You can get H-Pylori from food, water, or utensils. H-Pylori bacteria are passed from person to person through direct contact with saliva, vomit, or fecal matter. Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) is a type of bacteria and can enter your body and live in your digestive tract. It can cause sores, called ulcers, in the lining of your stomach or the upper part of your small intestine or even lead to stomach cancer. It is a common disease in low-income societies due to a lack of clean water or good sewage systems in communities. H-Pylori prevalence has increased in Kenya due to: Crowded Living Conditions. Many Kenyans in low-income societies live in single rooms and highly overcrowded slum areas. Living in an overcrowded environment with poor sewage management and lack of water is a recipe for H-Pylori infection. The risks of H-Pylori infection if you live in a home with many other people are very high. Overcrowding conditions increase chances for person-to-person transmission through oral-to-oral or fecal-to-oral routes through sharing utensils, bathroom, food on the table, and this pathogen can be transmitted orally through fecal matter by the ingestion of water or food contaminated with waste. Poor Hygiene Poor hygienic conditions due to a lack of reliable supply of clean water in the cities and rural areas have resulted in increased H-Pylori infections. In Kenya, less than 30% of the population can get access to clean tap water with the majority relying on community water points such as wells, springs, dams, rivers that are highly contaminated with fecal products from animals and humans. Having a reliable supply of clean, running water helps improve hygiene, hence reducing the risk of H. pylori. Eating food that was not cleaned or cooked safely can result in H-Pylori infection. Drinking contaminated water can cause H-Pylori infection. Poor handwashing practices after going to the bathroom and before eating have contributed to increasing infections among people in the community. The consumption of raw vegetables and fruit on the streets or by the roadside eateries without washing has increased the risk factor for the infection. Poor Socioeconomic Status Poor socioeconomic status has led to increased urbanization and overcrowding in the cities, which has led to the lack of reliable water supply and overstretched sewerage systems, resulting in leakages. Poor living conditions in slums and inadequate sanitation conditions have provided a good habitat for H-Pylori spread. Unsanitary living conditions such as no hand and mouth wash before or after meals, sharing of food plates or drinking glasses, sharing of spoons in feeding children, bed-sharing between siblings have increased the risk of H. pylori infection spread High Number of Infected People H-Pylori infection is common worldwide. About two-thirds of the world’s population has it in their bodies. High bacterial infections within the households in Kenya have increased the chance for contamination and spread of the disease from person to person. Infection spread can occur when living with someone who has an H-Pylori infection. If you live with a person who has H. pylori infection, you're more likely to also have H-Pylori infection due to contamination that may occur. It is good to separate actively sick persons from the rest, to avoid contamination and infection spread. Signs and Symptoms H-Pylori infection signs or symptoms include ache or burning pain in your abdomen, abdominal pain that's worse when your stomach is empty, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, frequent burping, bloating, and unintentional weight loss. Book an appointment with your doctor if you notice any persistent signs and symptoms. H-Pylori is preventable and treatable. References https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/h-pylori/symptoms-causes/syc-20356171 https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/h-pylori-helicobacter-pylori https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/helicobacter-pylori https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2017/9082716/

Misdiagnosis is a situation when your doctor tells you that you have some illness or condition, but it's incorrect. It is common in young and onset of cancers, mental illness, non-communicable diseases, genetic diseases, and other general infections. Misdiagnosis is expensive, painful, and can lead to a time-consuming treatment process that may worsen an ailment, leading to permanent disability or even death. Patients or guardians may help prevent misdiagnosis by: Describing Symptoms in Details A symptom is what the patients tell the health provider about what he or she has noticed or experienced in the period of disease manifestation. Be open about that experience or noticeable change in your body when you talk with your doctor about a medical problem. Keep a diary of symptoms manifestation for easy remembering when visiting the health provider. Your doctor is your mechanic, think of how long it can take to have a mechanic find the problem in your car. Tell a short story of your disease manifestation and make sure your doctor doesn’t interrupt your description of symptoms and complaints because a diagnosis made too quickly can lead to mistakes. Being open and honest to your health provider is important. Having Records of Initial Diagnosis Your initial diagnosis is very important in future medication and treatment of a disease, keep in mind that sometimes treatments just don’t work, and other cures need to be explored. Have a history of the earlier diagnosis that may be required for the future diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Keep your doctor updated on your health matters. Know your family history of illness, share and remind your doctor of it. Sharing this information with your doctor can help to reduce the chances of misdiagnosis. Asking Questions. Be actively involved in your health issues and understand your tests and the results of the test before proceeding to treatment. Ask questions, and have your doctor explain his or her thought process or even offer alternatives if available. Doctors see many patients a day, ask a question on the earlier treatment, his or her thoughts on the condition, and also what improvements should be done. Ask questions, even ones you think are small issues and not important, this may help your doctor to better understand your ailment. Understand your condition, medication, and all the procedures involved. Seeking a Second Opinion Diagnosis is not always perfect and misdiagnosis can occur. Get a second opinion from a specialist, more advanced care than the previous, and don’t be afraid to consult further. Let the doctor look at your case from scratch and your symptoms in your own words and think about your case without being influenced by the conclusions of your original doctor. A second diagnosis of the same ailment can make you feel more secure about your medical issues, while an alternate diagnosis can help you understand that your medical condition is not resolved. A second opinion can help physicians detect mistakes and learn from that experience and improve their diagnostic skills.

