WOMEN VOICES
ISSUE 2, October 2007
Volume No. 8
In this Issue:
Editorial From the chair person_s desk Our Health Great News from Ghana And Many More . . . . .
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Publication of this issue has been made possible under the auspices of the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), through the Swedish Association of the Visually Impaired (SRF). Its content is purely a collective voice of individual blind and partially sighted women around the African continent together with their associates in the Diaspora.
Editorial &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Page 3 From the chair person_s desk By Roseweter A. Mudarikwa &&&&&&&&&&& Page 6
Breast Cancer - A killer Disease By Ngwanakopi Ramushu &&&&&&&&&&&&&. Page 8 Inspiring Accounts from Uganda Blind Women As narrated by Juliet Nakiwolo, Nalusoga Doroty and Kalijuna K. Teddy &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&.. Page 14 Effects of Ageing on Eye-Sight By Eunice N. Oniala &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&. Page 18 Great News from Ghana By Ghana Association of the Blind &&&&&&&&. Page 22 Caring for your baby as a Disabled Woman Adapted from _a Health Handbook for Women With Disabilities_ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&.. Page 24 A short poem By Elizabeth Onyango, a Kenyan girl-child &&&& Page 29 Call for Visually Impaired Women of Africa to join the Gear Campaign &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Page 31
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Editorial
Honourable ladies of Africa, welcome to our second issue of Women Voices, 2007. With quite a number of activities having taken place in our continent within the first half of this year, I hope that many of us experienced joy and pleasure by reading our first publication of the newsletter this year. As you may well be aware, the African blindness movement got a blow towards mid 2007, at the loss of our dear comrade and associate - a very diligent and committed leader, Dr. Diara Siaka from Burkina Faso, who departed from us in the tragic plane crash on the night of May 4th 2007. The real tribute we can pay to him is for all of us to continue with the emancipation of the blind and partially sighted from the bondage of neglect, isolation, oppression, poverty, illiteracy and ignorance. This way, we shall have maintained the pursuit of his path, which was vivid in his unwavering spirit of advocacy. The onus is left with us to keep the candle burning. As comrade Diara is no more, his inspiration should teach us to remain in solidarity! May the Almighty God rest his soul in eternal peace.
One of the most notable events marking the first half of this year was the IDP fourth Africa Forum that took place between 7th and 10th May in Nairobi, Kenya. Certainly, you will all agree that the forum was very remarkable, having brought together a very large population of the global community. It may not have been possible for all willing to witness the exciting occasion and the jubilation that went with AFUB_s twentieth anniversary celebration, but I believe that the use of technology enabled as many of us as possible to share in all the joyful moments embedded in those four days.
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May I in all boldness and humility take this opportunity to thank those of you who have responded positively to our plea for articles to this newsletter. I am indeed encouraged by the number of articles received, some of which will be included in this publication. I kindly request you to be patient in case your article is not featured in this second issue as it will be kept in waiting for the next publication. This may happen for various reasons; say, several articles might have originated from one country _ and yet contribution should be widespread; certain articles address the same issue/s; the timing for some articles is not appropriate; and so on. You should however be rest assured that no article will be thrown into the dust bin. As twilight gradually befalls 2007, I promise to use the Announcements column to keep you fully posted on other activities that may be ongoing. Kindly pay attention to the most pertinent issues that you may be required to respond to, either now or in the near future. A call to all our national organizations/associations of and for the blind: It has come to the attention of the editorial team that most Women_s Committees affiliated to these bodies are not able to access the two newsletters: Women Voices and AFUB News. It would be most prudent for the leadership in all member organizations to play their role as required. I therefore implore all of you to co-operate and ensure that all publications sent to your organizations are accessed by the women_s committees and other organs within your structures. In conclusion, I would like to sincerely thank each one of you for your continued support and co-operation in whichever small way. This has made our work a lot easier, enjoyable and manageable, for we have not experienced any major mishaps in the course of this year. Let us follow the
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same trend in the period ahead of us and we shall have a reason to delight in our achievements. With the Christmas festivities just around the corner, kindly prepare to present issues related to your involvement with the activities of the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities, to be published in our forthcoming Women Voices Special Decade Issue, which should be published by the 15th of December 2007. This implies that all articles should have reached my desk by mid November, as our time-frame is very tight. Share with everybody, the progress you are making, as well as the challenges you are facing in your protracted endeavour to have equal space in society. Once more I thank you very much for your unfailing trust and confidence in me, your continued support and cooperation through this year, and wish you a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year, 2008! Eunice N. Oniala (Editor).
