Women
Right To Reproductive Health: The Woman’s Challenge
One of the basic joy of
a wife is that of motherhood. Unfortunately, a lot of factors had over the years militated against the flow of this joy resulting to mixed feelings of whether or not to be in the comity of mothers.
A major factor is the deteriorating state of the woman’s reproductive health occasioned by continued ignorance of a higher populace of women on their rights to such health. This ignorant state has over the period resulted to the woman’s unhealthy physical, social, mental and educational condition which by extension, has over affected families and society at large.
Maternal Morality or death, the death of a woman when pregnant and in the process of delivery has remained a significant outcome of the challenge to motherhood, which has not only constituted a major means of death of most expectant mothers but maintained the state of phobia in such a woman around the world.
Considering the place of the woman/mother in the posterity and well-being of the home, there is the need for her life to be sustained. To this end, the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), in conjunction with IPAS has again rise to the challenge of ensuring that the woman’s life is safe in this regard.
In a one-day community mobilisation/sensitisation/Town Hall meeting on Reproductive Health with emphasis on Post Abortion Care and Family Planning for (PHALGA), Rivers State, NAWOJ/IPAS revealed that women have the right to reproductive health thereby saving their lives not only from unhealthy state but untimely deaths.
Against the background that the woman in this part of the World has little or no right of her own in determining certain issues especially regarding childbearing and or number of children to give births to, it has become obvious that such tenet is a subtle means of the porous unhealthy state of her reproductive health.
Reproductive Health Right of the woman is the knowledge and ability of the woman challenge unhealthy reproductive steps that are capable of endangering her life particularly, that of unwanted pregnancy.
The awareness programme which had female participants drawn from different local government areas, female organisations, health ministries and health related non-governental organisations ( NGOs) revealed that the woman has the right to boldly walk up to any equipped health facility and demand for her right, specially of safe abortion in order to save her life.
Following the challenges of childbearing and training in modern times, it has become pertinent to check the level of pregnancy intake which is achieved through family planning methods and IPAs, an association which focuses on the health, rights, and access of women is of the view that a woman is supposed to know when to get pregnant and when not to and if the latter becomes the case, abortion remains the last resort and she has the right to a safe one.
In her lecture on community mobilisation, and sensitisation on Reproductive Health, the Co-ordinate, Safe Motherhood, Public Health Department, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Mrs. Mikai T.K. Amachree noted that nearly all unsafe abortions ranging to about 98 per cent occur in developing countries of which Nigeria is one stating that in almost all developed countries, safe abortions are legally available upon request or under broad social and economic grounds and services are generally easily accessible and available.
Represented by the Ministries Co-ordinator, RHIFP, Mrs. Joyce Amaewhule, Amachree said that in countries where induced abortion is legally highly restricted and or unavailable, safe abortion has frequently become the privilege of the rich while poor women have little or no choice but to resort to unsafe providers, causing deaths and morbidities that become the social and financial responsibility of the public health system.
“Over the past two decades, the health evidence, technologies and human rights rationale for providing safe, comprehensive abortion care have revolved around greatly and despite these advances, on estimated 22 million unsafe abortions continue to occur every year resulting in the death of an estimated 47,000 women and disabilities for another five million women” she said.
While noting that almost all the deaths and disabilities could have been prevented through sexuality education, family planning and the provision of safe, legal induced abortion and care for complication of abortion, Amachree maintained that in an induced or spontaneous abortion, women should receive appropriate post-abortion care.
According to her “for those women who abortions were performed unsafely, post abortion is used as strategy to attenuate the morbidity and mortality associated with complications including uterine aspiration for incomplete abortion and offer of contraceptives to prevent future unintended pregnancies.”
Gynecologist and Representative, First Land Hospital, Abia State, Dr. Okechi Ajaero noted that the millennium development Goals (MDGs), number five, focuses on improving maternal health by 2015 adding that with the date at the corner, all hands must be on deck to checkmate the occurrence.
Describing the programme as timely, Ajaero decried the increasing rate of maternal deaths, stating however, that this could be prevented when knowledge and care are placed side by side.
Ajaero averred that women in the rural areas are more exposed to the process of unsafe abortions due largely to absence of qualified medical personnel and adequate medical facilities.
“A lot of doctors have been concentrated in the urban areas at the expense of the rural areas leaving these women and young girls whose Pelvics and cervix are sometimes not well developed, at the mercy of quacks and facilities with minimal medical standard”, he stated.
Maintaining that abortion is a choice, Ajaero stressed the need for mothers/women to prevent unwanted pregnancies by taking up a family planning method saying “if there must be abortion, then it must be safe and adequate post care administered accordingly”.
Although it may sound awkward in the ears of some women and mothers in this part of the world, the fact remains that women are faced daily with the risk of maternal death and it has become imperative for them to stand tall, uphold their rights and safe their lives.
There are a number of policies with implication for maternal health service provision, such as the national health policy that has set maternal and reproductive health care as one of the priority areas with reduction of maternal morbidity and mortality as major expected outcomes and safe motherhood as a key element in the minimum health care package.
More appealing is that the Rivers State House of Assembly in 2003, passed a law legalising safe abortion in designated health centres across the state, thus, a call on Rivers and ofcourse, women resident in the state to avail themselves of the opportunity of utilising these reproductive health services available in health facilities of the state in order that the universal access to reproductive health by 2015, barely the next five of months becomes a reality.
Lady Godknows Ogbulu
Wife of the Deputy Clerk, Rivers State House of Assembly, Mrs Theresa Dumnu (left), conferring with wife of Head, News, RSTV, Mrs Edina Chu, during the thanksgiving and dedication of the twin children of the former in Port Harcourt last Sunday. Photo: Chris Monyanaga
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.