Africa has the fewest number of people vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, while people in Europe and North America are receiving a third booster dose. Africa needs a solution, own solution other than depending on donor and world organizations. We need improvement in research and development, pharmaceuticals production and manufacturing of medical products to cater for the people. More than 90% of vaccines used in Africa are researched and developed outside Africa, this has created a big problem with COVID-19 vaccines. Africa's leadership should develop policies that will start research in schools and health facilities to enhance health surveillance and solution development for our problem without depending on donors. Proper funding and equipment should be availed to students and researchers in traditional, modern, and future health solutions. Africa needs to reinvent its approach to health matters by advocating for preventive medicine other than curative medicine. Preventive medicine is cheap, easy to support, and helps protect the environment too. Wearing a mask, washing hands, and keeping distance are simple and easier preventive measures against COVID-19 than vaccines. Mask is reusable. Traditional herbal medicine has been in existence since the beginning of man. Africa needs to refocus and redevelop health solutions through innovating and improving the production, distribution, and usage of traditional herbal medicine. To Africa “BE YOURSELF, EVERYONE ELSE IS ALREADY TAKEN.”

Anyone in any walk of life can suffer from any addiction. In this world where everyone lives with some type of unbearable pressure, it is easy to take something to take the edge off. But the road from taking the edge off to overdosing to addiction is a short one. Let us look out for each other and ask, Are You Okay? Our people are dying due to alcohol and drug overdose daily. Over 1 million of us a year die due to alcohol, heroin, pharmaceutical drug, and opioid overdoses. These are preventable deaths, and we can choose to fix this. Alcohol-Induced Deaths Alcohol poisoning is fatal and causes serious problems that can lead to death. Alcohol poisoning includes confusion, vomiting, seizures, slow breathing, irregular breathing, pale or blue skin, hypothermia, and passing out. If you suspect alcohol poisoning keep the person awake, keep them warm and hydrated, upright seated, and call for emergency services immediately. In Kenya, more than 500 people die each year due to alcohol poisoning, these are preventable deaths. Drug-Induced Deaths According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), In 2020 about 500,000 deaths were attributable to drug use. More than 70% of these deaths are related to opioids, with more than 30% of those deaths caused by overdose. Examples of opioids include heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, and morphine. The signs of opioid overdose include unresponsiveness and can't be woken up, limpness, blue lips, gums or fingertips, slow or irregular heartbeat or pulse, shallow or stopped breathing, and small pupils. If you suspect one of drug abuse, keep them awake and rush them to the nearest health center. Avoid unused or expired medications from getting into the wrong hands, keep them away from children, and dispose of them correctly. Policy Evaluation Every overdose death is a policy failure. Political will in policy formation, drug use regulation, and drug sale and distribution framework should be developed and implemented effectively. The government should develop criteria to collect data and analyze all drugs, including pharmaceutical and other drugs. This will enhance transparency and will enable effective monitoring of drug overdose, abuse, and general use. The policymakers should check the pharmacies and make sure they are distributing the drugs to the right people, to limit drug overdoses. High profitability of drugs and corruption in government has frustrated the effort to effectively form policies that protect the people and effective implementation of the policy. Our Responsibility Our collective commitment should be fighting for a safe drug supply, decriminalization of drug addiction, and cut accessibility to harmful drugs. It is time to dismantle the stigma that keeps us quiet, stops us from reaching out for help, and telling the stories of the loved ones we lost to preventable drug overdoses. Let us educate our people through facts and stories of overcoming drug overdose and addiction while encouraging others to live a healthy lifestyle. Many people affected by addiction face stigma and discrimination, which make it hard for them to reach out for help, leading them to use drugs alone, hence affecting their quality of life. One thing we can do to cut stigma is to change the way we speak about people who use substances. Adjusting our language to use language that shows care and concern helps reduce stigma is easy to do and impactful in the recovery process. Addiction is Preventable It is vital to offer support quickly and early to stop drug addiction from spiraling out of control. The right treatment against addiction helps break the hold of an addictive substance from a person using the drug. Preventing addiction involves providing treatment, support, shelter, education, and the lifesaving medication necessary for the people in need. References https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/having-naloxone-hand-can-save-life-during-opioid-overdose