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FROM THE CHAIRPERSON_S DESK
Since this is our 2007 second edition of Women Voices, I thought I would be your conscience-keeper and draw your attention to some issues pertinent to us as women. Congratulations beloved women of Africa! Four of our five capacity building seminars scheduled for this year have already taken place in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Uganda. The last one meant for Benin will be conducted in due course. Your Women's Committee will greatly appreciate feedback on the said seminars. We shall also be more than grateful to hear from you (the owners of the movement) what activities you would like to be included in the 2008 operational plan. There are some important upcoming events slated for 2008, which you need to be aware of: First, the forthcoming Women's Fourth Forum scheduled for November 2008 in Morocco needs your unwavering support. The theme for the Forum is: NOW IS THE TIME FOR MEANINGFUL INCLUSION. The challenge is ours dear women, to strategically position ourselves for meaningful inclusion - both in mainstream society and in our own organisations. I do not need to remind you that nothing will be handed over to us on a gold platter. Success comes with effort. Second, the WBU Women's Forum is scheduled a little earlier in Geneva, Switzerland - starting on the 16th of August 2008. To secure your place in this Forum, the following criteria should be attended to: " You must be appointed national delegates by your organisations, " You should be up-to-date with payment of your membership dues,
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" If you need financial support, your application for sponsorship or subsidy should be received by the WBU before the 31st of December 2007. _Forewarned is forearmed_. Let us not be found wanting. We should start making relevant preparations NOW . Lastly, education has been recognised by many as a tool which can be used in a fight to eradicate or alleviate poverty. In its endeavour to empower visually impaired women from developing countries to combat poverty, the WBU through its Hormoine Grant Kalhoumie Scholarship is supporting women to pursue higher and tertiary education in their countries of origin. To benefit from this scholarship of about $23,000.00, visually impaired women from developing countries are encouraged to submit applications to the WBU through their Regional Presidents. It is my hope that we will make hay while the sun shines! (Roseweter Alice Mudarikwa)
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Breast Cancer: -- A Killer disease
By Ngwanakopi Ramushu While there are women at high risk of developing breast cancer, it is estimated that three quarters of such women are not at so high a risk of facing death, only if they seek medical attention early enough. Breast cancer develops as a result of many reasons, none of which is yet understood; say: 1. Family History, which is seen as a relatively minor factor; 2. Ageing: One of the biggest risks of breast cancer, apart from being female, is ageing. A woman aged thirty has one in six thousand chances to develop breast cancer, but this increases ten-fold to one in six hundred by the time she is fifty. Unfortunately we cannot prevent ageing but we can prevent developing breast cancer. While breast cancer tends to rise with age, it becomes more aggressive when it occurs in young women. One type of breast cancer that is especially aggressive and occurs disproportionately in younger women is inflammatory breast cancer. 3. Women who have no children are at great risk of developing breast cancer as those who have children later in life _ say, after the age of thirty. However, research has shown that women who breastfeed their babies are at a lower risk of developing the disease, meaning that breastfeeding is good, not only for the baby but for mother_s health as well. 4. Starting menstrual periods early or having late menopause increases the chance of developing breast
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cancer; that is to say, onset of menstrual periods at the age of twelve and menopause at fifty increases the risk of developing breast cancer due to high amounts of oestrogen in one_s body. Breast cancer quite often causes misery in one_s life as it is a combination of multiple diseases. Some experts have been able to enumerate thirty per cent of risk factors while seventy per cent is still unknown. The good news is that the greater understanding of breast cancer is gradually helping medical doctors to predict who needs more or less treatment. Early Detection of Breast Cancer: The secret to breast cancer survivors is early detection, so examine your breasts. The sooner breast cancer is diagnosed, the better the chance of fighting it. Girls and women should therefore examine their breasts every month, a week after their periods. Take note of any changes like swelling, lumps or pain and check under your arms, in and around your nipples too. Annual medical checkups are also recommended as a measure to control breast cancer. The good news is that although death from breast cancer is a tragedy, going for mammograms and regular medical checkups can help to detect cancer early enough, says Dr. Carol Ann Ben. When breast cancer is detected earlier before invading tissues outside the breast, the survival is as high as ninety five per cent. This requirement includes young women in their twenties and thirties - for there is increase in young women developing breast cancer. Breast cancer is not usually painful and most women are not good at self-examination as they console themselves that breast cancer lumps will hurt. We also need to remember that not all lumps could be detected through touch alone. Early breast cancer shows no symptoms and is not painful,
