You will agree that people find it difficult to express their opinion in public, sell or convince others to get a product, and pitch their ideas to investors.
If you struggle with this, worry no more.
Mediahooch, in collaboration with Epic Digital Academy and Northpad Nigeria, organized 4 weeks of physical public speaking training in Zaria to encourage the participants to be more outspoken, tackle stage fright and share their thoughts with others.
How It Happened
The public speaking event took off at exactly 2:30 pm on the 5th of November 2022 at Mediahooch in Zaria with an opening speech by the founder of Mediahooch Spaces, Ila Bappa Ibrahim. He welcomed everyone who signed up for the training and also shared what the course was all about. He also shared his experience and how timid he was before he became so confident.
The founder of Epic Digital Academy, Dr A.S Abdulrasheed, a public speaker, YouTuber and content creator, spoke next. He made the participants understand that public speaking is very important no matter the sector they find themselves in.
He provided great tips and hacks on how to perfect speaking on stageand also laid emphasis on the importance of being conscious on the stage as it affects one’s whole posture and behaviour on the stage.
Afterwards, each participant was asked to come on stage to share a story they felt comfortable letting the audience know in 3 minutes.
Abdullahi Mukhtar, a graphic designer, told the audience about how he landed his job at Mediahooch and how it impacted his life. He shared how he got to network and learned many skills at Mediahooch.
Jamila Abdullahi, a makeup artist, gave a brief biography of herself and her love for makeup.
For Ann Ene Agbo, a blogger and content creator focused on her likes and dislikes. She was a bit emotional when sharing her ordeal with the audience for the first time.
Usman Ahmad wowed everyone in the audience. While he declared he “loves to talk”, he claimed, “of what value is it to talk about oneself?” Instead, he talked about the pencil he was holding and how it is just a pencil to everyone else but engineers, architects, and artists who give it a larger meaning. Usman was of the notion that everyone has a story to tell.
Aisha Yusuf gave the audience a brief summary of her life and how the COVID-19 lockdown benefited her, as she got the opportunity to learn graphic design, which changed her life.
Daniel Monyei, a Law student, spoke about the power of negotiationsand how they can be used to one’s advantage.
Najah El-Yakubu also spoke briefly about herself.
The photographer of the day, Gabriel Kureh, was also not left behind. The Mediahooch staff told the audience about his passion for photography and his journey so far. He spoke about how he is looking forward to more exposure and development.
Zainab Umar’s presentation was superb, as she made the audience understand there is absolutely nothing wrong with being weird.
Your thinking, behaviour and way of doing things might be different, but then you are a human being after all.
Zainab Umar
Abdullhi Malumfashi, the Chief Editor of Northpad Nigeria, took the presentation to another turn. He shared a side of him he claimed, ‘most people don’t know. He also shared some tips on public speaking and how to overcome the fear of public speaking
Muhammad Jimada spoke about his passion for the position at Mediahooch and shared an experience he will never forget.
Mujaheed Suleiman, a final-year Industrial Design Student and graphic designer, educated the audience on the difference between intensity and consistency, which rounded up the sessions perfectly.
At the end of the session, Dr Abdulrasheed congratulated all those present for taking the bold to be present at the event. He also commented on each person’s performance based on how each speaker posed, smiled, used fillers, played with the mic, and how well they connected with the audience.
Ila Bappa Ibrahim gave the closing remark and also gave the participants an assignment to work on for the next class.
I felt so excited about the session, and I think it was an opportunity to perfect my public speaking and presentation skills. If you want the opportunity to improve, don’t hesitate to use this link to register for the next batch.
I ran into an old secondary school classmate at the university clinic where I interned. She came in with a medical report for a test to be carried out. Upon carrying out the test and dispatching the results, she came to me and said, “this is what was written. Am I sick?”
Because of the rule given to us at the lab, we were never to discuss a patient’s test result with the person. I kept quiet, but my guilty conscience wouldn’t let me; I took her somewhere and explained everything to the best of my knowledge, which is why I’m compiling this article.