You are more powerful and effective when you are completely yourself, and being yourself is self-care. Stop sacrificing your mental health for other people, ignore toxic people, and start acknowledging yourself. Distance yourself from people who have a toxic and negative influence on you. You are not a hero for subjecting yourself to those who prey on you emotionally. Let them go. While we love little things like going to the spa, shopping, and others, sometimes the best form of self-care is social media breaks, eating healthy food, spending time with nature, friends, family, deep cleaning in your space, and taking it one day at a time. Cultivate joy and peace every day in your surrounding, do your morning routine, tune into what your body needs, nourish yourself, drink water, and keep warm with your loved ones for every act of self-care is self-love. Create that time for you, enjoy every moment in life. In life, It is during the worst times of your life that you will get to see the true colors of the people who say they care about you. Finding a true friend to share is important, but not telling everyone everything is self-care. Your silence and my overthinking are a dangerous combination, share your ideas, frustrations, and find the solutions. Anger worsens situations from unimaginable to unfixable. Learning how to forgive someone on your terms and not having to explain yourself to anyone is of self-care. Sometimes, God removes people from our lives to protect us, don’t go running after them. Accept it, move on. Dating someone who understands your mental health is very important because there are people who will make you feel bad for having anxiety or depression. Your family is your pillar for self-care, find, create, or invent the best family for your mental wellness. Take care of your mind and the way you speak and view yourself. Don’t let negative thoughts weaken your mood, determination, goal, or even opportunities. Self-care is staying and keeping your thoughts as positive as you can. Remember to speak highly of yourself, write out some affirmations and stick them to your mirror. Take life day by day, be grateful for the little things that happen in your life. The mind is the most powerful tool we have, we can invent, create, experience, and destroy things with our thoughts alone. Prioritize your mental health, don’t let someone get comfortable disrespecting you.

According to National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA) in Kenya, a pedestrian was killed every 85 minutes in traffic crashes in 2019 and deaths have increased every year. According to NTSA, accidents fatalities have increase by 26% and injuries by 46.5% from 2015 to 2020 while many others are not reported. Accidents are the leading cause of injuries and deaths among pedestrians and account for over 80% of deaths in the city according to ResearchGate. Pedestrian safety is key in preventing pedestrian traffic crashes. Stay Alert In the city, stay alert, avoid staring at billboards, big screens, or people who can distract your mind. Avoid idling or roaming carelessly in the city. Keep alert at all times and avoid electronic devices that take your eyes and ears off the road. Avoid using electronic devices such as phones, computers, or earphones when on the road. If you have used alcohol or drugs, avoid walking on busy streets. Electronic devices, drugs, and alcohol cause distractions and impair judgment and coördination when using the road. An accident happens in a fraction of a second, keep off your earphone when crossing the roads for alerts such as car hoots, bicycles bells, or any other alerts. Choose Your Route Wisely Choose a less congested street. When walking in the city, it is good to choose a less congested route to your destination to avoid traffic crashes between pedestrian to pedestrian or pedestrian to vehicles. Avoid streets with a high number of matatus termini, cars, and pedestrians because most of the accidents happen when there is congestion and everyone is trying to find a way out. Cross the road on designated areas such as zebra crossings, pedestrian footbridges, or underpasses. Organize Your Day Before going to the city for shopping, visiting a friend, or tour, confirm directions before leaving. Make sure you know the direction to the place, understand the traffic situation, and the best route with limited congestion. Do not walk when drunk or on drugs because they impair your abilities and judgment. If you are walking at night, increase your visibility by carrying a flashlight and wearing reflective clothing, such as reflective vests. At night, walk facing the traffic, so you can see and reacts to oncoming vehicles. Abide By the Traffic Rules You should stick to designated crossing areas that are identifiable and where drivers expect pedestrians to cross. Make sure you understand and follow the rules of the road, traffic lights and obey signs and signals. When crossing streets at crosswalks, junctions, or intersections, look for cars in all directions, including those turning left or right. Do not rely on traffic lights or