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which is why it is important to self-examine and go for medical checkup. Myths: Some of the myths surrounding development of breast cancer include: 1. That finding a lump in your breast means having breast cancer; 2. That breast cancer is a punishment due to practicing witchcraft or past irresponsible sexual behaviour; 3. That there is a link between the pill and breast cancer. The happy news is that eight in ten lumps are benign; i.e. not cancerous. Even so, every lump should be checked by a physician immediately. Fear should not prevent you from checking your state of health. Sometimes women avoid having medical examination because they fear internalizing the results. Remember that developing breast cancer is not your fault and that vigilance in health matters can literally save your life. Twenty years ago, it was taboo to talk about breast cancer, but today, with more prominent people developing it, many more people are able to talk about the problem and this increases awareness. It is advisable for girls and women to know and touch their bodies from puberty. In many cultures it is difficult to talk about one_s body parts including the breasts, let alone touching them. We must teach our daughters and nieces to touch and know their bodies regularly check on their breasts. Breast cancer is neither infectious, nor contagious, but comes as a result of uncontrolled cells growth, which starts
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in the breast. Two genes, B.r.c.a1 and B.r.c.a2 have been linked to the hereditary breast cancer; and women in families that have mutations of these genes have a higher risk of developing breast cancer than women who do not. However, not all people with these genes will develop breast cancer. Relationship between Your Family and Breast Cancer Breast cancer seems to be hereditary in only five to ten per cent of cases. To link cancer to your family, an immediate relative has to have had it and it should be linked to more than three generations. Breast cancer has threatened women_s lives for centuries and is one of the oldest known cancer tumours. Even in ancient days, Egyptians knew that breast lumps were dangerous and should be removed. (References to breast tumours and ulcers have been recorded on Papyrus which dates back to 1600 B.C.) The following points should serve as guidelines for a healthy living as well as guarding girls and women against breast cancer: 1. Mammograms, X-ray and the pressure of its machinery on the breasts cannot cause breast cancer to spread; 2. Women who exercise four times in a week reduce the chances of developing breast cancer because exercise pumps up the immune system and cuts the level of hormone oestrogen which can fuel tumour growth; 3. High fat diet increases the risk of developing breast cancer due to the fact that fat triggers oestrogen. You should therefore fill your diet with fruit, vegetables and low fat nutritional food.
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4. Go easy on animal protein as those with a diet high in animal protein have increased risk of developing breast cancer. Breast cancer is not exclusively a women_s disease. For every one hundred women with breast cancer, one man will develop the disease. Due to stigma, it is difficult for men to talk about it or go for medical treatment. Smoking increases the risk of cervical and other cancers. Although it has not been directly linked to breast cancer, smoking decreases one_s survival chances once one has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Although many studies have been conducted on the relationship between the oral contraceptive pill use and breast cancer, they have all failed to show any existing relationship between the two. However, the pill is used to delay pregnancy which increases the breast cancer risk. This means there is a slightly increased risk of breast cancer for women who have taken birth control pills uninterrupted for long periods, such as five to ten years. 5. Hormone replacement therapy: Women who suffer greatly from side effects of menopause often are prescribed with hormone replacement therapy. However, if this is done, it increases your risk of developing breast cancer. 6. Alcohol is yet another factor that increases the risk of developing breast cancer. In practical terms, the intake of More than two units of alcohol a day increases the risk by 24 per cent. 7. Being overweight or obese increases your risk. Women who are over-weight have an increased risk of cancer, especially breast cancer. This is due to the possible increased levels of oestrogen in overweight women.
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A word of Caution 1. Drink lots of water and avoid alcohol. Drink plenty of fresh water each day to help flash out toxins and limit your alcohol consumption to no more than one drink a day. 2. Tamoxifen, the pill that can prevent breast cancer in high risk women does appear to save many lives in the long run, reports from the University of California said in late July this year. Tamoxifen, which is the only approved drug for preventing breast cancer in women who have not reached menopause blocks oestrogen which can fuel the growth of tumours in some cases. But for women in the low end of a high risk group. The side effects outweigh the benefits as it can cause blood clots and uterine cancer.