Oftentimes, ladies see discharge on their underwear before menstruation. This is known as leukorrhea and is filled with fluid and cells shed from the female vagina. It continues again after menstruation which is normal because it means the body prepares for the next menstrual cycle.
But as time go on, and the discharge continues, the lady feels severe pain around the lower region of the abdomen and even itching. Some take it for granted, while others seek medical attention.
The continuous discharge and pain in the lower abdomen region result from the accumulation of fungi in the vagina leading to an infection called candidiasis.
Let me explain;
Every body part contains microorganisms, so the vagina is not excluded. The vagina normally contains a healthy balance of bacteria and yeast. Lactobacilli is one of the bacteria that live in the vagina. These particular bacteria have to keep the vagina safe and kill harmful microorganisms while maintaining the balance of the vagina.
When there’s an imbalance in the vagina, i.e, the level of Lactobacilli is low in the vagina, it allows the fungi to grow, leading to an infection known as Candidiasis or Vaginal Yeast infections.
What Causes Vaginal Yeast Infections?
1. Antibiotics
When an antibiotic is taken to treat a UTI infection, it kills the Lactobacilli, which keeps the yeast in check since antibiotics have no effects on yeast.
2. Douches and Vaginal Sprays
”Douche” is a French word for ”wash” or ”soak.” It is a method to wash out the vagina, usually with a mixture of water and vinegar. They come in bottles or bags containing antiseptic and fragrances and are sprayed through a tube upward into the vagina.
This practice upsets the natural balance of bacteria in the vagina and makes the environment more favorable for the growth of yeast causing infection.
3. Diabetes
When you have diabetes, it means there is too much sugar in your urine, and this surplus of sugar impacts the vagina.
4. Moisture
Moisture supports yeast’s growth because yeast likes warm and moist places. So if you sweat around your vagina or don’t clean your wet pubic hair after a bath or swim, you tend to get yeast infections.
5. A Weakened Immune System
Your medications can suppress your immune system if you have a disease like HIV or AIDS.
Symptoms of Vaginal Yeast infections
As a lady, you may tend to experience a lot of symptoms when this happens, and they include:
1. A continuous discharge that is thick, white, and odorless with the consistency of cottage cheese.
2. Pains during urination
3. Pains during sexual intercourse
4. Pains around the lower abdominal region.
5. Vaginal itching.
6. Swelling around the vagina and Vulva area
7. Redness and rash.
When you begin to experience such symptoms, it is advised that you visit the hospital immediately for proper treatment. Tests will be carried out, and proper medications will be given to you also.
Tips That Will Help You Prevent Vaginal Yeast Infections
1. Wipe from front to back after going to the toilets.
2. After bathing, dry yourself thoroughly, especially the pubic hair. This is because fungi love to grow on moist surfaces.
3. Avoid using soap around the vagina. It’s unhealthy and has no effects on the yeasts.
4. If you’ve had any fungal infection, throw away the underwear. Because fungal infection can reoccur.
5. Scented tampons and vaginal douches should be avoided at all causes. They contain chemicals and may cause infections.
Scented tampons can cause vaginal yeast infections and should be avoided at all costs.
6. Avoid pantyhose or tight pants. They absorb heat into the body, and instead of the vagina being dried, it tends to be wet, supporting the growth of fungi.
7. Cut down on sugar and alcohol intake. They are the favorite food of yeast. If you have diabetes, keeping your blood sugar level as close to normal as possible is important. Controlling your diabetes can help prevent vaginal yeast infections.
8. Wear loose cotton underwear for air to pass through. The vagina needs to be ventilated at all times.
9. Avoid douching. It kills the bacteria more. More people involve in douching because they want to clear a bad odor after menstruation or keep it free. The vaginal has an odorless odor which is normal but when it gets uncomfortable, using warm water to wash it helps to reduce it.
Conclusion
I hope I was able to educate you about Vaginal Yeast infections, its signs and symptoms, and hygiene and prevention tips to help you take proper care of yourself. If you begin to see any of the symptoms mentioned above, you need to quickly contact a doctor and take a test to be sure you’re not infected.
Did you find this blog post helpful? Will you share this blog post with your friends? Have you heard about Candidiasis before?