police alone, confirm before crossing. If a road doesn’t have a crossing point, find a well-lit area, not around corners where you have the best view of traffic. Before crossing, wait until a gap in traffic is wide enough to allow enough time to cross safely, and continue watching for traffic as you cross. Drivers Don’t See You Don’t expect drivers to see you, some are in deep thoughts, others are in a hurry while others might be distracted while driving. Never assume a driver sees you, look for eye contact with drivers as they approach, make sure you are seen. The driver should be alert and able to see you before crossing. Look Around Stopped Vehicles Be visible at all times, do not squeeze between moving vehicles. Wear bright clothing during the day, and wear reflective materials or use a flashlight at night. You should watch for cars entering or exiting driveways, or backing up in parking lots to avoid unexpected crashes. Walk on sidewalks It is important to use the sidewalks or off-road paths and not the street to avoid colliding with cars. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic, so you can see and react to oncoming vehicles, and stay far from traffic as possible. Be Aware of Your Surroundings When walking with kids to church, market, or school, make sure you watch over them. Keep your children under strict supervision whilst on the road and teach them road safety measures. If you are carrying luggage, make sure it is properly packaged to avoid colliding with other road users. STAY SAFE Reference https://www.researchgate.net/publication/10737162_Road_traffic_Injuries_in_Kenya_Magnitude_Causes_and_Status_of_Intervention https://www.ntsa.go.ke/site/?page_id=460 https://www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/pedestrian_safety/index.html

Make a plan Be aware of why you are drinking. Before you start drinking, ask yourself why you are drinking. If there is a genuinely good reason and one that outweighs the negatives of what a drink might do to your mood the following day, social, emotional, or health impacts now and in the future, then you can have one. But before having the second or third drink make sure you apply the same process, think deeply, and compare the consequences, and not just topping up carelessly. Do not drink at all if the next day is a tough day at work, you have an important assignment, or if you want to train or exercise. Do not drink if you have a physical, mental illness or if you are under medication. Organize your day, choose your location, make sure you have sufficient money for drinks and transport, and eat before drinking. Choose a Favorite Chill Spot Choose a chill spot close to your home, and that your family or friends can easily find you if anything happens. It is good to stay connected and make good friends in your neighborhood. Friends provide protection and watch over you to prevent circumstances such as drink spicing that might happen when you drink in an unknown area. Do not drink while working, driving, or when engaged in activities that require high concentration because alcohol intake can result in impaired vision, hearing, reasoning, and judgment leading to accidents or even deaths. Decide what and how much you will drink There are different types of alcohol including whiskeys, wines, vodka, brandy, beer, cognac, gin, rum, local brews such as busaa, muratina, changaa, mnazi, and fruit blend alcoholic drinks. These drinks have different tastes, smells, alcohol concentrations, and rates of absorption in the body. Whiskeys have high alcohol concentration than beer, hence it is better to drink a small amount of whiskey compared to beer. Flavored drinks are desirable, but one may end up drinking large quantities thinking it is fruit juice, ending up in alcohol poisoning. You should choose your favorite drink and make sure you drink in moderation. Savor your drink Hanxiety is the feeling of guilt, shame, and fear when you wake up the morning after heavy drinking. To avoid hanxiety, drink in moderation and avoid mixing alcohol brands. Drinking less often and alcohol of better quality help prevent overdrinking and drinking counterfeit or poisonous alcohol. Always order first. If you are at a party or with a group of friends, order a drink you are comfortable with and avoid mixing different types of alcohol once. Check your Boozy Behavior After drinking is good to go home, take a shower then sleep for some time. Avoid visiting friends, relatives, or colleagues when drunk. Some people are easily irritated with drunk people, and it can destroy your relationship with them. Avoid drunk calling and testing your loved ones, because you may end up making decisions that you may regret later. Do not engage in riots, demonstrations, fights, or any form of conflict behavior when drunk. Understand your habit Always take note of your body's feelings and change of behavior. Take note of how you feel and act the day after drinking, reflect on what impact it is having on you. Take note of how you feel when you've had a drink, and compare and contrast with non-drinking days. It is important to take note of how you feel when you don't drink, so you can see the positives of not drinking more clearly and measure these against the perceived immediate benefit of having a glass or two.