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INSPIRING ACCOUNTS FROM UGANDA BLIND WOMEN
Juliet Nakiwolo was born sighted, went through her Primary and Ordinary Secondary School education very smoothly, but lost her sight while pursuing a Certificate course in Agriculture in a farm institute in Ssese Islands _ within Lake Victoria. This was after developing a very serious headache. Despite all efforts, her eye-sight was lost and could not be recovered. _I started a new life of blindness and was just about to poison myself, when the then leaders of our district association of the blind took me for rehabilitation and vocational training at Blind but Able in Kampala_ she reminisces. While at BBA, Juliet was supported to rediscover herself. Her confidence levels were restored; she acquired independent mobility skills, and gained knowledge in knitting. Currently, she gets small contracts and is engaged in making school uniforms and designing sweaters for her living. _I am married to a sighted farmer, and both of us are delighted at having raised four children of our own. I expect to deliver the fifth one any time from now!_ she proudly adds. Among the challenges she is facing, Juliet cites the following: 1. Stiff competition in the business; 2. Inadequate funds to boost her knitting project. She calls upon people of good will to support her materially and financially. The following is her address:
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C/O Bombo Mixed School, P.O. Box 161, Bombo, Uganda. Tel: +256-782-104414; or: +256-753-217974 Nalusoga Dorothy was born with visual impairment in Kampala on 19th June 1966. She thanks God for giving her life, and her mother for bringing her up positively. Dorothy narrates that her mother, a single parent, made great efforts to educate and provide her with all basic needs _ including medical care. _I studied in ordinary schools since my mother was not informed about schools for the blind; and I went as far as Ordinary Secondary level,_ she says. Currently Dorothy is running a small retail business where she sells an assortment of items including potatoes, tomatoes and bananas for her sustainability together with her four children. Dorothy explains that although three of her children are also blind, she loves them and thanks UNAB for the efforts the organization has made in supporting her to raise and educate her children. Currently serving as the chairperson of the Kampala district Association of the Blind (KDAB), she derives pleasure in voluntarily serving her fellow blind women in Uganda. She has enjoyed success in her work through networking with others. Needless to say, she has also experienced very many challenges - both as a leader and as a single parent. Among them are: (a) Inadequate basic necessities for the right upbringing of her children. This has over time been cemented by the limitations she has had to live with as a visually impaired single parent. (b) Lack of funds to enable her run the city association of the blind, for which she is Chairperson;
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(c)
She is lacking in both computer and Braille literacy. This greatly limits her communication with the rest of the world.
Despite the above challenges, Dorothy is urging all blind women in Africa to take heart and face life squarely; for, there is no gain without toil. Kalijuna K. Teddy is the general secretary of Rwenzori Region Development Organization of the Blind (RRDOB) that was formed in March 2007. RRDOB is a registered organization with a legitimate Constitution and a work plan for the year 2007. Its work targets six districts in western Uganda (Kibaale, Kyenjojo, Kabarole, Kasese, Bundibugyo and Kamwenge). The organization has a bank account with Centenary Bank, Kyenjojo Branch. Honourable Hood Katuramu _ Member of Parliament for PWDs (Western Uganda) is the Patron of this new organization. The objectives of RRDOB are fourfold: (a) Work with other bodies to advocate for the rights of the blind in Uganda; (b) Combat poverty among blind women through business skills training and accessing them to grant/loan facilities; (c) Mobilise and sensitise the blind on pertinent issues like HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, and skills for daily living;
(d) Influence the formulation and implementation of government policies in the areas of education, health, transport, and so forth.
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Kalijuna calls upon all blind people to ensure unity in all we do, for united we stand _ divided we fall!
