Liamify

December 1st is World AIDS Day every year. The theme this year is "It is in our hands to end HIV and TB." As of 2015, Zambia had 1,200,000 people living with HIV. The prevalence among adults (15 to 49 years) is 12.9 % meaning that about 1 in every 8 adults (15 to 49 years) is infected. Zambia currently records about 60,000 new HIV infections and about 20, 000 AIDS-related deaths every year. Unprotected heterosexual sex is what drives the Zambian HIV epidemic, with 90% of new  infections recorded as a result of unprotected sex. The burden may probably even be greater considering the fact that only about 33% of the young people have tested for HIV. When diagnosed early and treatment initiated, one can live a normal life to their full potential. A positive HIV status is not a death sentence. Stop the stigma and discrimination and go for an HIV test today!

This is a first for me....on a hot and sunny afternoon like today, I never knew that a taxi could accomodate 7 people. Three people in front, with one having the gearbox in between his legs. We at the back are jam-packed between the doors, bedraggled by our own 'armpit grease' on a long winding dusty gravel road. But the master says "Occupy till I come."

WHAT IS CERVICAL CANCER? Beyond a woman’s vagina is the cervix which opens into the uterus (womb). The cervix is lined with cells. Cancer of the cervix or cervical cancer occurs when these cells change or start to grow abnormally and gain the ability of invading other body organs. This change from normal to becoming cancerous cells can take place over 10-20 years or more. More than 90% of cervical cancer patients are also usually infected with the Human Papilloma virus (HPV). WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS? Being infected with Human Papilloma virus (especially types 16 and 18). This is by far the greatest risk factor. Smoking AGE: Cervical cancer can occur at any age but is mostly seen in women over the age of 40. Young Age at First Sexual Intercourse (Onset of sex before 18 years of age increases the chance of getting Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Having multiple sexual partners or having sex with someone who has multiple sexual partners Weak immune system e.g from HIV infection.

October is Cancer awareness month. I will endeavor to share on the most common cancers seen in Zambia. The first of which will be Cervical cancer. In Zambia alone more than 1700 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year and more than 1000 women die from it translating into about 2 to 3 people every day.  What is cervical cancer? What are the risk factors? What are the signs and Symptoms? How is it diagnosed? Is it treatable/curable? How can one lower the risk of getting cervical cancer? These are some of the questions I will address under cervical cancer.

AETIOLOGY(CAUSE) : Unknown AGE OF ONSET : Teenage. Recent studies have shown that it may affect people up to 25 years of age or more. RISK OR PREDISPOSING FACTORS : The age itself is the major risk factor. Others include (a) Co-education (b) Cell Phones (c) Movies (d) Internet. Of these, the part played by the cell phones is note worthy. PATHOLOGY : Multi Organ System Failure CLINICAL FEATURES SYMPTOMS A) The most common presenting feature is throbbing pain in the heart often described by the patient as sweet pain. B) Loss of appetite. C) Sleeplessness. D) Day dreaming E) Disinterest in any type of work. There is a danger of the patient being transformed into a poet. SIGNS A) Very much dilated pupils (In search of his sweet heart). B) Blushing of cheeks (mainly seen in girls). C) On Auscultation: The first Heart sound is heard as LOVE instead of LUB. D) Smiling to self. PATHOGENESIS AND CLINICAL COURSE The disease is gradual in onset. The patient presents with vague symptoms like loss

WHAT IS CERVICAL CANCER? Beyond a woman’s vagina is the cervix which opens into the uterus (womb). The cervix is lined with cells. Cancer of the cervix or cervical cancer occurs when these cells change or start to grow abnormally and gain the ability of invading other body organs. This change from normal to becoming cancerous cells can take place over 10-20 years or more. More than 90% of cervical cancer patients are also usually infected with the Human Papilloma virus (HPV). WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS? Being infected with Human Papilloma virus (especially types 16 and 18). This is by far the greatest risk factor. Smoking AGE: Cervical cancer can occur at any age but is mostly seen in women over the age of 40. Young Age at First Sexual Intercourse (Onset of sex before 18 years of age increases the chance of getting Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Having multiple sexual partners or having sex with someone who has multiple sexual partners Weak immune system e.g from HIV infection.

During one post-admission round, a senior doctor asked why the patient who came in unconscious the previous night was still being managed empirically and not with specific meds…the junior doctors’ response was that the relative had refused to authorise a lumbar puncture to be done and had signed in the file against it. This was one of the many cases I have seen where patients or relatives refuse consent for a lumbar puncture to be done. A simple response when asked why they refuse is always that they don’t think it is entirely necessary. The core of the answer however is the fear of imminent death once the procedure is performed. I too before I became a medical student had heard of many stories of how people had ‘died after a lumbar puncture’ had been done on them. I pictured it as a very invasive procedure that was probably performed with the patient positioned upside down or ‘turned inside out.’ How did we get here in the first place? Well am not too sure how, but have he

Sometime ago whilst on the hospital ward, I was challenged by woman whose son was due for surgery later that night. The 17 year old boy had a massive tumour on his right arm that was roughly the dimensions of a 5 litre container. She asked me to ponder on a series of questions for which I had no immediate answers. “If indeed God is after our own good, why has He chosen me amongst all the women to have a child who has this misfortune? What future does He have planned for my son because he hasn’t been able to go to school all his life? Why does evil seem to be selective on whom it befalls?” I cant remember my exact responses but one thing was true. This was a woman in distress. Sadly, I went out to look for her on the ward the following day but never found her. This later reminded me of an experiment. The Norwegian Field Rat (mbeba yaku Norway) is known for its endurance. The University of California Berkeley once conducted an experiment to determine how long the rat could endure. The

They say it is important to make lasting first impressions. I pondered heavily on what my first blog post would be on and several things came to mind. None however seemed would be a good pick to make an impression on.......Filled with indecision perhaps, away with making an impression, I ended up penning something in those lines... "Jack of all trades, master of none." This is a figure of speech used in reference to a person that is competent with many skills, but spends so much time learning each new skill that they cannot become an expert in any particular one. Kind of describes me a lot. Over the past 3-4 years, I have gone from web design to computer programming, accountancy to entrepreneurship training and recently guitar and piano lessons among a few of those I can write about. I am one of those people who isn’t great at anything but am pretty good at most things…lol…When I look back, I discover I only have sufficient information to contribute on each topic but not pr