VAGINAL CANCER

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Vaginal cancer is cancer that occurs in the vagina — the muscular tube that connects the uterus with the outer genitals.

Symptoms

Early vaginal cancer may not cause any signs and symptoms. As it progresses, vaginal cancer may cause signs and symptoms such as:

Unusual vaginal bleeding, for example, after intercourse or after menopause
Watery vaginal discharge
A lump or mass in your vagina
Painful urination
Constipation
Pelvic pain

Causes

It's not clear what causes vaginal cancer. In general, cancer begins when healthy cells acquire a genetic mutation that turns normal cells into abnormal cells.

Healthy cells grow and multiply at a set rate, eventually dying at a set time. Cancer cells grow and multiply out of control, and they don't die. The accumulating abnormal cells form a mass (tumor).

Cancer cells invade nearby tissues and can break off from an initial tumor to spread elsewhere in the body (metastasize).
Types of vaginal cancer

Vaginal cancer is divided into different types based on the type of cell where the cancer began. Vaginal cancer types include:

Vaginal squamous cell carcinoma, which begins in the thin, flat cells (squamous cells) that line the surface of the vagina, is the most common type
Vaginal adenocarcinoma, which begins in the glandular cells on the surface of your vagina
Vaginal melanoma, which develops in the pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) of your vagina
Vaginal sarcoma, which develops in the connective tissue cells or muscles cells in the walls of your vagina

Risk_factors

Factors that may increase your risk of vaginal cancer include:

Increasing age.

Atypical cells in the vagina called vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia,VAIN.

Exposure to miscarriage prevention drug. Women whose mothers took a drug called diethylstilbestrol (DES) while pregnant in the 1950s have an increased risk of a certain type of vaginal cancer called clear cell adenocarcinoma.

Other risk factors include:

Multiple sexual partners
Early age at first intercourse
Smoking
HIV infection

Prevention

There is no sure way to prevent vaginal cancer. However you may reduce your risk if you:

Undergo regular pelvic exams and Pap tests.
HPV vaccine.
Don't smoke. If you smoke, quit. If you don't smoke, don't start.

LIFE IN A TRADITIONAL LUHYA VILLAGE

A long time ago, the Luhya used to live in small communities. For administrative purposes, the smallest unit was the village (litala) and several villages formed olukongo which had about 500 people in it with some more populated than others.

A village (litala) was often surrounded by a fence of euphorbia trees. In some parts of Luhyaland where enemy raids were common, the villages were surrounded by a wall of clay and a ditch (olukoba) running all round.

This made it difficult for the enemies to attack a village, and easy for the inmates to defend themselves. Naturally, walled villages were very large because building the wall and digging the ditch was difficult work and needed many men to work together on it. All the men who cooperated in the work got a space inside the wall to build a hut or huts for their families. Those who did not help were not allowed in.

Village leadership:

The leader of each olukongo, the Omwami, was usually a man of influence. He was expected to make sure that there was sufficient rain to nourish the crops grown on that olukongo each year. Very often such a leader was either a rainmaker (omukimba) or someone who had influence over another rainmaker.

Great Community Spirit:

Community spirit was great in each olukongo. All the families knew one another, so that a stranger was always noticeable. The people helped each other in most things for example if someone had a hut or a granary to build, all the other men came to help; if he could, he made some food and possibly some beer for them. If someone’s son or daughter was going to be married, all members of olukongo brought fitting presents – usually food – to his or her parents to be used in the celebration. Each death was mourned by all villagers.

People helped each other in sickness and suffering and celebrated happy occasions like marriage together. This communal feeling is still prevalent to some extent although urbanisation is slowly clipping away what was orthodoxy traditional.

Activities of each season were started officially, and with a little ceremony, by the chief landowner of the olukongo. This was a man recognized by everyone as the heir to the original owners of that part of the land. He started the cultivation, the sowing, the weeding and the harvesting.

Land ownership: In the olden days land in Luhyaland belonged to the clan. Each family belonging to the clan had its own plots as its share of this land. A person could give a plot of land to a member of another clan to cultivate for a time, but the plot could not be bought and it always remained the property of the family in particular and the clan in general. In a similar way, the tribe to which the clan belonged defended the clan’s right over its land.

At times when it was necessary to cultivate in one small place, to keep wild animals out, every member of a village or olukongo temporarily got a little share of the area and they all cultivated their little temporary plots without consideration of to which clan the land belonged. When the season was over, the land reverted to the rightful owners.

When a man died, his land was handed down either to his eldest son or divided between all the sons, according to custom. Usually, however, a man, while he was still alive, gave plots to each of his married sons. The remaining plots would then go to the unmarried sons.