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Effects of Ageing on Eye-Sight
By Eunice N. Oniala In a person aged sixty with normal eye-sight, about one third as much light reaches the retina as when they were twenty. Therefore, older people often have problems operating controls when there is low illumination older people adapt at a slower rate to changes in the ambient illumination which can give problems when illumination on a control panel greatly different from what is being viewed or controlled. Accommodation The term accommodation is used to indicate the ability of the eye to change its focus and thus get a clear image of the retina. The gradual decline in accommodation is called presbyopia and is inevitable with age. Cataracts Having cataracts is like driving a car with a dirty windscreen. If the sun is behind you, your view is reasonably good but if the sun is in front of you then your view can be seriously impaired. Cataract is an opacity of the crystalline lens. Cataracts can form at any age, but most often develop as people get order. In younger people they can be present at birth or result from injury, certain drugs, radiation or condition such as diabetes. The opacification of the lens may occur in different ways, so that the light rays which reach the retina may be split causing multiple images. Age related cataracts are often yellow or brown causing loss of sensitivity to blue. The usual treatment is to remove the lens surgically and replace it with a plastic lens. Because there is
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no accommodation, spectacles are often needed for some purposes. Diabetic Retinopathy Many people in the world today are affected by diabetes, which means that the body cannot cope normally with sugar and other carbohydrates in the diet. The probability of a visual impairment is greatly increased if there is poor control of diabetes. In diabetic retinopathy, the fine network of fragile blood vessels in the retina may leak or become blocked, causing local loss of function. One of the side effects of diabetes is poor circulation often resulting in poor tactual sensitivity which means hat few diabetics can read Braille. Tunnel vision Tunnel vision can be associated with a late stage of glaucoma or some forms of retinitis pigmentosa. With glaucoma, the pressure inside the eye is raised; this damages the fragile head of the optic nerve where it enters the eye, causing classic loss of nerve fibres. Retinitis pigmentosa covers a group of hereditary disorders which affect the retina; one effect is problems in low illumination and very slow light adaptation, and often problems reading displays at the red end of the visible spectrum. With tunnel vision, it is often possible to read small print but not large print. Colour vision Over ten percent of males but less than 0.5 percent of females have problems in distinguishing red/green. Loss of sensitivity to blue/yellow is usually a consequence of eye disease.
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DAILY LIVING
Domestic appliances: In the past, the controls on most domestic appliances (e.g. washing machines, cookers and central heating controllers) could be modified for a blind person by adding embossed markings to the controls panels. However, the change from change from electro-mechanical controls to dynamic visual displays have meant that other solutions must be found and it has not been economically viable to modify each device individually to give speech output. Packaging: Developments for the general public are not always to the advantage of the visually impaired persons. For instance, the standardization of packaging means that aerosol containers of oven cleaners and hair sprays can feel the same. One small step in the United Kingdom was the introduction of an embossed triangle on packaging of dangerous substances. A few items are specially designed to be easily identifiable by touch to help blind persons; say, the edges of different silver coins in Kenya. Food preparation: The essential aspect is for a blind cook to be well organized. There are a number of techniques and ways of doing things such as for cutting and peeling vegetables. In addition, devices such as talking weighing scales can help. However, many problems remain. Opening tamper-proof packaging can be very difficult. Graphic and indicators on controls can
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be very difficult to see, especially if they are small or use low contrast colours. Medicines For many older people, taking medicines is part of everyday life. Often there are problems in differentiating tablets and in accurately measuring liquids. A number of devices have been developed but most are difficult to use by someone with poor manual dexterity or hand tremor. Labels are often in small print with poor visual contrast. It is somewhat difficult to read despite the probability of the user having impaired vision.
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GREAT NEWS FROM GHANA!
A Blind Woman Leader Wins National Award On July 6th 2007, Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame (Mrs.), formally a teacher at Presbyterian Teacher Training College, Akropong, Ghana; now Regional Programme Officer at Sight Savers International WARO (West African Regional Office) received a Presidential National Award for her dedicated contribution to Teacher Education and volunteerism. The theme for the award was _Championing African Excellence_, instituted by the President in 2006. After the ceremony, Gertrude was given opportunity to present to the President of Ghana a book on _Blindness and the Visionary_ on behalf of Sight Savers International and partner organizations of Persons with Disabilities. The Sight Savers International_s Deputy Director _ WERO, Mr. Aboubacar Ouattara, accompanied Gertrude to the award ceremony. Below is the picture of Gertrude receiving the Grand Medal Award from President J.A. Kuffuor of Ghana. (Appears on the hard copy) Bravo Gertrude! By no means, Gertrude is a great inspiration _ not only to blind and visually impaired women of Africa, but even the men. Let us jubilate with her in this memorable success, symbolised with a grand award.