After having a long busy day, and you feel hungry and just want some good meal, well-prepared, with the right ingredients, hot and delicious, home-cooked food is always the solution. Most hotel local eateries and deliveries offer little, worst prepared food and very expensive food. Food poisoning is the worst experience for anyone on earth and the best solution is to prepare your food with your best recipe, the right ingredients, and of the required quantity for you and your family. Food is important, it revitalizes the mind, body, and soul. It is important to eat home-prepared food to avoid disappointments and being angry since a hungry man is an angry man. Home-cooked food is safe When preparing food at home, you need to go to the grocery and buy the ingredients, vegetables, fruits, and other necessities. Groceries shopping allows checking and making sure food is neither expired nor contaminated. After stocking for the grocery, it is good to wash the vegetables and fruits before eating or cooking because it helps in removing contaminants that cause infections. It is easy to control food allergens at home because you can choose carefully the right ingredients for you. It is cheaper It is cheaper to buy and prepare your food than to eat in hotels, fast food restaurants, or local eateries. In Kenya, A family of three people can afford vegetables, eggs, and maize flour for enough supper for only Ksh 100, but one person cannot be satisfied when eating food worth the same amount at the local eateries. If you cook at home, you can set a monthly budget for groceries shopping, shop seasonally, or at the local farmers market to minimize cost while making sure the quality vegetables, fruits, and other requirements are maintained. You can control the food portion at home and store the remaining food to minimize wastage and reduce expenses. Home-cooked food is clean At home, it is easy to control hygiene and food safety. How can you be sure the food you are eating in the hotel if was cleaned before cooking? You can wash your hands carefully before preparing and serving meals to prevent contamination and reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. Before preparing vegetables and fruits, cleaning and counterchecking are done to ensure suitability before use to prevent infections spread due to cross-contamination. Most of the local eateries lack the basic health measure strategies and food contamination is high, resulting in typhoid, H pylori, and other gastrointestinal infections. Houseflies are common in hotels and local eateries than at home. Houseflies can result in infection spread and food contamination, resulting in diseases such as cholera that can lead to death. Avoid picking food from Vibandas and local eateries are the leading cause of foodborne illnesses. Home-cooked Food is Healthy Mom food is always the best, because it is well-prepared, with your favorite ingredients, and comes in the right measure that soothes your heart. Preparing food at home gives a chance for eating a balanced diet by eating organic products and reducing the preservatives. You can eat different fruits, vegetables, pasta, meat, and even make customized recipes with ease at home. A home diet timetable is a beautiful style of ensuring your diet is monitored and eating a balanced diet. Home-cooked food is Nutritious At home, food is prepared with love, happiness, and positive anxiety because you are hungry and ready to eat. The food is nutritious because it is prepared with the desired recommendation, and you can easily control and customize your recipe for your desired test. The ability to customize your recipe help improve test and reduce preservatives for a more nutritional value. Home-prepared food is always served and eaten whole, but most hotels and eateries overcook or refrigerate their food, ending up being tasteless and less nutritious. It is fun to prepare food Food preparation is an art. Learning more about new recipes is exciting and fun for life and helps improve mental health. Reading recipes, magazines about food and attempting new recipes is entertaining, insightful and helps discover new cooking styles, different flavors, and health benefits of varieties of food available. Preparing food with your wife, husband, children, friends or relative is a good moment for bonding and learning too.

