Funmi a tall vibrant and charming young lady in her early thirties, who valued friendship and family: not a day went by without her celebrating her friends’ and family’s birthday on her WhatsApp status and Facebook.

One Monday morning as she prepared to head for her office, she noticed a blister around her genitals; it made her uncomfortable- as it was itchy, though she ignored and thought it was normal aftershave rashes she usually experiences- she recently shaved.

A few days later, she noticed more blisters, as the initial one had burst- leading to a painful and unbearable sore-which distorted her movement and made urinating painful as her urine irritates the sore. This time around she knew she had to see her doctor- she scheduled an appointment with him.

On meeting her doctor, Dr. Smith asked her several questions- she told him how she felt- he observed her, and requested for samples to be collected for laboratory investigation via a swab, and promised to follow-up on her via a phone call once her results are out- after arriving at his final diagnosis.

The next day, while lying down on her couch watching Ave and Praggya, her phone rang- it was Dr. Smith’s call- she quickly reduced the television volume to receive his call, and their conversation started.

So Funmi, from the lab results and my initial interview with you, we discovered you are having Herpes! Funmi was marveled and lost, the initial grin she had on her face disappeared instantly. What is Herpes? she responded. Herpes is an infection caused by a virus- the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), it affects sexually active people, and there are two major types: HSV1 and HSV2 he told her. HSV2- is what we are going to be managing, and it occurs mostly around the genitals, even the use of condoms doesn’t give adequate protection in preventing it. Whereas, HSV1 occurs around the face and causes blisters around the corner of the mouth – leading to what we call cold sores.

This is strange oh! Where must I have gotten this from? Funmi it’s difficult to know but no need for suspicion- some people have herpes and they never experience signs and symptoms, however, they can spread it to others. Others contract HSV1 from their mothers during the process of childbirth as they passed through her birth canal. Information I feel is important for you to also know is this: you can’t get herpes from toilet seats, bedding, swimming pools, or from touching surrounding objects.

Wait a minute! she took a deep breath, and exhaled before asking- Dr. Smith can it be cured? What can I do to prevent others from getting it? Will it affect pregnancy?

At this point you need to calm down, as herpes is not a big issue as portrayed on the internet- so I will advise you only read about it on professional websites- it will be good if you don’t even search on it, as I will provide you with all the information you need. So back to your questions, unfortunately, herpes can’t be cured, but it can be managed using antiviral medications: this helps prevent transmitting it to your partner or baby when you are pregnant- shortens the duration and reduce the severity of the first herpes episode. Ordinarily, I’ll advise you to avoid having sex when you are experiencing an outbreak (you see blisters, painful ulcers, fever, itching, body aches e.t.c).

As for your last question in the sequence, I will need to talk to you in a face-to-face meeting, for now, take care, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

For now, Herpes Simplex Virus doesn’t have a vaccine, but we believe we can help more people prevent and manage herpes by empowering them with the right information, feel free to contact Inocul8 on WhatsApp 08160962414 or follow us on Instagram @inocul8.

My family has been in and out of the hospital more often than we should have been in the past few weeks if I had just gone in earlier.

Baby and Mama began to develop symptoms two days after I visited. At the hospital, the doctor felt the cases were linked. Talk about imperfect timing, my fever started the day after. 

When I found out I was the probable source of the strep bacteria they caught during my visit to the family house, Baby had just been diagnosed with acute otitis media and Mama with severe pneumonia. I was distraught. My diagnosis of community acquired pneumonia came with a striking finality of being sick and being responsible for my mother’s and child’s illness. 

I had totally dismissed my developing cough. How was I to know that there could have possibly been some other thing that was wrong? My Covid tests had come back negative twice in two weeks, I thought. I had not had it at all either and we had been in “isolation” at the office complex that housed us while we worked. It was easy to wave-off for me, being a young person, but their age and Mama’s diabetes made them even more vulnerable.

Looking back, I can only just blame myself. Maybe my office too, because when last did they clean those AC vents? I had been feeling relatively well but for the cough here and there.

I can go on and on looking for excuses, but in all truth I know I could have done better. The local pharmacy had even tried to make me purchase the pneumococcal vaccine in the past, and there I was thinking it was just another marketing gimmick for one of their overpriced products.

While I stay mourning the other choices I could have made to avert all this, including going to the hospital earlier or getting everyone vaccinated, I continue to ponder on the last words from the doctor; “Since you cannot change the past, it’s okay to do something now to protect the future”. 

For enquiries on how to get vaccinated against pneumonia at your comfort contact Inocul8 on 08160962414.

