Women
CDV: The Challenge Of Birth Control
Birth control, in
today’s marriages has come to stay especially as couples take out tier time to monitor and meet u p with the ever-challenging economic situation of the times. The health sector world over and indeed the Nigerian government both at the federal and state levels including female non-governmental organisation (NGOs) have also put in their best in senistising and creating awareness among women and men alike on the need to check the number of children to be born into the family in so much that even trado-mode men have got no option but to come to terms with it.
So far, the gesture has been a welcome development particularly among the young and enlightened couples of the day and the methods of this birth control have been maximally utilized by mothers and women in general.
But one of the fall-outs of the 2014 medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) week Rivers State Chapter Penultimate Monday left most women confused and worried of how to continue with birth control with the oral contraceptive pills (OCP) as a major source of risk of cardiovascular (CDV) disease in women.
Consultant cardiologist, Dr. Sandra Ofori while delivering a lecture on the sub theme of this year’s Milan week “women cardiovascular Health”, revealed that the oral contraceptive pills, pills taken by women to check their intake of pregnancy, was responsible for 36 per cent of deaths in women adding that 63 per cent of women die annually from cardiovascular disease.
Cardiovascular disease, the name given to several problems of the heart and blood vessels which can stop the heart beat and lead to death includes stroke, heart attack, hypertension and other disorders of the heart or blood vessel was revealed to be a leading health problem and women is susceptible to these challenges because of her nature.
Ofori said “the woman unlike her male counterpart alone can get pregnant, give birth, breast feed, look do the nanny and house chores sometimes all at the same time. This situation alone can pose a serious health challenge even of the cardiovascular but then, an attempt to check these huddles even of child bearing is another risk itself.
Ofori who is also a member of the Medical Women Association of Nigeria in the state also indentified smoking among the women folk as another risk factor of cardiovascular disease saying “on a general note, 94 per cent of CVD is smoking. However, 50 per cent of heart attacks among women is due largely to smoking and so women smokers apart from the oral contraceptive pills are susceptible to developing CVD.
Against the glamour that cancer is the common health challenge of women, Ofori said ‘breast cancer kills only about four per cent of women. Heart disease, stroke and hypertension are the number one that kills and cardiovascular is the number three killer of women.
The consultant cardiologist stated that the clinical presentation of CVD include nausea/vomiting abdominal pain, jawpain, back pain and diabetes. Describing these symptoms as distracters, Ofori said the CVD was most times misdiagnosed because of the symptoms are almost a general symptom of most common ill health.
Because of the generating of the CVD symptoms, there is a misconception by both women and health officers in so much that they always mistake it for other minor health issues thereby resulting to a leading cause of deaths among woman especially.
Sequel to the good intension of the oral contraceptive pills yet constituting a threat to the woman’s health, Ofori said however that there are still some hopes. “The good news is that cardiovascular disease mostly does not develop until after menopause which is about 50-55 years in women and for the men, it develops after 40-45 years. The women have 10 years advantage over their men counterparts. It therefore calls for more carefulness especially on the parts of mothers and women in order to check this silent deadly disease,” she said.
IVY-K Fashion by Igiebor Daddy Lucky, a Nigerian-born designer now based in the UK, has launched the latest menswear line, Dapper Man.
One of the collection’s strengths is its classic, clean aesthetic. Dapper Man delivers sharp, structured suits in a timeless black and white color scheme that exudes a sense of luxury and professionalism. The use of high-quality fabrics like wool and silk ensures that the suits not only look high-end but also feel luxurious to the wearer. The designer’s focus on detail is evident in the meticulous tailoring, with fitted blazers and crisp trousers forming the foundation of the collection.
Where IVY-K Fashion shines is in the subtle yet elegant touches. The inclusion of beads as embellishments on lapels and cuffs adds a unique flair, blending traditional craft with modern tailoring. This nod to African heritage gives the collection a distinct identity, offering something more personal and culturally significant than your standard menswear line.
However, despite the elegance of the Dapper Man collection, there is a lingering sense of missed opportunity. The black-and-white color palette, while classic, feels overly safe. In a fashion landscape where bold colors and daring patterns often make the strongest impact, the collection could benefit from incorporating more vibrant hues or experimenting with unconventional fabrics. Pushing the envelope with color or texture could elevate these designs from simply elegant to truly memorable.
