Monday, March 10, 2014
FGM /C THE HIDDEN FACTS
By Clementine Osodo
So far there is
n o m e d i c a l
explanation or
reason as to why
FGM/C should be practiced
but the following are the
reasons given by the various
communities practicing it in
Kenya.
Gendering
Some communities in Kenya
believe that by mutilating
the genitals, they remove the
maleness in a woman. They
believe that the organ grows
to match the size of the male
organ thus it may challenge the
male organ during intercourse.
Those who have not undergone
the practice are considered
abnormal women and are not
accorded the respect given to
real women.
Rite of Passage /
Initiation
S e v e r a l K e n y a n
communities like Meru, Embu,
Maasai, Kalenjin consider
FGM/C a rite of passage
through which important
cultural values and adult
expectations are transmitted
to the youth. Women and girls
who are not cut are often
ridiculed, discriminated, called
names, made to feel ashamed
of themselves and addressed
as children.
Ensure Marriageabilty
The Samburu support
cutting because it makes their
daughters marriageable and
also attracts high bride price. To
the Maasai however, marriage
is considered a very important
factor to a girl’s life because
it gives her a home and it is
important for the continuation
of the family tree.
Maasai men feel honoured
to marry circumcised girls and
any man who campaigns against
the same practice can not be
elected as a leader. Women
in the same communities also
believe that marriage is not
complete unless a mother
cuts her daughter preparing
her for marriage. In other
communities such as Kisii
and Kuria, uncut girls are
considered as children and are
called names eg “Egesagane”
in Kisii and “Kunene” in Kuria.
These are derogatory terms
that make it diffi cult for them
to get married.
Family Honour
The Somali believe that a
family that fails to circumcise
its daughters risks losing
respect and its members may be
ostracized and made outcasts.
This is because of the great
importance and value that
they attach to virginity and
marriage.
The virginity of a bride,
usually ascertained by the
narrowness of the vagina after
infubilation attracts a very high
bride price. Women who do not
circumcise their daughters are
seen as irresponsible, immoral
and imitators of the western
culture. This is common also
among the Meru, Kalenjin and
Abagusii.
Controlling Sexuality
Many ethnic groups believe
that cutting and stitching a girl’s
genital organ suppresses her
sexual desires. This keeps her
from having sex for pleasure
before, outside and during
marriage. The Kisii believe
that a woman will not have
pre- marital and extra- marital
sexual affairs because she will
not have a strong drive for the
same.
Women who are uncut are
believed to have a very strong
sexual desire and are easily
aroused a situation which is
culturally unacceptable. In
some communities such as the
Somali, re-infubilation is done
after birth, divorce or before
remarrying to enhance the
husband’s sexual pleasure.
According to most elders,
the practice is done to reduce
the libido of the girls and to
enforce the cultural values of
sexual purity and virginity until
marriage.
Religious
Requirement
The Somali, Borana, Orma,
Wardey and Boni practice
FGM/C because they believe
it is a religious requirement.
They believe that it constitutes
a religious practice. This is
where the prepuce covering
the clitoris is removed to make
the prayers of that person to
be accepted. The clitoris is
considered not pure in the
sense of religious purity and
cleanliness thus it must be
removed.
Cultural and Ethnic
Identity
Most ethnic groups that
practice FGM/C in Kenya
consider it a deeply rooted
cultural practice. Many women
do it to their daughters because
their parents did it to them and
they feel their daughters have
to undergo the same and pass
where they passed.
The following are the
consequences women who
have undergone FGM/C
have to face. They may be
psychological, physical, sexual
or health consequences.
Kidney failure
Due to total stitching in
some girls, the passage of
urine is limited and this affects
the operations of the kidney
making it to develop a disease
or damage.
Fistula
This is a situation where there
is continuous leakage of urine.
It develops due to obstruction,
straining and prolonged labour.
Multiple Keloids
Girls may develop Keloids
(growth) around the vulva as a
result of poor and unhygienic
mutilation.