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Caring for Your Baby as a Disabled Woman
(Adapted from _A Health Handbook for Women with Disabilities_) No mother raises her child alone. The constant attention and care a new baby needs can be very tiring and frustrating. Almost all mothers rely on family, friends, neighbours, childcare workers, and teachers to help. Some women with disabilities will learn quickly to take care of a baby. But if your disability means you need help with your daily work, you will probably also need help caring for the daily needs of y babies need to be fed and changed often. So do not get discouraged if you need to ask for help. All new mothers get assistance if they can to help with the baby. No matter how much help you may need, you are still your baby_s mother. Allowing someone to help you care for your baby does not make you any less of a mother. Even when you ask another person to be your eyes, ears, arms, or legs, you are the one deciding about how to meet your baby_s needs, her safety, and her well-being. That is what a mother does. Keeping the baby close to you, day and night, so she can see your face, hear your voice, and feel and smell your body, will assure that your baby knows who her mother is _ you!
The relationship a baby develops with her mother or main caregiver affects the baby_s physical and emotional development. As a close relationship is formed, a baby learns to find security in it and it will be easier for the baby to form new relationships with other people later on. While
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other family members can help you look after the baby, it is important for you to be recognized as the main caregiver so you can form this deep bond with your baby.
Small babies need to be fed and cared for day and night, and you will not be able to get much sleep. So even though your baby will probably wake you up several times during the night, and you will most likely feel very tired during the day, your baby will still need to be well looked after.
All mothers, including blind and partially sighted mothers, need to ensure that their babies are always safe from falling, getting burned, animals, poisons, swallowing and getting choked by undesired obstacles, and accidents that may break a bone or cut the skin. Breastfeeding the baby If possible, breastfeed your baby. Colostrum, the first yellow-coloured milk that comes out of the breasts for the first 2 or 3 days after birth, is the best possible food for the baby. It is good for the baby_s stomach, has all the nutrition a new baby needs, and protects against disease. Babies who breastfeed as often as they want do not need herbs or teas or sugar water. If possible, give your baby nothing but breast milk for the first 6 months. If it is too difficult to breastfeed your baby, remove the milk from your breasts by hand so it can be fed to the baby by another method.
Most women with disabilities can breastfeed their babies. Some disabled women need help holding the baby in a good position. Others may not produce enough milk. Some
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disabilities make women feel too weak and tired. You must decide for yourself whether or not you can breastfeed your baby.
Most babies are born knowing how to suck. But they may need help getting enough of the nipple in the mouth. The baby should have a big mouthful of the breast with the nipple deep inside. Breastfeeding can be painful at first. But if the baby is in the right position, you will get used to the baby_s sucking and the pain should go away. If it does not, try changing your position or the baby_s position. Make sure the baby has a good mouthful of the breast. If breastfeeding is still painful, talk with a health worker. There could be another problem. Most women learn to breastfeed their babies by watching other women in the family and community. If another woman in the community has your disability and is already a mother, ask her for advice. Many disabled women can breastfeed their babies if they find a comfortable position. If you have good use of your arms and upper body, you should be able to breastfeed the baby with no problems. Make sure the baby, especially the baby_s head, is well supported and that you sit or lie in a position that is comfortable for you. If you have limited use of your arms and upper body, try to find at least one comfortable position for breastfeeding. Ask someone to help you if necessary. Many women find it easier to lie on their sides with their babies beside them supported by pillows or rolled-up cloth. If you cannot use your arms and upper body, you can breastfeed with help from family members or friends. Explain to them how to position the baby so that you can
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breastfeed. If necessary, ask them to hold the baby in position, especially the baby_s head. Even though you are not holding the baby in your arms, the baby will still be able to see your face and resting it in the bend of your arm or on a pillow near your breast. The baby should be able to feel the warmth and familiar smell of your body. It has been scientifically proven that nursing mothers are susceptible to such infections as breast cancer, mastitis and others. Below are some non-medical measures to prevent infection and/or provide treatment for minor infections. " Let the baby feed as long and as often as she wants. " When the baby has stopped feeding, squeeze out a few drops of milk and rub them on your nipples. " Do not use soap or cream on your breasts, unless you have an infection. Your body makes natural oil that keeps the nipples clean and soft. " Avoid tight or rough clothing. " If the pain is too great when the baby suckles, remove your milk by hand and feed the baby with a cup and spoon. A crack in your nipple should heal in 2 days. " Do not let your breasts get hard and overfull. If you have more milk than the baby can drink, cover your breasts with warm cloths or towels and empty your breasts by hand after the baby is full. After a few weeks your body will usually make just the right amount of milk, and your breasts will not get too full. Biologists and social scientists have also come up with the following arguments to illustrate the importance of feeding a baby breast milk: " Breast milk is the perfect food to help a baby grow healthy and strong. " Breastfeeding helps the mother_s womb stop bleeding after birth.
