Obot Valerie Okon is the 19th President of the Medical
Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN) and Akwa Ibom State Tuberculosis
and Leprosy Control officer. She spoke with AYOYINKA JEGEDE.
What’s Medical Women Association of Nigeria all about?
MWAN is an organisation made up of qualified female medical and dental doctors. It is registered with the medical and dental council of Nigeria. It was established in 1976 and is an affiliate of the Medical Women International Association of Nigeria, as well as the Nigerian Medical Association.
We currently have 27 state branches in the country and have carried out many activities. It is an umbrella, where qualified female medical and dental doctors in Nigeria meet.
What have been your achievements?
We have reached out to women by offering them free breast and cervical cancer screening after which those that have pathological disorders are referred for specialists care. We have also been part of sponsorship for women with cervical and breast cancer. We have been giving women a lot of information on their health, which we call ‘Women right to health information.’
We have been going to parastatals, ministries and schools. We have also been educating people on non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. We have done a lot of health services screening for diabetics, hypertension, sickle cells and HIV/AIDS.
We have gone to communities, villages, market places and prisons to offer health information or screening as the case may be, and also to support them.
What’s Reach-G all about?
During my investiture, I realised that as medical women, we have not done enough to reach out to girls. If you want to change the world, you have to invest in the girls and that’s why we coined a programme known as ‘Reach-G.’ It is about creating opportunities for empowerment and health in the girl-child. We try to advocate first to government for girl-friendly policies at work places, schools and girl friendly policies in terms of health services.
We also try to give girls comprehensive health information and services because they are very prone to teenage pregnancies, psychological disorder and depression. We try to offer them health services as well as creating a fund, with which we give indigent girls scholarships to any level.
We are also freeing violated women. Today in Nigeria, there are many girls that are victims of rape, sexual and domestic violence. We are offering girls violence help lines, where they can call us toll free and we look into their issues and refer them because we are collaborating with FEDAR to ensure that these girls are being protected. We are also trying to set up the Reach-G Centre, which is like a comprehensive unit that will carry health information and services for these girls with a scholarship, counseling and mentoring section. There will also be a unit, where girls can go for recreation as well as services.
Why are many women prone to ailments such as cancer, hypertension, diabetes, HIV/AIDS etc.?
Breast and cervical cancers are more common among women, though men too have breast cancer. There are a lot of risk factors attached to these two cancers. Because it is only women that have cervix, they are the ones prone to cervical cancer. As regards hypertension, I think women undergo too much stress. There are a lot of risk factors concerning breast cancer, which includes the fact that all women are at a risk of developing it. Also, if a woman has never breastfed, she is more at risk of developing breast cancer. If there is a family history of breast cancer, there is the tendency that the woman could follow the lineage and may be prone to breast cancer.
There is a particular category of people with genes that predispose them to what is called Boca 1 and Boca 2. Any woman having that genetic factor has the tendency to develop breast cancer. Obesity, smoking, alcohol, lack of exercise and high cholesterol are all factors that predispose women to breast cancer.
We screen women routinely for breast cancer in all the 27 state branches in the country and teach them how to check their breasts on their own. We also have a few mammogram machines and we are pleading with the government to provide us with more of them because that is the easiest, simplest and fastest way to detect whether a woman has breast cancer or not.
Cervical cancer also has some risk factors. For instance, if a woman is sexually active and has multiple partners, there is the tendency for her to develop cervical cancer. If after menopause, a woman still menstruates or begins to bleed, those are likely signs that she may have cervical cancer. This type of cancer mainly occurs among women who have many children or have multiple partners and are sexually active.
What are the causes of kidney disease among women?
It is the same cause for both men and women. It may be as a result of the fact that a lot of women use bleaching creams, which can damage the kidney leading to renal diseases. Also, women are more stressed up. They are multi-tasked; they take care of their husbands and children, cook, go to work and do other house chores. The more the individual is stressed and doesn’t create time to relax, the greater the tendency he/she will quickly develop hypertension. This is coupled with the fact that many women hardly go for routing checks.
When people have a headache, they take Panadol, but there is the possibility that they may be having blood pressure without going to the hospital for checkups.