Haemorrhage and
Infection
Because most of the people
who do the mutilation are not
health practitioners, they don’t
know ways to control bleeding
and some of the herbs they use
may develop infections. Some of
the girls who are cut may bleed
to death or develop infections.
HIV and AIDS
Some of the midwives who
mutilate insist on using one
knife on all the girls as a way
to fulfi l the requirements of the
rite of passage. This may in turn
lead to the passage of the HIV
virus through transfer of fresh
blood from one girl to another.
Birth Consequences
Most women who have been
cut undergo caesarian section
delivery, they lose 70% more
blood compared to those who are
not cut, their babies are always
resuscitated, there is a high
possibility of baby death during
birth due to the strain to pass
through the narrow vagina.
Prolapse of Uterus
This is a situation where the
uterus hangs out of the vulva,
it comes about due to the strain
exerted on it during delivery.
Men have been called upon
to be in the frontline to oppose
FGM/C since just about all
reasons given for the practice
is to allegedly please or favour
them.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
THE KENYAN BIOFUEL PROJECT: BLESSING OR CURSE.
By Clementine Osodo.
Residents in Kenya's Coastal Dakatcha Woodlands are now opposing the creation of a large biofuel plantation in the area. The plantation is about an hour's drive inland from Malindi town.
The residents now vow that they are not going to let their land go even if it means shedding blood. They say they get their livelihood from the land since they farm on it and consequently they bury their dead kinsmen on the land hence affirming that it is very important to them. The land in question is an arid area and home to some 20,000 people. It is a community land being held in trust by the local council.
The Opposition came about as a result of an Italian company Kenya Jatropha Energy Ltd, asking the authorities for permission to lease 50,000 hectares at the Dakatcha woodlands to grow jatropha, a plant whose seeds are rich in oil which is turned into bio-diesel.
The plant which originated from South America is poisonous to animals and has long been planted in Africa as a hedge fence to keep the animals especially goats away.
Residents of Dakatcha woodlands say they have been told to move because jatropha is to be planted on the land. They however cry foul that there had been no offer of compensation for leaving their homes.
Kenya Jatropha Energy Ltd on the other hand says that the negotiations are over and the government has given a green light for a pilot project which is to start with ten thousand hectares adding that all they are waiting for is the final documentation. The company says thousands of job opportunities will be created denying anyone will be displaced by the project.
On the other hand the Kenyan government's environment watchdog says the deal is not yet sealed. The initial 50,000-hectare request was turned down citing concerns over the impact of the plantation on the environment and the sustainability of the project. Benjamin Malwa Langwen, of the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) said that they were recommending one thousand hectares and have instructed Kenya Jatropha Energy Ltd to justify if the number has to change citing that as the reason to why they have not approved the project.
There are fresh calls for the Dakatcha project to be done away with since new research is on crossroads whether jatropha is really a greener alternative to oil or not.
The anti-poverty campaign group ActionAid and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) commissioned a report for investigatigations to be done and find out just how green the jatropha project in the Kenya's Dakatcha woodlands would be. The, a consultancy firm found out that jatropha emits between two and a half and six times more greenhouse gases compared to fossil fuels. This is partly as a result of large amounts of carbon being stored in the woodlands' vegetation and soil. The plantation would hence mean clearing the land of this vegetation.
It has also been noted that the proposed biofuel plantation will devastate the woodlands, driving the globally threatened Clarke's Weaver bird to extinction and depriving thousands of local people of their livelihoods
Kenya Jatropha Energy Ltd which is fully owned by the Milan-based Nuove Iniziative Industriali SRL has leased almost a million hectares in Africa with other subordinate companies having leased land for the same purpose in Senegal, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Ghana. Jatropha oil from a plantation in Senegal is already in supply to the Swedish furniture retailer known as Ikea.