HISTORY OF LUO

PRONUNCIATION: luh-WO LOCATION: Kenya; Tanzania
POPULATION: Over 3 million LANGUAGE: Dholuo; English (official); KiSwahili
RELIGION: Christianity combined with indigenous practices (Anglican church [CPK], Roman Catholicism, and independent Christian churches)

1. INTRODUCTION 

Throughout the nineteenth century AD , the Luo migrated into the area they now occupy in Kenya. They left lower savanna grasslands for higher and cooler regions with reliable rainfall. As a result of this migration, their traditional emphasis on cattle was supplemented by farming and an increasing importance of crops in their economy. Bantu agriculturalists, with whom the Luo increasingly interacted, exchanged many customs with them.

2 • LOCATION
According to the last national population census conducted in 1989, the Luo number over 3 million people, or about 13 percent of Kenya's total population. Along with the Luhya, the Luo are the second largest ethnic group in the country, behind the Gikuyu. Most Luo live in western Kenya in Western province or in the adjacent Nyanza province, two of the eight provinces in Kenya. Some Luo live to the south of Kenya in Tanzania. Many Luo also live in Nairobi. Most Luo maintain strong economic, cultural, and social links to western Kenya, which they consider home. Over the past 500 years, the Luo have migrated slowly from the Sudan to their present location around the eastern shore of Lake Victoria. This area changes from low, dry landscape around the lake to more lush, hilly areas to the east. The provincial capital of Kisumu is the third-largest city in Kenya and is a major cultural center for the Luo.

3 • LANGUAGE
The Luo, like other Kenyans, are typically conversant in at least three languages. The two national languages of Kenya are English and KiSwahili. English, derived from the British colonial era before Kenya's independence in 1963, is the official language of government, international business, university instruction, banks, and commerce. It is taught throughout Kenya in primary and secondary schools. KiSwahili is the primary language of many coastal populations in Kenya and has spread from there throughout East Africa, including Luoland. Today, the KiSwahili language serves as a language of trade and commerce in urban markets and rural towns. Nowadays, KiSwahili is also taught in Kenyan primary and secondary schools. In addition, radio, television, and newspaper materials are available in these two languages. Nevertheless, the indigenous language of the Luo, referred to as Dholuo, is for most people the language of preference in the home and in daily conversation. Dholuo is taught in primary schools throughout Luoland. Most Luo young people are fluent in English, KiSwahili, and Dholuo. This is particularly impressive because these languages are from three very distinct language families with drastically different grammatical principles and vocabulary. Children enjoy playing language games in Dholuo. Among these is a tongue-twister game. For example, children try to say without difficulty, Atud tond atonga, tond atonga chodi, which means, "I tie the rope of the basket, the rope of the basket breaks." Acham tap chotna malando chotna cham tapa malando means, "I eat from the red dish of my lover and my lover eats from my red dish." Most Luo, irrespective of educational attainment and occupation, prefer to speak Dholuo at home and continue to teach this language to their children. Even young Luo teenagers, who nowadays live in Nairobi and rarely visit Luoland, nevertheless have learned to speak Dholuo fluently. Children are given names that correspond to where they were born, the time of day, or the day of the week. Even the kind of weather that prevailed at the time of a child's birth is noted. For example, one born during a rain storm is called Akoth (male) or Okoth (female). Just about every Luo also has a pet name used among close friends.

4 • FOLKLORE
Stories, legends, riddles, and proverbs are an important part of Luo culture. They are traditionally recited in the siwindhe, which is the home of a (widowed) grandmother. Luo boys and girls gather there in the evenings to be taught the traditions of their culture. In the evenings, after people have returned from their gardens, they gather to tell and listen to stories. In the siwindhe, however, grandmothers preside over storytelling and verbal games. Riddles take the form of competitive exchanges where winners are rewarded by "marrying" girls in a kind of mock (pretend) marriage situation. Friendly arguments often erupt over interpretations of riddles. One riddle, for example, asks the question, "My house has no door," which is answered by "an egg." Another riddle is, "What is a lake with reeds all around?" The answer is, "an eye." Clever answers are frequently given as alternatives to these standard answers. Proverbs are another part of the siwindhe discussions and are common in everyday use as well. Some examples are, "The eye you have treated will look at you contemptuously," "A hare is small but gives birth to twins," and "A cowardly hyena lives for many years." Morality tales teach all listeners the proper way to cope with life's circumstances. Such questions as, Why do people die?, What is the value of a deformed child?, What qualities make an appropriate spouse?, What is friendship?, Who is responsible for a bad child?, Why do some people suffer?, and many others are the subject of folklore. For example, the story known as "Opondo's Children" is about a man called Opondo whose wife continuously gave birth to monitor lizards instead of human babies. These lizard babies were thrown away to die because they were hideous. Once, however, the parents decided to keep such a child and he grew to adolescence. As a teenager, this child loved to bathe alone in a river. Before swimming he would take off his monitor skin, and while swimming he mysteriously became a normal human being. His skin was, in fact, only a superficial covering. One day a passerby saw him swimming and told his parents that he was a normal human being. Secretly, his parents went to watch him swim and discovered that he was in fact normal. They destroyed his skin and thereafter, the boy became accepted and loved by all in his community. For this reason, Opondo and his wife deeply regretted that they had thrown away all of their many monitor children. This tale teaches that compassion should be displayed toward children with physical defects. In an origin tale concerning death, it is told that humans and chameleons are responsible for this calamity. Were (God) wanted to put an end to death, which strikes "young and old, boys and girls, men and women, strangers and kinsmen, and the wise and the foolish." He requested that an offering be made to him of white fat from a goat. A chameleon was assigned to carry the offering up to the sky where Were lives. Along the way, the fat became dirty and was angrily rejected by Were. He declared that death would continue because of this insult. The chameleon became cursed by the Luo, and ever since it must always walk on all fours and take slow steps.

