Month: June 2015

Elephantiasis

Posted on by Iaraf

Over the weekend a friend of mine shared an article on Elephantiasis and how it has affected 10% of the population in Kitwe (http://www.postzambia.com/news.php?id=8891.) It got me interested in how much people know about this disease and whether they know that it can be prevented. According to the World Health Organisation over 120 million people are infected, with about 40 million disfigured and incapacitated by the disease. That is a huge population to be affected by the this disease and even more concerning is that people are unaware of its dangers.

So what is Elephantiasis and how does one get the disease. Elephantiasis or Lymphatic filariasis is a disease that affects people in the tropics. This disease is transmitted to human beings from mosquitoes.  You can get more information on this disease here http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs102/en/

Mosquitoes are infected with microfilariae by ingesting blood when biting an infected host. Microfilariae mature into infective larvae within the mosquito. When infected mosquitoes bite people, mature parasite larvae are deposited on the skin from where they can enter the body. The larvae then migrate to the lymphatic vessels where they develop into adult worms, thus continuing a cycle of transmission.

Infection is usually acquired in childhood causing hidden damage to the lymphatic system and so one can have this for a long time without it showing. As such, the Zambian government is currently undertaking a massive administration exercise against elephantiasis to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to receive these drugs. These drugs will kill the worms in one’s body that could most likely cause the disease. Various districts are already undertaking this exercise. I would encourage you to visit your local government clinic to get more information and also obtain the drugs.

My Hair

Posted on by Iaraf

I have had my locs for just over 4 years now. I have found that it has worked for me in terms of management and its versatility. I love seeing them grow – they have become a part of me.

It’s great to see lots of young Zambian ladies embrace their natural hair and rock it well. It’s great to see the wonderful hair styles that they are developing and also how comfortable they are with the ‘nappy’ hair. The key is about being comfortable in your own whatever hairdo you may have.

Here’s a poem I wrote a long time ago about a woman’s hair.

I am not my hair so why should I have it covered

I am not my hair so why should I wear an instrument that is tailored

To ensure that my dignity has been respected

To ensure that my womanhood has been represented

I have come to realise that this hair is not what defines me

It is there to show the glory of God around me

It is from HIS utterance that I have been made fine

Accumulated with HIS revelation that I have received overtime

It comes from lessons learned when time was so unkind

And through this history my spirit has learnt to find

How the peace of God and His grace can abide

And now I endeavour to make the world realise and unwind

But some are still consumed by the absence of my veil

“COVER YOUR HAIR” they shout and yell

I look into their eyes and all I can afford is a smile

Because even though it has taken me a while

I have received my revelation in style

For it is by God that I receive my answer and from His Kingdom

He whispers it softly and He says “FREEDOM”

So whether I have dreads, curls, braids or a perm

I am still a woman rooted in God’s stem

He says I am worthy and He smiles over me

So you see, do not define God’s heir

By what she has in her hair

The Case of the Dodo Bird?!

Posted on by Iaraf

I am an avid fan of the Travel Channel and it usually has these “did you know” segments where they give some facts about different countries. I came across one on Mauritius and that the Dodo bird. This flightless bird was once in abundance but is now extinct and all we have left of it are its remains in British museums and Wikipedia that tell us of its existence.
Over the weekend I read an article on Mwebantu News Media Facebook page indicating that the ban of hunting lions and leopards had been lifted by the Minister of Tourism. I was taken aback by this statement because just two (2) years earlier then Minister of Tourism banned the hunting of these animals because their numbers were decreasing. (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/zambia/9793371/Zambia-bans-hunting-of-big-cats.html)

“The cats are gone, and no amount of convincing from any sector or group will convince me otherwise,”

I was very keen to hear whether the lifting of this ban means that the numbers had become too many and the hunting would help moderate the numbers but all I got from the statement was that this is a very profitable business and that the revenue that would be collected from this would be ‘beneficial to all Zambians’ (http://www.times.co.zm/?p=59137). I would like to know what are the current numbers and what measures have been put in place to ensure that the hunting would not endanger our Big Cats from being extinct like the Dodo bird. Have the lions and leopards managed to breed to such an extent that in two (2) years their numbers are so large that they can be hunted? Has this really been well thought?
Currently, there is a petition to stop the government from lifting the ban on social media and I have seen many foreigners have signed it. I also noted that some have even vowed not to visit Zambia because of the fact that we are now allowing our cats to be hunted so this leaves me to wonder who then will be hunting and how will this attract tourism if it is not being received positively. (http://www.zambiatourism.com/zawa-explains-hunting-ban-lift)
I personally feel this decision should be revisited by the government. It may be a lucrative venture according to them but what about being stewards of the creation that God has blessed us with. I don’t want my children to be reading about lions and leopards in Zambia from Wikipedia and not be able to physically see one because we failed to be good stewards of our wildlife. Or maybe we enjoy seeing Facebook posts from Melissa Bachman smiling next to her kill.
Here is a link to the petition.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/840/418/945/stop-government-who-is-lifting-ban-on-the-hunting-of-lions-and-leopards-in-zambias-game-parks/?taf_id=13797762&cid=fb_na#