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" Breast milk passes on to the baby the mother_s defences against illnesses such as diabetes and cancer, and infections like diarrhoea and pneumonia. " breastfeeding can prevent some women from becoming pregnant again during the first 6 months " Breastfeeding helps the mother and baby feel close and secure. " Breast milk is free!
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A SHORT POEM
By Elizabeth Anyango, a Kenyan Girl-child THE VICTIMS The silent wind, the biting cold; The rumbling bellies, the hunger, the anger, the pain. Born of a lesser god, victims of circumstances, and children of a lesser god. The world rolls by, Fast and furious, deaf and blind, To the constant cry, The hungry cry, The painful cry. Holy mortals! Untouchable! Unbeatable! Pu! Too decent. The preacher in the chapel _Love your neighbour Your neighbour? Who is your neighbour? _as you love yourselves_. Nonsense! Preaching water they drink wine Can I love the neighbour? What is love? _Do unto others what you would like them to do to you_. Pay hatred with hatred? Indifference with indifference?
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Little solace from the church, the vermin of the earth soldiers on Victims of circumstances, born to a lesser god Cling! Clong! Clang! Coins from political pockets drop Camera rolls Fat men, fat women, fat pockets Jostle and pause for photos Smiling above the hungry eyes, The envious eyes, the pleading eyes, the dry eyes drained from years of tear-drops Promises, empty promises. _We shall employ you in factories_ Garbage factories _And take your children to school_ Free education? On empty stomachs? The fruits of independence, yuck! The cameras depart, the fat citizens depart A memory too short, nobody remembers them The promises buried, until the next elections. The night falls, the rags are spread A death is reported The doctor indifferently declares, _Starvation and exposure_ Nobody cares, nobody listens Too busy with life, we watch silently as a bomb is set, never pausing to wonder _Can_t it happen to anyone_ Brothers, sisters, Join and help orphans, street children, Poor people, disabled people, Children of one God, your God, our God.
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CALL FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED WOMEN OF AFRICA TO JOIN THE GEAR CAMPAIGN
CAMPAIGN FOR STRONGER GENDER EQUALITY ARCHITECTURE REFORM (GEAR) AT THE UN CONTEXT
For the past three decades, women_s organizations and movements have seen the United Nations as a galvanizing force for our efforts to define a comprehensive global agenda for peace and security, human rights, gender equality, women_s empowerment, poverty eradication and sustainable development. Many important advances have been made for women, yet governments have failed overall to implement the commitments to women_s rights they have made in the CEDAW Convention, Beijing Platform for Action and in agreements from many UN world conferences, including those on human rights, population and development, sustainable development, HIV/AIDS, the Millennium Summit, including the Millennium Development Goals, and the 2005 World Summit. The UN lacks an effective mechanism to deliver on these promises; it needs an independent, women-specific agency with adequate stature, resources, operational capacity in the field, and a mandate and high level leadership to drive this agenda. Such a lead women_s agency is necessary, along with well-resourced, effective mainstreaming efforts throughout the system. Currently, the UN has several small under-resourced agencies focused exclusively on women_s
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issues; other larger agencies sometimes do important work on gender equality, but it is a small part of their mandate, and often receives low priority. The 2005 World Summit Outcome Document called for a stronger system-wide coherence by strengthening linkages between the normative work of the UN system and its operational activities. The Secretary-General requested a High Level Panel on System-Wide Coherence to review the UN system in the areas of humanitarian affairs, environment and development, and after women_s rights advocates from around the world pressured the UN to better address gender equality in the reform process, the Panel made recommendations to strengthen the gender architecture. The UN Reform process has already yielded concrete results including the creation of a Human Rights Council and a new Peace Building Commission. Now there is an extraordinary opportunity as part of the reform process to strengthen the gender equality architecture to deliver better results for women. The High Level Panel on System-Wide Coherence recommended:
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Creating a stronger UN organization for women through consolidating some of the women_s mechanisms that already exist (including the Division for the Advancement of Women [DAW], the Office of the Secretary General_s Special Adviser on Gender Issues [OSAGI] and the United Nations Development Fund for Women [UNIFEM]. The new organization would have a dual mandate of both normative and programmatic responsibilities and would operate at both global policy and country levels. Creating a new Under-Secretary General position to head this agency. This position would have higher status than the leadership of the current UN women_s
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entities. It would enable high-level representation for women_s rights in UN decision-making, both in policydevelopment and program operations at the global and field levels. _Ambitiously_ funding new organization. the
We NOW have an opportunity to use these recommendations to press governments to support change that enables the UN to deliver more for women_s rights and empowerment at the local level and worldwide! Join GEAR, the global campaign to strengthen the Gender Equality Architecture at the UN! CAMPAIGN DEMANDS:
A stronger women_s organization that can deliver results on the ground:
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Support the High Level Panel_s recommendations to strengthen the gender equality architecture of the UN. Ensure that the new women_s organization has a country presence and a strong _operational_ mandate that builds on what is already in place. Ensure that the new women_s organization has the capacity to deliver with substantial and predictable resources, initially funded at a minimum level of $500 million to $1 billion USD with increases over time. Promote accountability within the new organization including meaningful involvement of non-governmental organizations, particularly women_s organizations, in its ongoing processes at national and global levels. Promote gender mainstreaming by the integration of gender equality and women_s human rights in the One UN Country Pilots and in all UN reform processes.