5 • RELIGION
Christianity has had a major impact on Luo religious beliefs and practices. Today, religious communities draw on beliefs both from indigenous practices and from Christianity. The Anglican Church, known as the CPK, and the Roman Catholic Church are very significant among the Luo. Many people, however, do not draw sharp distinctions between religious practices with European origins and those with African origins. Mainstream churches draw on a rich Luo musical and dance tradition. For many Christians, the ancestors continue to play a significant role in their lives. In traditional belief, the ancestors reside in the sky or underground, from where they may be reincarnated in human or animal form. Ceremonies are sometimes performed when naming a baby to determine if a particular spirit has been reincarnated. The spirits of ancestors are believed to communicate with the living in their dreams. In the Luo religion, troublesome spirits may cause misfortunes if they are not remembered or respected. Luo refer to spirits by the term juok, or "shadow." The Luo refer to God by many names that indicate his power. For example, Were means "one certain to grant requests"; Nyasaye, "he who is begged"; Ruoth, "the king"; Jachwech, "the molder"; Wuon koth, "the rain-giver"; and Nyakalaga, "the one who flows everywhere." Prayers and requests are addressed to God by those in need of his assistance. Christianity has fused most notably with traditional religious beliefs and customs in "independent Christian churches," which have attracted large followings. For example, the Nomiya Luo Church, which started in 1912, was the first independent church in Kenya. The founder of this church, Johanwa Owalo, is believed to be a prophet similar to Jesus Christ and Muhammad. Owalo later teamed up with a Catholic priest and began teaching a new theology that rejected both the Pope and the doctrine of the trinity.

6 • MAJOR HOLIDAYS
The Luo recognize the national holidays of Kenza and Tanzania, depending on the country where they reside. In addition, Luo celebrate the Christian religious holidays.

7 • RITES OF PASSAGE
People are discouraged from noting when someone is pregnant for fear that problems might result from jealous ancestors or neighbors. Older women and midwives assist the woman throughout her pregnancy and in childbirth. The birth of twins, which is believed to be the result of evil spirits, is treated with special attention and requires taboos (prohibitions) on the part of the parents. Only if neighbors engage in obscene dancing and use foul language will the burden of giving birth to twins be lifted. The Luo, however, did not adopt circumcision for men, as practiced in some neighboring Bantu groups. Adolescence is a time of preparation for marriage and family life. Traditionally, girls obtained tattoos on their backs and had their ears pierced. Girls spent time in peer groups where conversation centered on boys and their personal attributes. Sex education was in the hands of older women who gave advice in a communal sleeping hut used by teenage girls. Lovers sometimes made secret arrangements to meet near these huts, although premarital pregnancy was strictly forbidden. Nowadays, neighborhood and boarding schools have replaced communal sleeping huts and elders, although sex education is not taught in these schools. Since there are no initiation ceremonies in earlier stages of the life cycle, the funeral serves as the most important symbol for family and community identity. Burials must take place in Luoland, regardless of where a person may have lived during his or her adult years.