Six weeks after giving birth – Mama Kemi took her baby for her 6-week vaccination – visiting the primary healthcare in her neighborhood. She was welcomed with a smile by a dapper elderly Matron at the health facility.  Good morning mothers you all should have your sit – she went on to group the mothers based on the vaccination they came for; mothers for 6 weeks vaccination sat on her right-hand side, and mothers for 10 weeks and above vaccination sat on the other side.

First, I will be addressing mothers who came for 6 weeks vaccination; thanks for coming today, you’ve made a sacrifice to preserve the health of your baby, by ensuring they are protected from infectious diseases. If you were not consumed by the joy of your baby’s birth; you should recall within 12 hours after delivery, three vaccines were administered to your baby: Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG), Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), and Hepatitis B vaccine.

The BCG vaccine helps your baby prevent tuberculosis a life-threatening disease – affects the lungs, and makes them cough non-stop: she demonstrated by coughing continuously into her pam – the atmosphere was filled with laughter like the health facility hall became a night of a thousand laugh comedy show.

The second vaccine baby receive na Oral polio vaccine, she switched to pidgin English: to accommodate mothers not highly educated – this one dey help pikin prevent polio infection wey they paralyze pikin: you go don see people wey polio affect their legs, he go prevent the leg from developing, so tay pikin no go ever fit waka. The mothers were all moved emotionally and suddenly the atmosphere became calm; they must have been able to recollect the picture of a person seated on a wheelchair seeking for alms someplace, sometime in their community.

The last vaccine baby received was hepatitis B vaccine, that vaccine one helps prevent hepatitis B infection – It affects the liver, and causes liver problems: liver injury (cirrhosis) and liver cancer.

Hope everyone has learned something? If you have questions ask or forever remain silent, she jokingly exclaimed! So back to today’s vaccination.

To learn more about other childhood vaccines contact Inocul8 on 08160962414.

Despite diarrhea killing about 72,000 children under the age of 5 in Nigeria and 525,000 globally. Most mothers still don’t know there are easy ways to prevent diarrhea and that is what we intend to show you.

#1 Good handwashing practices are not negotiable. Caregivers and everyone in a household that lives with your little infant including the maid you hired should practice handwashing with soap regularly. Ensure you have a handwashing place in your house. Most diarrhea-causing microorganisms are transmitted from the hands and then to your baby’s mouth.

#2 Don’t let visitors carry your child without washing their hands or making use of a hand sanitizer (at least), refusing is not an act of embarrassment, it’s necessary for your baby’s health. For goodness’ sake you only know what you have done with your hands, you can’t speak for the other party. Imagine a visitor just shook hands with someone who just used the toilet and then meets you and out of excitement stretches the same hands to carry your little angel, better imagined than experienced.

#3 Ensure your floors are always clean and disinfected regularly. Most mothers think that teething causes diarrhea, but that’s not true! It is the micro-organisms such as (rotavirus, norovirus, small round structured virus, Giardia amongst others) that your baby picks from your floor and puts in his or her mouth during their teething phase as they try to relieve themselves of the discomfort caused by the growing tooth that causes diarrhea or loose stool.

#4 It is important to ask if it is part of a Creche requirement that children accepted are children that are being vaccinated, if not your baby stands the risk of contracting diseases in daycare centers where infection prevention and control measures aren’t prioritized.

#5 Practice exclusive breastfeeding this will help your baby, as it will reduce his or her exposure to contaminated food and water, and also strengthen his or her immune system.

#6 Dispose of human waste properly. Poorly disposed human wastes will one way or the other cause harm to us or others in our environment. This includes how you dispose of your baby’s used diapers.

#7 Vaccinate your baby against Rotavirus infection. Chances are high at 6 weeks and 10 weeks you did not vaccinate your baby against rotavirus, and you will justify that by saying ”I wasn’t told at the health facility,” clap for yourself! Most acute diarrhea cases in under 5 children are caused by rotavirus, and some can be so severe and life-threatening.

The first dose of the oral rotavirus vaccine should be given at 6 weeks or before your infant turns 14 weeks 6 days old. The second dose of the vaccine should be given at least 4 weeks after the first dose but before your baby clocks 8 months old. There are two brands of the vaccine in Nigeria; Rotarix (Your baby requires 2 doses) and Rotasil (Your baby requires 3 doses), always ask the type of rotavirus vaccine your child received as though rotavirus vaccine has been shown to protect against the most common strains of rotavirus (G1 and G3) the benefits of the vaccine are dependent on the type of vaccine used, with rhesus and human rotavirus the most efficacious.

For more information on how to access Rotavirus vaccine at a more affordable and faire price from CBPI Foundation feel free to reach us on 08160962414 (Call/WhatsApp).