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Urge all Governments to:
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Move the GEA process forward as soon as possible. Don_t let it be held back by controversies over other aspects of UN reform. Support timely and effective implementation of these GEA proposals. Provide substantial resources through voluntary contributions for the new women_s organization.
Your phone calls, faxes and emails can make a real difference in what positions governments take in these negotiations. They need to hear our demands NOW and to understand why these concerns should be addressed at this time. Join in the call for a stronger women_s rights organization at the UN that has greater status, expanded field presence, and a higher level of funding. Join the GEAR Campaign. To read a more comprehensive discussion of women_s concerns about gender equality and gender mainstreaming in the UN and UN Reform, please see the submission to the Coherence Panel of July, 2006, signed by over 118 groups around the world, titled: _Gender Equality Architecture and UN Reforms_, available at the CWGL and WEDO websites: http://www.cwgl.rutgers.edu/globalcenter/policy/unadvocac
y/Statement11.09.06withsig.pdf and at ; http://www.wedo.org. Please note that only organizations and networks can join, not individuals! If your group joins, that means that you support the materials and calls for action that will be generated by the campaign, but groups can opt out of signing specific statements if they wish.
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Background Discussion of Panel Recommendations The High Level Panel on UN System-Wide Coherence recommended the consolidation of UNIFEM, DAW and OSAGI. Some governments have recommended that INSTRAW (the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women) also be included in this consolidation. We support the inclusion of INSTRAW in the new organization. The leader of the new entity, according to the Panel, should be an Under-Secretary General selected through an open and transparent process. It is also imperative that the person hired have proven expertise in gender equality issues. The Panel discussed their view of _ambitious funding,_ and an initial recommendation of $200 million was suggested as a minimum. The figure was omitted in the Panel_s final report to ensure that it would not be seen as the maximum sum needed, and to keep open the possibility of even greater funding. $200 million _ when measured in terms of actual staffing and budgets at the country level _ is too low to achieve the goals of GEA reform. It is imperative that all of these elements, including the dual mandate of normative and operational responsibilities, be part of the new structure. The main thrust of the Panel_s recommendations, based on input from women_s rights advocates around the world, was to enhance the structural capacity of the UN system to deliver better results for women_s equality at the country level. Any proposed change in the GEA that either fails to expand or constrains the field presence would be an unacceptable step backward. The Panel also recommended a restructuring of the UN system at the country level into _One UN_, which, among
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other things, streamlines UN offices/funds/programs and the delivery of development at the country level. There are now 8 countries _piloting_ this approach (Albania, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Pakistan, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uruguay, and Vietnam.). As these pilots move forward they must integrate and address gender equality and women_s experiences. However, there are many different perspectives on the _One UN_ approach, and the GEAR campaign is not taking a position either for or against it. Whatever structures are adopted, gender equality and women_s rights need to be more effectively addressed in every part of the UN system, and the campaign will advocate for this in general. Many campaign members are engaged in various UN reform efforts, including the Human Rights Council, Peace Building Commission, environmental governance and others to ensure that women_s rights and gender equality are better integrated into these bodies and processes. The UN reform process and the Panel_s recommendations are critical elements for the advancement of women_s human rights, gender equality and women_s empowerment in the international system. If pursued effectively, they would provide national, regional and international mechanisms, along with high level leadership and the necessary resources, that would enable governments and the UN system to make a greater difference in improving the lives of women.
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