8 • RELATIONSHIPS
Social relations among the Luo are governed by rules of kinship, gender, and age. Descent is patrilineal (traced through the male line) to determine kinship. Kin align themselves for purposes of exchange of goods, marriage, and political alliance. Names are received through the male line, and after marriage women reside in the homesteads of their husbands. A married woman builds up alliances for her husband's family by maintaining strong relationships with her brothers and sisters who live at her birthplace or elsewhere. It is expected that after marriage a woman will bear children for her husband's lineage. Bride wealth, given by her husband and his family, contributes to the woman's ability to maintain ties with her own family throughout her life. By having children, a woman greatly enhances her power and influence within the lineage of her husband. As the children grow, they take special care of her interests. Perhaps as many as 30 percent of Luo homesteads are polygynous (in which a man has more than one wife). This contributes to solidarity between a mother and her children, and between children born of the same mother. Polygyny is commonly accepted by both men and women, provided traditional ideas and regulations are maintained. These include, for example, a special recognition for the first wife or "great wife," whose house and granary are located prominently at the back of the homestead opposite the main gate. Subsequent wives have homes alternatively to her right and left in the order of their marriage. Sons are provided with homes adjacent to the main gate of the compound in the order of their birth. The husband maintains a homestead for himself near the center of the compound. His own brothers, if they have not yet formed their own homesteads, reside on the edge of the compound near its center. As Luo become wealthy in Luoland or elsewhere, it is common for them to build a large house for their mother. This is especially necessary if she is a "great wife," as it is considered improper for younger wives to have larger homes than wives more senior to themselves. Visiting and being visited is the major source of pleasure for the Luo. The social principles regarding age, kinship, and gender impose a heavy schedule of ritual obligations on Luo, regardless of their place of residence. Attendance at funerals is a significant obligation for all Luo. At funerals, Luo consume large amounts of meat, beer, and soft drinks and socialize with friends and relatives. Funerals last for four days for a male and three days for a female. After the burial and expression of grief through speeches and viewing of the body, there is a period of feasting and celebration. After the funeral of a man, a rooster (which symbolizes masculinity to the Luo) is taken from his house and eaten by his relatives. This signifies the end of his homestead. (When a new homestead is founded, a man is given a rooster from his father's home.) Visitors for funerals gather from far and wide and are housed around the compound of the dead person, which is where he or she will be buried. This location and the duration of the ritual is an excellent opportunity for young people to meet and observe members of the opposite sex, or for elders to discuss marriage alliances that they might wish to promote. Dating may well follow initial meetings or deliberations at the funeral.

9 • LIVING CONDITIONS
There are several types of rural houses. A common house is made of mud and wattle (woven twigs) walls with a thatched roof. Another style includes mud and wattle walls, with a roof made of corrugated metal. A more elaborate, permanent house has brick walls and a roof covered with iron sheets or tiles. Bricks, iron sheets, and tiles are all items of prestige, and their ownership symbolizes success in farming, animal husbandry, or some modern occupation such as teaching, the ministry, or shopkeeping. Homes vary in shape as well as size. Some homes of the old variety made of wattle and mud are circular. Those with more permanent materials tend to be rectangular. A prosperous man who is the head of a large extended family may have several wives whose homes are situated by their rank within a large circular homestead. Luo living in Kisumu, the regional capital, or in Nairobi have homes that vary according to their social status. Some Luo are numbered among the elite Kenyans whose homes are elaborate, with facilities for automobiles, sleeping accommodations for visiting relatives, and servants' quarters. Other less fortunate Luo live in Nairobi's crowded slums where homes are quite temporary, made of wattle and mud and short-lived materials such as tin, paper, and plastic. Malaria is a major killer in Luoland. Children's diseases, such as kwashiorkor (a form of protein malnutrition), are a threat in those families without access to a balanced diet or knowledge about nutrition and health standards. In villages, there is an emphasis on preventive medicine; most rural communities have clinics with medical workers who emphasize sanitation, prenatal care, nutrition, and other practices known to reduce the risk of disease.

10 • FAMILY LIFE
Marriage was traditionally considered to be the most significant event in the lives of both men and women. It was thought inappropriate for anyone to remain unmarried. Large families ensured adequate numbers of workers. The system of polygyny (multiple wives) guaranteed that all people married. The significance of bride wealth is increasing, even among educated Luo. Members of the groom's family initiate a process of negotiation with the bride's family that may unfold over many years. Negotiations can be intense, and for this reason a "go-between," who is neutral to the interests of each family, is used. Luo believe that divorce cannot occur after bride wealth has been exchanged and children are born. Even if separation happens, the couple is still ideally considered to be married. Failure to have children, however, is thought to be the fault of the bride and, for this, she will be divorced or replaced by another wife. Cattle are the primary item given in bride wealth. In determining the value of a prospective bride, her family takes into account her health, appearance, and, nowadays, her level of formal education. Failure of men to raise a high bride wealth prompts many of them to propose elopement, a practice that is on the rise today. Young people in Kenya still tend to marry within their own ethnic groups. Tribal elders frequently caution against "intertribal marriages." The more distant the ethnic group in space and customs from the Luo, the greater the cautionary warnings. For this reason, Luo intertribal marriage is most likely to occur with members from neighboring Baluya societies, which are Bantu. However, most Luo marry within their own ethnic group.