Clear concerns are being raised on the ground that once the lease is finally signed then the twenty thousand residents of Dakatcha will be at the mercy of Kenya Jatropha Energy Ltd.
IKEA however asserts that it will not source jatropha oil from Kenya until it is sure that the project will not contribute to the conversion of natural habitats. IKEA added in its statement that the switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy must never be at the expense of people or the environment.
Residents in Kenya's Coastal Dakatcha Woodlands are now opposing the creation of a large biofuel plantation in the area. The plantation is about an hour's drive inland from Malindi town.
The residents now vow that they are not going to let their land go even if it means shedding blood. They say they get their livelihood from the land since they farm on it and consequently they bury their dead kinsmen on the land hence affirming that it is very important to them. The land in question is an arid area and home to some 20,000 people. It is a community land being held in trust by the local council.
The Opposition came about as a result of an Italian company Kenya Jatropha Energy Ltd, asking the authorities for permission to lease 50,000 hectares at the Dakatcha woodlands to grow jatropha, a plant whose seeds are rich in oil which is turned into bio-diesel.
The plant which originated from South America is poisonous to animals and has long been planted in Africa as a hedge fence to keep the animals especially goats away.
Residents of Dakatcha woodlands say they have been told to move because jatropha is to be planted on the land. They however cry foul that there had been no offer of compensation for leaving their homes.
Kenya Jatropha Energy Ltd on the other hand says that the negotiations are over and the government has given a green light for a pilot project which is to start with ten thousand hectares adding that all they are waiting for is the final documentation. The company says thousands of job opportunities will be created denying anyone will be displaced by the project.
On the other hand the Kenyan government's environment watchdog says the deal is not yet sealed. The initial 50,000-hectare request was turned down citing concerns over the impact of the plantation on the environment and the sustainability of the project. Benjamin Malwa Langwen, of the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) said that they were recommending one thousand hectares and have instructed Kenya Jatropha Energy Ltd to justify if the number has to change citing that as the reason to why they have not approved the project.
There are fresh calls for the Dakatcha project to be done away with since new research is on crossroads whether jatropha is really a greener alternative to oil or not.
The anti-poverty campaign group ActionAid and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) commissioned a report for investigatigations to be done and find out just how green the jatropha project in the Kenya's Dakatcha woodlands would be. The, a consultancy firm found out that jatropha emits between two and a half and six times more greenhouse gases compared to fossil fuels. This is partly as a result of large amounts of carbon being stored in the woodlands' vegetation and soil. The plantation would hence mean clearing the land of this vegetation.
It has also been noted that the proposed biofuel plantation will devastate the woodlands, driving the globally threatened Clarke's Weaver bird to extinction and depriving thousands of local people of their livelihoods
Kenya Jatropha Energy Ltd which is fully owned by the Milan-based Nuove Iniziative Industriali SRL has leased almost a million hectares in Africa with other subordinate companies having leased land for the same purpose in Senegal, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Ghana. Jatropha oil from a plantation in Senegal is already in supply to the Swedish furniture retailer known as Ikea.
Clear concerns are being raised on the ground that once the lease is finally signed then the twenty thousand residents of Dakatcha will be at the mercy of Kenya Jatropha Energy Ltd.
IKEA however asserts that it will not source jatropha oil from Kenya until it is sure that the project will not contribute to the conversion of natural habitats. IKEA added in its statement that the switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy must never be at the expense of people or the environment.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
PROLONGED PENILE ERECTION - A SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITION.
PROLONGED PENILE ERECTION - A SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITION.
By Clementine Osodo
Beats the logic how some communities in Africa have ignorantly associated Prolonged penile erection with witchcraft resulting to severe repercussions to the ailing patients.
Not long ago we witnessed the same in the Kenyan County of Kisii when a man suffered from this condition for over a week and instead of seeking proper medical help he was taken to herbalists and traditional healers with claims that he had been bewitched.