What is your view regarding girl-child and teenage pregnancy?
Because abortion is not legalised in Nigeria, many girls patronise quacks. So, what we do is to give them health information. Once a person is empowered with knowledge, he/she is able to take definitive actions. We believe when they are so empowered, the tendency of them getting involved in sexual intercourse is reduced, as this ends in unwanted pregnancy.
We are also campaigning for education for the girl-child. An educated girl-child is more likely to stay in school and eventually get married with limited number of children she can take care of. Uneducated girl-child or one that dropped out on the other hand will go into early marriage without any skill.
We want to reach the girls with information and services. We want to screen them of HIV/AIDS and diabetes. With this, the girls that are SS will know they shouldn’t get married to another SS.
We are also trying to collaborate with groups to see how we can give skills to girls that dropped out of school, so they can become self-sufficient. We offer women skills thereby empowering them economically.
How’s your growing up like?
We were a family of seven— my father, mother and siblings. Growing up was very interesting for all of us. My father loved to travel and that was where I formed the habit of travelling because he used to take me along. My mum used to sew and she made most of my cloths while I was growing.
I came from a Christian family and grew up to know that we need to put God first in life. It was very interesting sitting, eating and gisting together. We grew up in a close-knit family.
What’s your style in terms of dressing?
I wear whatever is comfortable on me. I don’t like wearing dresses that reveal my sensitive parts. I particularly like wearing boubou.
What advice would you give to to women?
They should be determined, set goals for themselves and achieve them. They shouldn’t allow their sex to deter them. They can reach the top and become president and governors. Women can reach the top of their careers.
Every woman and girl should avail themselves of all health facilities available. Women should care for themselves by visiting nearby hospitals and doing complete medical check up. It is not advisable to wait until sickness comes.
With medical check up, you may detect anything early, which can be taken care of before it kills. Women don’t have reasons to die.
On prevention and controlling of tuberculosis and leprosy in Nigeria, cases of previously treated tuberculosis can be used to treat new ones. Women should ensure they avail their children of BCG immunisation at birth.
If you have anybody living or staying around you, who has been coughing for some time, take interest and ask him/her how long it has been on. Refer the person to the nearest heath facility for proper treatment and care. It is imperative that Nigerians live in well-ventilated buildings. They should open their windows and doors. Avoid overcrowding because that is what enables tuberculosis to spread very fast.
Concerning leprosy, if there is any patch on your skin, it may not be eczema. Go to the hospital and be examined. Do not patronise chemists or buy cream to rub on it because it could be leprosy. If leprosy is detected early enough, there is no need to end up in disabilities.
How do you relax?
Whenever I am stressed up and I want to relax, I put on my best music and my dancing shoes. I love dancing, and at the end of it, I have a shower and go to bed and just sleep like a baby.
Any regret in life?
The day I will never forget in life or my biggest regret in life was the day I lost my mother. I believe that as a medical doctor, one whose mother suffered so much to see through medical school, she should not have died because of a disease. I grew up after my mother’s death and have never forgiven myself. I felt she toiled enough to enjoy the benefits of the years she sowed into my life.
Unfortunately, she left me quite early, just when I was about to start taking care of her.
Your most interesting moment
That was when I had my third baby because for 10 years, I had been crying to God to give me a child. I had my first twins in quick succession and then I waited for 10 years without having a child. But all of a sudden and from nowhere, God answered my prayers and gave me my second son. That was the happiest moment in my life.
Why do women sometimes have delay in child bearing?
It involves a lot of issues because sometimes it has to do with hormonal delay. Delayed pregnancy could either be primary or secondary and there are a lot of factors that can cause it. These range from hormonal challenges to problems and abnormalities. It could be due to structural defects.
My advice is that if a woman experiences delay, she should visit the gynaecologist that will investigate and proffer proper solutions to the challenge.
How do you juggle being a professional, wife and mother?
It is not easy at all. Do I really have a ‘me’ time? I just want to say that I thank God for giving me an understanding husband and loving children. Then again, women naturally multi-task; so I guess it comes with being a woman that we just cope. A loving and understanding family to support you is the icing on the cake.