11 • CLOTHING
Traditionally, the Luo wore minimal clothing. Animal hides were used to cover private parts, but there was no stigma (shame) associated with nudity. Nowadays, clothing styles are largely Western in origin. They vary according to a person's social class and lifestyle preferences. It is not uncommon to see people in remote rural areas fashionably dressed according to some of the latest tastes. Luo living in Nairobi tend to wear clothing that is cosmopolitan by rural standards and similar to the clothing worn in New York or Paris. In rural areas, most people dress according to their work routines. For example, women wear loose-fitting dresses made of solid or printed cotton fabric while farming or attending market. Wearing sandals or going barefoot are typical while working. Men wear jeans as work pants while farming. During the rainy season, the roads can become very muddy; consequently, boots and umbrellas are especially prized by both men and women. These days, there is a strong market in second-hand clothing, making slacks, dresses, coats, undergarments, sweaters, shoes, handbags, belts, and other items available to even poorer families. Luo enjoy dressing up for funerals and weddings and are considered throughout Kenya to be very fashionable.

12 • FOOD
The primary crops are maize (corn), millet, and sorghum. Coffee, tobacco, cotton, and sugarcane are important cash crops. Important animals include sheep, goats, chickens, and cattle, which are used for bride wealth. Fish from Lake Victoria and its streams are important, especially talapia. Many foods are purchased, including sugar, bread, and butter, which are consumed with tea on a daily basis, a custom known as "tea time" and derived from the British colonial era, which ended in 1963. The staple food eaten several times a day is ugali. This is made from maize meal stirred in boiling water until it becomes a thick and smooth porridge. Ugali is always eaten with an accompaniment such as meat or stew. Greens (sukumawiki) are also frequently eaten with ugali. Maize, popular throughout Kenya, is frequently sold for money. This has led many families to sell their maize when financially pressed for money. For this reason, there is a periodic famine throughout Luoland that occurs every year during the long, dry season prior to harvest.

13 • EDUCATION
Kenya introduced a new system of education in the 1980s known as the "8-4-4 system," modeled after the American system. Luo now go to primary school for eight years, to secondary school for four years, and to college for four years. The previous system was modeled on the British educational system. After completing high school, Luo attend technical, secretarial, nursing, computer, teacher training, and business schools as alternatives to the university. There is a new university at Maseno near Kisumu, which provides easy access for those Luo who want to attend a university. Education is highly valued among the Luo, and they are well represented in the professions. Nevertheless, there still remains a high level of illiteracy (inability to read and write), especially among females. In polygynous marriages there is a strong tendency for younger wives to be more educated than their older counterparts. More Luo are now recognizing the importance of sending girls to school. The Luo success in academic pursuits may well be related to the value given to "wisdom" in their culture. Modern philosophers have applied the term "sage philosophy" to describe individuals among the Luo who, in the past and present, excel in teachings and reflections on the human condition. The Luo society is an open one. All individuals are encouraged to express themselves publicly. Truth (adier) is expressed through songs and folklore by respected elder men and women who are acknowledged as wise. Most respected, however, is the japaro, a term that translates into English as "thinker," who is consulted on all matters of interest to community welfare. The most famous sage until his death in the mid-1990s was Oginga Odinga, a widely respected elder and former vice-president of Kenya. He spoke out publicly during colonialism and in post-colonial politics against what he considered to be injustices. In his writings, he emphasized communal welfare and concern for preservation of traditional values.

14 • CULTURAL HERITAGE
The Luo consider their entire traditional way of life to be an important community resource. There is a great deal of disagreement over what should be preserved and what should change. Customs centering on marriage and gender relations are hotly debated. Songs are popular today as in the past. Musicians praise and lament political, generational, economic, and cultural contradictions in contemporary life. Luo devote much time to listening to music, and regularly purchase records, tapes, and CDs. Christian church music is also a form of entertainment. It is said that the short story was a well-developed art among the Luo in traditional times. Such stories were often accompanied by music. The most important short-story writer in Kenya today is a Luo woman, Grace Ogot. In her stories she includes traditional themes as well as modern dilemmas, such as an educated woman living in a polygynous arrangement. Some of her best-known stories are "The Other Woman," "The Fisherman," and "The Honorable Minister."

15 • EMPLOYMENT
The most notable fact about the Luo economy is that women play the primary role in farming. Before the introduction of the modern money economy, the garden was the centerpiece of the women's world of work. Industrious women could earn considerable wealth by exchanging their garden produce for animals, handicrafts, pots, and baskets. A young girl is expected to help her mother and her mother's co-wives in farming land owned by her father, brothers, and paternal uncles. Even though a girl may go to school and rise to a prominent position in society, there is often still a strong association with the land and digging. Men are preoccupied with livestock and spend a great deal of time in "social labor" concerned with placing their cattle in good contexts, such as bride wealth exchanges, trading partnerships, and commercial sales. In the modern economy, cattle and goats have a monetary value as well. Men have control over animals and cash crops.