Partying may be inevitable, but making wise choices help in staying safe and healthy. Although partying provides a good chance for bonding and socializing, but it has risks including binge-drinking, drunk driving, unprotected or non-consensual sex, drink spiking, drug overdose or alcohol poisoning, violence, fights, and injuries. Partying safely and healthy ensures maximum time use, enjoyment, and stronger social bonding and connections among people. 1. Make a Plan You should always have a plan, schedule, and knowledge of where you are going to party. You should make a proper budget for food, beer, transport, and surplus for any other unexpected expenditure. Furthermore, you should prioritize your expenditure according to your budget other than your friends' influence. If you are going to a house party, disco, or nightclub, you should have prior knowledge of the place either by asking friends or researching on the internet. You should learn about the menu and the cost of your favorite drinks for proper budgeting and personal happiness when at the party. You should keep up with your schedule by ensuring you leave on time as planned or according to the rules of the place. 2. Stay Close to the People You Trust. We always go out with our friends, family, relatives, and people that we know. When going to a party, you should always stay close to the people you trust and ask them to look out for you, and let them know you will do the same for them. Your friends are your best security, they check on you to prevent any misbehavior and understand you well when you have a problem. You should stay closer to the person you trust and be free to share with them when anything happens to you. At parties, making new friends is easy, but never trust them. 3. Have a Plan of Getting Home Before leaving your home for a party, work out how you’re going to get home. Learn about the mode of transport available, the fare charges, how far is your home from the place and the best mode of transport to use after the party. You should always have money for transport, arrange for someone to pick you up, or make sure that someone is the designated driver, and that they won’t be drinking or taking drugs. You should always have a plan B to get home if plan A falls through, such as ask a relative or friend if they will pick you up if you can’t get a taxi. 4. Eat Well Before the Party. Never join the party while hungry. It will start with one, two, and before you realize you are drunk before you eat. Eat a balanced diet and drink water before the party. A foundation determines the strength of the building, hence you should always keep a strong foundation for maximum enjoyment at a party. A full stomach helps slows down the absorption of alcohol in the body, which helps you to stay sober, active, and happy during the party. Imagine being the first person to “TAP OUT” at a party, It is shameful. 5. Enjoy Your Drink in Moderation. At parties, there are different types of drinks beer, vodka, rum, brandy, wine, whiskey, cognac, and others. Some drinks are your favorite, while others you might have had a bad experience, and you wish not to use them. Avoid drinking unknown or intolerable drinks. Enjoy your drink at your own pace, avoid shots, and “BOTTOM-UP” if you aren’t used to it. Drinking too much alcohol affects your health and may ruin the spirit of the party. Always decide on your type of drink and limit and stick to it. 6. Have Condoms with You Nowadays, sex after-party is common due to increased house parties in the Coronavirus pandemic period. Unprotected and non-consensual sex at a party may result in Sexual Transmitted Infections such as HIV or unintended pregnancy. You should always take condoms with you if you think you might end up having sex at a party. If you do, use condoms. Avoid sex parties, they are dangerous to your health. 7. Avoid New Drugs Many people usually try new drugs at parties. New drugs are dangerous because they may result in harmful health effects, addiction, or even death. You should avoid trying new drugs from parties because the effects of drug-to-drug interaction on humans are always different. If a friend is comfortable using a drug and you have never used it before, don’t try. The best way to avoid drug-related problems is not to use it at all. If you plan to take drugs, make sure you know what you’re taking, and let someone you trust know too, in case anything goes wrong. You should use the drug in moderation to reduce the risks of overdose or drug-related injuries. 8. Beware of the Rules The driver on the highway is safe not when he reads the signs, but when he obeys and follows instructions. Beware of the government and community rules and regulations involved partying time, recommended drugs for use, and environmental safety. Be aware that it is illegal to drink alcohol on the street or in a public place, or to carry or use illicit drugs. Even if you’re not actively drinking, if you’re drunk in public you can be arrested. Be aware of the curfew times in an area and adhere to the timelines. Avoid being drunk and disorderly. 9. Avoid Violence Some people turn violent after drinking, they become easily irritated and can easily start a fight. You should understand yourself and avoid exposure to such scenarios or people. You should avoid fights and violent behaviors after drinking because they can lead to injuries or even death. 10. Stay Hydrated Drinking too much alcohol has consequences of fatigue, weakness, thirst, headache, muscle aches, nausea, stomach pain, vertigo, sensitivity to light and sound, anxiety, irritability, sweating, and increased blood pressure known as a hangover. Staying hydrated helps prevent hangovers. You should drink water after partying and days after to stay hydrated and avoid hangover symptoms. PARTY LIKE A PRO