Prolonged penile erection unrelated to physical or mental stimulation for more than four hours is a medical condition known as Priapism. The name was derived from the Greek and Roman god Priapus, a minor fertility deity most renowned for his enormous, continuously erect penis.
This condition can affect males at any age and is classified into Ischemic Priapism and Non Ischemic Priapism.
Ischemic Priapism which is also known as “low flow” or “veno-occlusive” priapism is the situation where there is no blood flow into the erectile tissue of the penis. In this case there is obstruction in the outflow of blood from corpora cavernosa which is the paired erectile bodies located on the topside of the penis. Because blood is trapped within the corpora cavernosa, Pressure builds up to a point at which no fresh arterial blood can enter the erectile tissues making the corpora cavernosa a dead space with no blood flow.
The shaft of the penis is very hard during ischemic priapism, although the head scientifically known as glans may not be swollen. This occurs because corpus spongiosum the erectile tissue in the head of the penis located on the underside of the penis and contains the water channel scientifically known as urethra is separate from the erectile tissue of the corpora cavernosa.
Ischemic priapism is a medical emergency and can occur for a variety of reasons though the end result is that fresh blood carrying oxygen is not able to enter the corpora cavernosa and waste products from cell activity cannot be cleared from the penis. It may also occur because of either obstruction of blood flow out of the penis through penile veins or because of failure of the smooth muscle within the spongy erectile tissue of the penis to contract normally.
The penis is able to tolerate short periods of diminished blood flow during normal penile erection but after several hours of continuous erection, cells within the penis are unable to carry on their vital functions due to lack of fresh blood supply.
Cells that cannot carry on vital functions will be damaged and may even die. As this damage accumulates, a man with ischemic priapism will have increasing pain and will run the risk of severe and permanent injury to his penis. In some cases, this injury is significant enough to lead to erectile dysfunction a condition in which a man has difficulty attaining or maintaining an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual intercourse.
Non-ischemic Priapism on the other hand is also known as “high flow” priapism because blood continually flows into the penis. It is a rarer condition in which there is excessive flow of blood into the corpora cavernosa due to rupture of a small artery inside the erectile tissues. This rupture is most commonly the result of blunt injury to the groin, pelvis, or crotch. In non-ischemic priapism, the penis is enlarged and firm compared to its baseline flaccid state, but it is usually not as rigid as it would be with normal sexual arousal. Although tissue damage may be present from the original injury, pain is typically not present. Unlike Ischemic priapism, non-ischemic priapism is typically not an emergency but prompt diagnosis and treatment would be beneficial
Erections that last four hours or longer are a serious matter. Ischemic priapism being an emergency, demands prompt medical evaluation to minimize the risk of long term loss of erectile function. Non-ischemic priapism on the other hand may be managed conservatively although treatment options are available for men who desire resolution of the problem
Though embarrassment keeps some men from seeking prompt medical consultation, a man who has an erection that has lasted more than four hours should seek immediate medical attention even if he is not yet experiencing pain. Even if four hours have not passed a man should consider seeking medical attention if he has an erection that is painful and persistent despite lack of sexual arousal.
Save men from foreseen erectile dysfunction.
By Clementine Osodo
Beats the logic how some communities in Africa have ignorantly associated Prolonged penile erection with witchcraft resulting to severe repercussions to the ailing patients.
Not long ago we witnessed the same in the Kenyan County of Kisii when a man suffered from this condition for over a week and instead of seeking proper medical help he was taken to herbalists and traditional healers with claims that he had been bewitched.
Prolonged penile erection unrelated to physical or mental stimulation for more than four hours is a medical condition known as Priapism. The name was derived from the Greek and Roman god Priapus, a minor fertility deity most renowned for his enormous, continuously erect penis.
This condition can affect males at any age and is classified into Ischemic Priapism and Non Ischemic Priapism.