16 • SPORTS
The Luo participate in all of the major national sports currently played in Kenya. Soccer is a particularly popular sport. Secondary schools provide an assortment of sports for young people, giving them an opportunity to engage in competitive games such as track and field and soccer. Children enjoy games in the village, such as racing, wrestling, and soccer. Some boys enjoy swimming.

17 • RECREATION
Childhood play activities for girls include grinding soil on a flattened stone in imitation of adults who grind grains. Girls play with dolls made from clay or maize (corn) cobs. Boys and girls play hide-and-seek and house. Girls play a game called kora using pieces of broken pottery or stones. In this game, stones are collected and then thrown into the air. The main purpose is to catch more than one stone on the back of the hand. Boys and girls between six and ten years of age play separately. Girls spend more time at home caring for younger siblings and helping with household duties and gardening. Boys have more freedom and combine play activities with herding and care of animals. Children and adults both play a game called bao, a board game played widely throughout Africa. This game of strategy involves trying to place seeds on the opponent's side of the board and capture their seeds. Radio and television are both available to most Luo. Radio programs are in KiSwahili, English, and Dholuo. Virtually all homes have radios, which are a significant source of both entertainment and education. Books and printed media have now largely replaced public speaking as a form of entertainment. Nevertheless, visiting family and friends continues to be a valued aspect of Luo culture. Visits are typically very lively with lots of animated discussion. The verbally skillful person is still widely admired. Birthday parties are now much more important than they were in the past, when individuals did not reckon their age in years. Parents try to make their children's birthdays special with a cake, cards, and gifts. Weddings and funerals, as in the past, are still major forms of entertainment for old and young alike. Church groups, clubs, women's organizations, and schools are important organizations for their members' social calendars.

18 • CRAFTS AND HOBBIES
See the article on "Kenyans" in this chapter for information about crafts and hobbies.

19 • SOCIAL PROBLEMS
During the colonial era and since independence, the Luo have been isolated from national leadership even though they are the second-largest ethnic group in the country. Specific social problems follow from this isolation. Economic development in western Kenya is poor, Luo roads are badly in need of repair, rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are comparatively high, food shortages are frequent, and infant mortality is among the highest in the country. The municipal water supply is so badly treated that residents suffer from water-borne diseases such as typhoid fever, amoebic dysentery, common dysentery, and diarrhea. Tourism has bypassed Luoland and Lake Victoria, even though Lake Victoria has hippopotami, freshwater fish, and cultural attractions. Teenage pregnancies are a major social problem in contemporary Luoland. Social responsibility for teenage pregnancy falls entirely on girls, who generally leave school if they become pregnant.

WAYS OF GETTING TO DESTINATION

A great piece ........
Two important management lessons I learnt from
a 1000 Shilling note.
1. It happened some time ago but, I was in an
audience listening to a motivational speaker.
The speaker got out his wallet & pulled out a
1000 Shilling note.
Holding it up, he asked, "Who wants this 1000
Shilling note?"
Lots of hands went up. Including mine. A slow
chorus began to build as people began to shout
"Me!" "Me!" I began to wonder who the lucky one
would be who the speaker would choose. And I
also secretly wondered (and I am sure others did
too ) why he would simply give away 1000
Shilling. Even as the shouts of "I want
it" grew louder, I noticed a young woman running
down the aisle. She ran up onto the stage, went
up to the speaker, and grabbed the five 1000
Shilling note from his hand. "Well done, young
lady," said the speaker into the microphone. The
speaker simply say "Most of us just sit and wait
for good things to happen.
That's of no use. You've got to make things
happen. Make a move"
'Simply thinking about doing something is of no
use and not gud
enough'. Our lives are like that. We all see
opportunities around us. We all want the good
things. But the problem is we don't take action.
We all want the 1000 Shilling notes on offer. But
we don't make the move.We look at it longingly.
Get up, and do something about it. Don't worry
about what other people might think.
Take action.
2. later, the speaker got another 1000 Shilling
note and held it up for all to see, I thought I
knew what's up. But he just asked a simple
question. "How much is this worth?" "One
Thousand Shillings!" the crowd yelled in unison.
"Right," said the speaker. He then took the note
and crumpled it into a ball and asked
"How much is it worth now?"
"One Thousand Shillings!" screamed the
audience. He then threw the note on the ground,
stamped all over it and picked up the note and
asked one more time: "And how much is it worth
now?" "One Thousand shillings!" was the
response. "I want you to remember this," said
the speaker.
"Just because someone crumples it, or stamps
on it, the value of the note does not diminish. We
should all be like the 1000 shillings note..
In our lives, there will be times when we feel
crushed, stamped over,beaten. But never let your
self-worth diminish. Just because someone
chooses to crush you -- that doesn't change your
worth one bit!
Don't allow your self-worth to diminish because
someone says
something nasty -- or does something dirty -- to
you."
Never let your self-worth diminish.
Mathematical differences
2+5=7
6+1=7
3+4=7
7-0=7
7+0=7
9-2=7
8-1=7
What is my point???
My point is that there are so many ways of
getting to a final destination.
God may not take you the same way He took
your mom, dad, friend or colleague, What matters
is that He will take you to your destination.
At times you get there by adding things and
people in your life and
other times you will get there by subtracting
certain things and people.

