice, which is also known as female circumcision.

Public Health minister Jane Ellison said: "I think it's the next obvious step in how we support girls and women who've been through FGM.

"We've made a lot of progress on the physical side of things but what really comes through from the conversations that you have with people who've been through FGM, is that the trauma can stay with them for a lifetime."

Doctors, nurses, midwives and teachers in England and Wales are legally required to report cases of FGM to the police.

The government says it is committed to ending the "abusive and illegal practice" within a generation.

FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION

• ·        Includes "the partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons"
• ·        Practiced in 29 countries in Africa and some countries in Asia and the Middle East
• ·        An estimated three million girls and women worldwide are at risk each year
• ·        About 125 million victims estimated to be living with the consequences
• ·        It is commonly carried out on young girls, often between infancy and the age of 15
• ·        Often motivated by beliefs about what is considered proper sexual behavior, to prepare a girl or woman for adulthood and marriage and to ensure "pure femininity"
• ·        Dangers include severe bleeding, problems urinating, infections, infertility and increased risk of newborn deaths in childbirth
• ·        In December 2012, the UN General Assembly approved a resolution calling for all member states to ban the practice

Source: BBC

NB: Article has been adapted