Ischemic Priapism which is also known as “low flow” or “veno-occlusive” priapism is the situation where there is no blood flow into the erectile tissue of the penis. In this case there is obstruction in the outflow of blood from corpora cavernosa which is the paired erectile bodies located on the topside of the penis. Because blood is trapped within the corpora cavernosa, Pressure builds up to a point at which no fresh arterial blood can enter the erectile tissues making the corpora cavernosa a dead space with no blood flow.
The shaft of the penis is very hard during ischemic priapism, although the head scientifically known as glans may not be swollen. This occurs because corpus spongiosum the erectile tissue in the head of the penis located on the underside of the penis and contains the water channel scientifically known as urethra is separate from the erectile tissue of the corpora cavernosa.
Ischemic priapism is a medical emergency and can occur for a variety of reasons though the end result is that fresh blood carrying oxygen is not able to enter the corpora cavernosa and waste products from cell activity cannot be cleared from the penis. It may also occur because of either obstruction of blood flow out of the penis through penile veins or because of failure of the smooth muscle within the spongy erectile tissue of the penis to contract normally.
The penis is able to tolerate short periods of diminished blood flow during normal penile erection but after several hours of continuous erection, cells within the penis are unable to carry on their vital functions due to lack of fresh blood supply.
Cells that cannot carry on vital functions will be damaged and may even die. As this damage accumulates, a man with ischemic priapism will have increasing pain and will run the risk of severe and permanent injury to his penis. In some cases, this injury is significant enough to lead to erectile dysfunction a condition in which a man has difficulty attaining or maintaining an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual intercourse.
Non-ischemic Priapism on the other hand is also known as “high flow” priapism because blood continually flows into the penis. It is a rarer condition in which there is excessive flow of blood into the corpora cavernosa due to rupture of a small artery inside the erectile tissues. This rupture is most commonly the result of blunt injury to the groin, pelvis, or crotch. In non-ischemic priapism, the penis is enlarged and firm compared to its baseline flaccid state, but it is usually not as rigid as it would be with normal sexual arousal. Although tissue damage may be present from the original injury, pain is typically not present. Unlike Ischemic priapism, non-ischemic priapism is typically not an emergency but prompt diagnosis and treatment would be beneficial
Erections that last four hours or longer are a serious matter. Ischemic priapism being an emergency, demands prompt medical evaluation to minimize the risk of long term loss of erectile function. Non-ischemic priapism on the other hand may be managed conservatively although treatment options are available for men who desire resolution of the problem
Though embarrassment keeps some men from seeking prompt medical consultation, a man who has an erection that has lasted more than four hours should seek immediate medical attention even if he is not yet experiencing pain. Even if four hours have not passed a man should consider seeking medical attention if he has an erection that is painful and persistent despite lack of sexual arousal.
Save men from foreseen erectile dysfunction.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
KENYA’S STEP AHEAD IN HIV PREVENTION AND CONTRACEPTION
KENYA’S STEP AHEAD IN HIV PREVENTION AND CONTRACEPTION
BY CLEMENTINE OSODO.
Many African countries lack a safe and convenient method for women to have the upper hand on prevention of unwanted pregnancies and infection of HIV and STI’s. The high incidences of these infections are as a result of heterosexual intercourse and the infections spread more readily from men to women than vice versa. Women often have little or no power to negotiate the use of condoms with their partners and are unable to protect themselves from nonconsensual coercive sex. There is a desperate need for provision and availability of new, easy to use, safe and affordable methods of protection which allow women to take the necessary precautions without having to negotiate with their partners.
It is in this regard that a local reproductive health Scientist Dr. Peter Gichuhi Mwethera, head of the reproductive health and Biology department in the Primate Research institute (PRI) was motivated to come up with a vaginal lubricating gel which is being developed as a microbicidal contraceptive preventing pregnancy, infection of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases.