Worldwide, people are struggling with mental and physical health issues, but very few people have the advantage of getting the right and timely medication required. Lack of knowledge and information is the leading cause of mental and chronic diseases' development in Africa. People living in low-income societies believe stress and depression are for the wealthy who have properties and businesses to worry about while the wealthy believe they are immune from mental illness, but this is not true. The belief that certain diseases only affect a certain cluster of people in the community leads to ignorance of symptoms which may worsen the condition or even lead to premature death. People are ignorant about their health matters and seem not to be concerned about disease symptoms, prevention, control, or mitigation measures until the disease is full-blown. Let me ask: If you had a mental health condition or any other disease like cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, or HIV, would you want to know? It is very important to know instead of going through life ignorantly thinking you are fine. Early diagnosis, treatment, and lifestyle changes can help in ameliorating the condition early, cheaply, and without many complications to your body. It is a good practice to always consult your health provider for answers before using any kind of medication. Self-health awareness improves your confidence in managing your health condition and decreases chances for chronic diseases development and premature deaths. People are always torn between immediate desires such as smoking, engaging in risky sex, alcoholism, and the wish to sustain longer-term goals such as a healthy diet, exercise, and regular health check-ups necessary for a long and healthy life. We fear the weight of the knowledge of our health would be worse than the burden of experiencing the disease which is not the truth. Ignorance is expensive. Undiagnosed and untreated health conditions can result in much-complicated health conditions that are expensive to treat or manage. Undiagnosed conditions increase vulnerability to infections such as Covid 19 due to compromised immunity which can increase the severity of the disease or even lead to premature death. Lack of knowledge and stupidity increase stigma and discrimination among patients in the community. Ignorance results in stigma and discrimination that worsens patients' health conditions and reduces the likelihood of getting the right treatment among the patients in the community. Health education help reduce stigma and discrimination by creating awareness on disease management, patient care needs, and social interaction between patients and the community. It is important to protect your health by eating a balanced diet, regular exercising, and having regular health check-ups. You should visit a health provider when you are sick, and complete the follow-up plan as recommended by your doctor. If you have a chronic condition, regular check-ins with your doctor will ensure proper management of the condition in check. We should openly talk about facts and experiences on mental and other health issues on social media, family conversations, and other events to enhance education and cut misperceptions and negative comments. We should show compassion for those with different health needs and be conscious of language because words matter. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.

Think before you ink because tattoos are permanent and removal is difficult and expensive. A tattoo is a permanent body art made by puncturing the skin with needles and injecting ink into the deep layer of the skin. People get tattoos for beauty, while others have different meanings and symbolism, such as religion or membership in an organization. Street tattoos shops have increased in towns and cities in Africa. The equipment has become cheap and easily accessible by trained, untrained, or “at home” artists. The cheap tattoos equipment combined with untrained and self-artist is a huge health and social risk to people who are getting tattooed. Imagine getting scarifications or poorly designed art on your face? Infections spread from unhygienic practices, unsterilized equipment or contaminated ink can result in serious infections or even death. Tattoo ink has chemicals compounds that are toxic to your health or even cause cancer. Some components used in making tattoo ink such as barium, copper, mercury, and others are not safe for human health. According to the Food and Drug Administration, many pigments used in tattoo inks are industrial-grade colors suitable for printers ink or automobile paint that are unsafe for your health. Tattoo ink can cause severe or mild allergic reactions, such as an itchy rash or scarification at the tattoo site. Tattoo dyes such as red, green, yellow, and blue dyes can cause allergic skin reactions, which can occur years after you get the tattoo. Any skin penetration is a risk of infection. Tattooing breaks the skin and may cause bleeding, open wounds, and infections resulting in permanent deformity, scarring, severe illness, and even death. Unprofessional and self-artists in tattooing lack proper equipment such as an autoclave for sterilization of needles, which allows infections to spread. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common infection associated with tattooing. Staphylococcus skin infections are caused by poor skin preparation or equipment sterilization from an untrained tattoo artist. The infection is serious and life-threatening, as antibiotic-resistant strains are becoming more prevalent worldwide. Sometimes, tattoo ink can cause inflammation called granuloma around the tattoo site. Getting a tattoo from an unprofessional artist can lead to blood-borne diseases such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, or HIV. Blood-borne diseases can occur due to equipment contamination with infected blood from one person to another. Tattoos can cause swelling or burning in the affected areas during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams. In some cases, tattoo pigments can interfere with the image quality on MRI or during pathological examination of tissues. It is important to verify the work of your artist before getting tattooed. Always ask to see portfolios of healed work that has been done before considering getting tattooed by the artist. You should make sure the tattoo studio is clean, and the equipment used is sterile. You should see needles and other equipment removed from sealed, sterile containers. If you have a medical problem such as heart disease, allergies, diabetes, skin problems like eczema or psoriasis, a weakened immune system, or a bleeding problem, consult your doctor before getting a tattoo. Tattooing has increased worldwide and the number of kids getting tattooed has increased greatly, hence parents should engage their children in the pros and cons of getting tattooed. You should make sure you get vaccinated against hepatitis B, tetanus, or any other relevant disease before getting a tattoo.