YOUR PHYSICAL BEAUTY IS LIMITED

No wonder you have invested so much into your physical beauty. You buy shoes, different expensive dresses even with your last money on you. You buy expensive wigs and make up. Your physical beauty is all you've got and nothing more. You are able to charm guys and most of them go crazy over you. After exchanging sex for material things such as phones, tabs, bags and jewellery, you come and show them off.

All you know is to dress and pose for selfie and put them up on various social media platforms so people can LIKE and COMMENT. Guys have fun with you by taking you out, pool parties, night clubs, the beach..... and you feel on top of the world. At your age you can't even count the number of guys you have dated and the number of people you have had sex with.

You give them SEX and they give you money and other material things. You have physical beauty but no BRAINS to realize that your act is no different from PROSTITUTION.

You will continue to attract irresponsible men when it comes to settling down. You have all these long painted nails like you are about to act a horror film. You don't even know how to cook well, no sense of saving only spending, you failed miserably in your exams 3 or more years ago and you haven't made any attempt to get back on track. Which sensible man will want to settle down with you???

You think you can use your physical beauty and SEX to get everything in life?

My dear THINK again because there are men and there are wise MEN. Wise men prefer to settle down with a lady with a purpose or substance. A lady who is the position to use her knowledge and skills as a true partner in contributing to the resources of the family.

There is nothing wrong with being physically beautiful and having fun but then your physical beauty ALONE will not get you far...add more value to your LIFE.

FROM GROUND ZERO

Life’s most unwelcome visitor is Mr. Trouble. The mean dude doesn’t seek your permission. He hits at you in the most unexpected moments. He wears various caps like sickness, death, job loss, separation, betrayal, bankruptcy, accident, terror attack, robbery, rape, rejection, exam failure, police brutality and imprisonment among many more. At times with unbearable pains. So painful that we can no longer reason soberly anymore. No wonder some throw in the towel and call it a day.

During that trying season, you sense a cloud of loneliness unequalled in your life history. And you ask yourself, ‘Why me?’. Often than not, we imagine all others are having their fun day. On the contrary, we all go through such seasons, albeit in different measures. The ability of a ball to bounce back depends on the material it’s made of much more than the ground the ball hits.

A glass ball can scarcely survive concrete. The harder the ground, the further up will a rubber ball bounce back. Among humans, many people are utterly crashed by the fall while a few are re-launched by the fall. Depends on the material one is made of. My concern today is your ability to re-launch from ground zero – your lowest point.

It’s human to mourn. It’s in our innate nature to react to pressure. That’s why counsellors offer a shoulder to their clients to weep it away, immediately, at the emotion of the moment. This is because postponing pain doesn’t heal a shadow. It is has been argued in the past that time has a way of healing emotional wounds. Really? Let me warn you, time doesn’t heal any unresolved issues. Postpone pain at your own peril.

There are people who don’t clean up dishes immediately after dining. Time doesn’t make them cleaner. Contrary, the dirt gets drier, sticker and harder to remove. The sooner we clean up the mess, the easier the work.

In plain language, I am saying it’s okey to organize a pity party. Your own way. This could mean talking over it with a confidant to vent your frustrations. Be wary not to overstay in mourning. Consider what you have and not just what you do not have.

For instance, you have lost a relationship BUT you have an income. You haven’t bought your own house BUT you can afford rent. You’ve suffered an accident BUT you have an insurance cover. You are a victim of a physical/terror attack BUT you are still alive. At times we magnify the absence of one item at the expense of the many blessings that we have.

The greatest poverty in life is not lack of money, rather, loneliness. At ground zero, avoid the company of people who take advantage of your vulnerability. Neither be in the company of equally wounded individuals. Misery loves company. There is someone you will share your troubles with and you end up both of you committing suicide. When at the doldrums, don’t look for solace from another patient. Seek counsel from the whole.