The Gel under the trademark name UniPron was granted Patent No. KE 218 from KIPI and is still under experimentation having succeeded on Baboons. It is clear fluffy, acidic, non detergent and also heavily buffered with carbomer (carboxyvinyl polymers of high molecular weights) as the agent and has a PH of 3.4. The Gel is very stable at both room temperature approximately 22 oC , body temperature and has a shelf life of at least twenty four months. UniPron’s mechanism of action is to lower the vaginal PH from 5.0 to 3.4 immediately after administration and maintaining the acidity for about three hours after which the PH returns to the normal range without causing any detectable irritation on the vaginal epithelium. It has the ability to preserve an acidic vaginal microenvironment due to its highly buffered PH of 3.4 hence a vaginal defense enhancer. It will soon be undergoing the human clinical test before the end of 2010 or early 2011 at The Aga Khan Hospital.
This initiative was funded by the Government of Kenya through the Ministry of State for National Heritage and culture. It was awarded a two year grant totaling to US$ 214,000 to develop a Microbicide and Spermicide from 2006 to 2009, another two year Grant of US$ 266,000 to continue the development of a microbicidal contraceptive from 2009 to 2011 and last a Grant of US$ 1,066,600 to develop, promote and market two medical products under trademark names SMUGEL and SMUSCAN through a PPP approach (2010).
SMUGEL and SMUSCAN are two other research products under Dr. Mwethera’s initiative which have been commercialized and are now in the market.
SMUGEL is a human lubricating gel specially made for women to address vaginal dryness at personal level caused by menopause, use of some contraceptives, use of anti cancer drugs, use of some antibiotics and emotional reasons. It is also used at medical level for vaginal examinations, delivery in hospitals, and lubrication of theatre equipment.
SMUGEL is water based, innert and sterile hence safe for use with condoms since it does not react with rubber. Unlike oil based lubricants, it also does not react with the epithelial region of the Vagina interfering with the good bacteria of the Vagina known as lactobacilli which maintain the acidity of the vaginal region. Consequently SMUGEL is safe compared to the oil based lubricants which may lead to lesions in the vaginal region and also interfere with baby’s skin during delivery.
SMUSCAN on the other hand is a scanning gel used for ultrasound procedures in hospitals. It helps improve maternal healthcare because it aids in discoveries of medical defaults hence prevention of complications at childbirth.
Both gels are locally made, very affordable and have a positive impact on the economy. They are available on chemist shelves and some hospitals. Donations of five hundred tubes of SMUGEL and five hundred tubes of SMUSCAN have been sent to some provincial hospitals.
Dr. Mwethera strongly believes that Africa and Kenya to be precise can not develop Let alone industrialize without investing in science and technology as drivers of any serious economy. Together with other stakeholders they have converted research knowledge into affordable medical products to improve reproductive health and maternal health.
The stakeholders include the Primate Research institute (PRI) a Biomedical research institution whose mandate is to improve human health by ethically utilizing non human primates (monkeys) and a private pharmaceutical company known as Universal Corporation Limited (UCL). UCL is a local company that manufactures over two hundred medical products in sixteen African countries and whose headquarters are in Kenya. 30% of the company is under Finfund, a Finish Government Investment Company.
Dr. Mwethera also pointed out that the biggest challenge faced is the failure of researchers to partner with the private industry since such partnerships can result in the production of quality medical products that are cheap therefore increasing accessibility and improving the economy in a great way.
All the views expressed by Dr. Mwethera are his personal views and not from the Institute of Primate Research.
Writer can be contacted through email: clementinejunior@yahoo.com or cosodo@gmail.com
BY CLEMENTINE OSODO.
Many African countries lack a safe and convenient method for women to have the upper hand on prevention of unwanted pregnancies and infection of HIV and STI’s. The high incidences of these infections are as a result of heterosexual intercourse and the infections spread more readily from men to women than vice versa. Women often have little or no power to negotiate the use of condoms with their partners and are unable to protect themselves from nonconsensual coercive sex. There is a desperate need for provision and availability of new, easy to use, safe and affordable methods of protection which allow women to take the necessary precautions without having to negotiate with their partners.