In addition, while the tailoring of the blazers and trousers is immaculate, the collection lacks a sense of playfulness or modern edge that many contemporary menswear lines are embracing. The suits are undoubtedly stylish, but the collection as a whole leans heavily on tradition. Experimenting with asymmetrical cuts, bold patterns, or even layering could add an exciting dimension to Dapper Man. The challenge is to maintain the sleek sophistication of the collection while infusing it with a fresh, innovative spirit.
Another area that could use improvement is the overall cohesion of the collection. While the suits are well-crafted, there is a feeling of repetition across the pieces. More variation in design, such as different lapel styles, pocket configurations, or even bolder accessories, would give the collection greater diversity and visual interest.
In conclusion, Dapper Man by Igiebor Daddy Lucky showcases the designer’s strong grasp of classic tailoring and elegant design, but to truly capture the attention of a broader audience, IVY-K Fashion would benefit from more daring choices. By infusing the collection with bold colors, unexpected textures, and a more modern edge, Dapper Man could move from a well-crafted line to a trendsetting force in men’s fashion. With such a solid foundation, there’s no doubt that Igiebor Daddy Lucky has the potential to lead his brand toward greater heights
The trend of indecent dressing all in the name of fashion is fast becoming a norm in our generation and society at large. Most married women embrace this fashion as competition with single ladies.
Different scholars have given an in depth insight about dressing as a tool of communication. Non-verbal communication has been asserted as the communication between people by the means of signs or symbols. It conveys what we wish to disseminate to the public as either intentionally or not.
According to Paul Ekman and Michael Argyle, communication is carried out through what has been classified as “Presentational Code”. He listed nine codes of non-verbal communication, as body contact, facial expression, gestures, postures, eye movement, proximity, orientation, head nods and appearance.
This, being stated, married and single ladies should understand that their mode of dressing is communicative be it directly or indirectly as such body parts we call “private” are now being made public because of the trends or wearing of transparent dresses and this in turn calls on the attention of men who are weak and prone to illicit thoughts thus, resulting to most rape cases in our society.
This indecent dressing by most ladies has denied many their future husbands. The truth is that a man is attracted to his kind; his desires in marriage. It is often asserted that decency and beauty are in the eyes of the beholder, yet, in trending times of this 21st century, dress code and fashion in nudity form is gaining popularity.
This has become complicated as most men tend to toggle between their emotions (lust) and sanity (rationality) in terms of marriage, thereby setting a wrong foundation upon which most marriages are consummated.
On the other hand, most married women have embraced the trend of indecent dressing nipping it on the state of it being the choice dressing, approved by their spouses, leaving society with the question of what “responsible” man would prefer that the secrecy of the benefit of his marital vow has become the centre of attraction and viewership by the general public.
Hence, communicating with their dressing gas given licence to every male gender who is interested or attracted to what they see to make unsolicited sexual passes at them, which might be considered embarrassing.
At this juncture, it is important to state that ladies should dress decently knowing that they are the epitome of nation-building, they are nation-builders, character moulders and pacesetters not just in the lives of their families but to the society at large.
In most occasions, there are no clear border lines between the married women and the single ladies because of the rate of scanty dressing which has close the gap of differences.
Women and girls should embrace this call awakening to decent mode of dressing. Dresses that are meant to be worn indoors should remain indoors.
It is worrisome to see ladies wear shorts that are supposed to be worn in the living room on the streets without shame. This is an awakening call to our ladies, married and singles that the opposite sex do not expose their private body parts for the public. Sometimes, the ladies go about in the streets without wearing brazziers as to showcase their nipples.
The society should be sanitised of the menace of indecent dressing that is lurking and taking over the entire nooks and crannies of the society and the nation at large.
Let it be known that he or she is addressed in the manner he or she is dressed. There may be no room for a second impression. To the single ladies, your dressing decently will not stop you from meeting your Mr Right rather, it will increase your stake and place you on the list of most valued women in the society.
Dressing speaks louder than words.
Kate Chisom Isiocha
Isiocha is an OND final year student of Temple Gate Polytechnic.