Further, realize that life is an unfolding as it was originally designed by the Master Architect. Whether in your favour or not doesn’t change the Master Plan. In your self interest of pursuit of happiness, recognize that life is a journey and you are not the highway builder. The best you can do is to master the circumstances that will continually to unfold. Avoid preconceived notions of how life should unfold – this is the primary sea bed of continuous defeats and perpetual frustrations.

You are best advised to identify lessons learned along your life journey. This will help in tampering your speed in life to avoid future unforeseen potholes. You will know at what speed to take bends. When and where to speed. When and where to slow down. When and where to reflect. The ‘good’ news is that life will faithfully throw ‘stop signs’ to help you reflect on critical lessons along the way.

But do not put too much effort on ‘stop signs’ so as to lose sight of ‘go signs’. Too often, we don’t notice the ‘green lights’ fast enough. Being held back by the forces of gravity (present) or/and the pull of past regrets. The greatest pull must always remain the pull of the future. God is a progressive God. He doesn’t dwell in the past. He dwells outside time and whether we are conscious or not, it certainly is His story that is unfolding.

That’s why we must let go all waters under the bridge. We have no single chance of altering yesterday. What lies ahead of us is much more precious than that which lies behind us. For a seed to bear fruits, of necessity, it must die. Often, isolation precedes greatness. Nothing is more lonely than the buried, dead seed.

YELLOW FEVER

> Yellow fever is an illness of varying severity caused by an infection with a type of virus known as a flavivirus.

> It is called ‘yellow fever’ because of the yellow skin colour (jaundice) that develops in people with severe disease.

> Yellow fever is spread by types of Aedes and Haemagogus mosquitoes that carry the disease.

> These types of mosquitoes can breed both in the wild and in domestic habitats. Any region where these types of mosquitoes live can potentially harbour the disease. People (and monkeys) can catch the virus if they are bitten by an infected mosquito.

Where does yellow fever occur?

> The disease is seen in urban and rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America, with most cases being reported in Africa.

> If you travel to affected regions you are at risk of being infected. Your risk varies depending on several factors, including whether you have been immunised against yellow fever, the area you visit, the time of year that you visit, and your activities while travelling.

Yellow fever symptoms

> While some people have few or no symptoms, the infection can cause a flu-like illness or a more severe, life-threatening disease.

> Yellow fever usually has an ‘acute’ phase, with a sudden onset of fever, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches and headache.

> In most people, these acute symptoms tend to improve after 3–4 days.

> About 15 per cent of people who suffer from the acute symptoms will become unwell again within 24 hours, entering a ‘toxic’ phase of disease.

> The fever comes back, as well as abdominal pain and vomiting.

> Jaundice usually develops quickly because of liver failure, and the kidneys can start to fail too.

> Bleeding from the mouth, eyes, nose and stomach (causing blood to appear in vomit and faeces) can also occur.

> About 50 per cent of unvaccinated travellers who enter this toxic phase of disease will die within 10–14 days.

> The fatality rate for people who live in areas where the disease is common is somewhat lower. Those who recover will usually not have any significant long-lasting effects.

Treatment

> Unfortunately, there is no specific treatment for yellow fever. Treatment is based on supportive measures, such as fluids for dehydration, paracetamol for fever, and dialysis for renal failure. If you have severe disease you will need to be treated in hospital.

Preventing yellow fever with vaccination

> There is a vaccine that is almost 100 per cent effective against yellow fever. It takes about 10 to 14 days from the time of receiving the vaccine before you are protected.

> The vaccine loses its strength after about 10 years, so you may need a booster injection if you are planning to return to a region where yellow fever is prevalent.

> Vaccination is relatively safe, and is recommended for most people planning to travel to high-risk areas.

> In fact, you will require proof that you have been vaccinated before you are allowed to enter and leave some countries.

> The vaccine is generally only available at travel clinics and some doctors' surgeries. To obtain a valid certificate make sure you are vaccinated at an approved yellow fever vaccination centre.

> Check with your travel agent, doctor or travel health clinic whether you should be vaccinated before travelling overseas.

> Vaccination may not be appropriate for some people, including pregnant women, children younger than 9 months of age, people who have compromised immune systems and people who are allergic to eggs.

> People who are not vaccinated for medical reasons should obtain a written medical waiver before travelling to yellow fever-affected countries.

What else can I do to protect myself against infection?

> It’s also important to take measures to prevent being bitten by mosquitoes while you are visiting affected areas.
> Make sure you wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and always remember to apply mosquito repellent containing DEET or picaridin.
> Repellent that contains permethrin should be applied to your clothing.

> Try to stay in accommodation that has air-conditioning or insect screens. If you are visiting a rural area, you should bring a mosquito bed net, aerosol insecticides and mosquito coils.

> Depending on where you are travelling, protecting yourself against mosquito bites can also help prevent you being infected with other diseases that are spread by mosquitoes, such as malaria and dengue fever.