It is in this regard that a local reproductive health Scientist Dr. Peter Gichuhi Mwethera, head of the reproductive health and Biology department in the Primate Research institute (PRI) was motivated to come up with a vaginal lubricating gel which is being developed as a microbicidal contraceptive preventing pregnancy, infection of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases.
The Gel under the trademark name UniPron was granted Patent No. KE 218 from KIPI and is still under experimentation having succeeded on Baboons. It is clear fluffy, acidic, non detergent and also heavily buffered with carbomer (carboxyvinyl polymers of high molecular weights) as the agent and has a PH of 3.4. The Gel is very stable at both room temperature approximately 22 oC , body temperature and has a shelf life of at least twenty four months. UniPron’s mechanism of action is to lower the vaginal PH from 5.0 to 3.4 immediately after administration and maintaining the acidity for about three hours after which the PH returns to the normal range without causing any detectable irritation on the vaginal epithelium. It has the ability to preserve an acidic vaginal microenvironment due to its highly buffered PH of 3.4 hence a vaginal defense enhancer. It will soon be undergoing the human clinical test before the end of 2010 or early 2011 at The Aga Khan Hospital.
This initiative was funded by the Government of Kenya through the Ministry of State for National Heritage and culture. It was awarded a two year grant totaling to US$ 214,000 to develop a Microbicide and Spermicide from 2006 to 2009, another two year Grant of US$ 266,000 to continue the development of a microbicidal contraceptive from 2009 to 2011 and last a Grant of US$ 1,066,600 to develop, promote and market two medical products under trademark names SMUGEL and SMUSCAN through a PPP approach (2010).
SMUGEL and SMUSCAN are two other research products under Dr. Mwethera’s initiative which have been commercialized and are now in the market.
SMUGEL is a human lubricating gel specially made for women to address vaginal dryness at personal level caused by menopause, use of some contraceptives, use of anti cancer drugs, use of some antibiotics and emotional reasons. It is also used at medical level for vaginal examinations, delivery in hospitals, and lubrication of theatre equipment.
SMUGEL is water based, innert and sterile hence safe for use with condoms since it does not react with rubber. Unlike oil based lubricants, it also does not react with the epithelial region of the Vagina interfering with the good bacteria of the Vagina known as lactobacilli which maintain the acidity of the vaginal region. Consequently SMUGEL is safe compared to the oil based lubricants which may lead to lesions in the vaginal region and also interfere with baby’s skin during delivery.
SMUSCAN on the other hand is a scanning gel used for ultrasound procedures in hospitals. It helps improve maternal healthcare because it aids in discoveries of medical defaults hence prevention of complications at childbirth.
Both gels are locally made, very affordable and have a positive impact on the economy. They are available on chemist shelves and some hospitals. Donations of five hundred tubes of SMUGEL and five hundred tubes of SMUSCAN have been sent to some provincial hospitals.
Dr. Mwethera strongly believes that Africa and Kenya to be precise can not develop Let alone industrialize without investing in science and technology as drivers of any serious economy. Together with other stakeholders they have converted research knowledge into affordable medical products to improve reproductive health and maternal health.
The stakeholders include the Primate Research institute (PRI) a Biomedical research institution whose mandate is to improve human health by ethically utilizing non human primates (monkeys) and a private pharmaceutical company known as Universal Corporation Limited (UCL). UCL is a local company that manufactures over two hundred medical products in sixteen African countries and whose headquarters are in Kenya. 30% of the company is under Finfund, a Finish Government Investment Company.
Dr. Mwethera also pointed out that the biggest challenge faced is the failure of researchers to partner with the private industry since such partnerships can result in the production of quality medical products that are cheap therefore increasing accessibility and improving the economy in a great way.
All the views expressed by Dr. Mwethera are his personal views and not from the Institute of Primate Research.
Writer can be contacted through email: clementinejunior@yahoo.com or cosodo@gmail.com
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