Where do you live, who are your neighbors, what’s your nearest health facility, how do you access essential services? These are some questions we always have to answer before settling in an area. It is always important to live in a comfortable, secure, and happy place, but the cost of living is always the constant factor. The neighborhood is the area that surrounds your home, including the people who live in the area. Your neighborhood characteristics can influence your physiological, psychological, and behavioral health. Community social interaction through direct contact, social media, and group organizations are chains linking environmental and built characteristics of a neighborhood and the individual health characteristics. Misinformation from the surrounding people can fuel denialism and conspiracies that discredit good health practices, scientific knowledge and motivate non-adherence to good health habits. Your neighborhoods have an impact on your mental and physical health and well-being. Where you live may influence your behavior on adopting and maintaining healthy behaviors, such as smoking, physical activity, and alcohol consumption. Neighborhood characteristics such as degree of urbanization, public and open space, resources and facilities, green and blue space, environmental noise, air pollution, social capital, crime and violence, socioeconomic status, stability of the neighborhood, and ethnic composition may influence your mental and physical health needs. For example, people living in low socioeconomic status in ghettos and slums have higher rates of infection spread and unhealthy dietary patterns due to lack of adequate healthcare services and recommended nutrition. Estates where children live, play and go to school impact their mental and physical health. The people children interact with daily help in decision-making which can influence their health behaviors. Children usually learn from their family, friends, teachers, and people they interact with daily, exposing children to alcoholics, drug abusers, smokers, and prostitutes can influence their health behaviors leading to the risk of diseases or even death. An untidy residential area, with high immorality and violence rates, are risk factors that can influence the development of substance use disorder and other comorbid psychopathology in children. Your physical health can be affected by your neighborhood characteristics directly depending on the duration of the stay. The longer you stay, the greater the effect on your health. When choosing a home, you should ensure basic physiological needs such as air, water, food, shelter, and security are well maintained and safe for healthy living. Living near a dumpsite or a factory with high air pollution, sewage and drainage routes with dirty water, violent neighborhood, or noisy places can result in injuries, diseases, and deaths. The people and environment around you are the pillars of social support and social connections. The physical environment of your neighborhood such as the quality of the built environment, the presence of traffic, noise, or a lack of resources, transportation difficulties, and lack of adequate essential services can lead to depression and other health and mental health problems. In high crime rates areas, the fear of crime and lack of safety can lead to stress, which can negatively impact your mental health. Community social support in dealing with stressful life events on depression and other mental health problems through emotional and social support help improve individual health. Our daily social interaction is critical in defining our behavioral health. If you live in the proximity of tobacco, alcohol, and fast-food sales points, you might end up using the same products or even being addicted to the behavior. Social norms and role models influence individual health-related behaviors. Adoption and execution of behaviors from the internal, personal, social, community, and structural factors may influence the expected costs and benefits of a particular behavior, for example, quitting smoking or avoiding alcohol abuse on an individual. People living in urban areas with high numbers of smokers, alcoholics, and drug abusers are likely to be influenced into drugs than those living in well-monitored and restrictive areas. The level of social capital, including social norms and values in a neighborhood, may motivate people to seek out and use preventive healthcare. Your neighborhood behavioral patterns, collective attitudes, and individual health beliefs may influence your behaviors and attitude towards health. Areas where the people do not adhere to effective disease mitigation strategies, for example, condoms in preventing HIV and wearing masks for COVID-19 have a high infection spread and increased death. When choosing where to live, either in urban or rural areas, before or after retirement, we should prioritize our comfort, convenience, individual autonomy, and public health impact on our health.