Earlier this year, I had to create some social media content around the new HPV vaccine.
The HPV vaccine for girls aged 10 years was recently introduced
into routine vaccination in Uganda.
Girls/children that age should be sexually inactive
making the vaccine more effective.
HPV stands for human papillomavirus.
It's an STD, a sexually transmitted disease.
The research I had to read to create the content, caused me sleepless nights.
We women are dying because we are afraid of talking about these things.
We are dying because we are scared to go to our doctors and discuss THESE THINGS.
You can be a good woman, a faithful wife/partner and still get HPV.
So let me not waste your time with lots of details,
you can always talk to a physician/expert to learn more.
I am only going to share what I think is important for you to know.
HPV, can lead to cervical cancer.
According to Ministry of Health(Uganda) we lose 12 women each year to cervical cancer.
And each year 6413 women are newly diagnosed with this type of cancer.
I have heard that even when one uses a condom during sex
they can still get infected with HPV.
And I have heard that you only need to have sex with one person to get infected,
so even if you are faithful to your partner
if your partner strays and gets infected chances are you will too....
Why?
Because most times those infected with HPV don't show any symptoms,
in fact most women don't know they are infected until they start
showing symptoms of cancer.
So....I am using this blog to remind us ladies
we need to get serious,
get over our fears,
and go get that pap smear.
It's weird
It's uncomfortable.
In fact... quick tip... if you can,
ask for a plastic speculum to be used
it's better than the metal one.... trust me.
Also...
Sometimes the doctor is more frightened or awkward than you.
But if you are over 21 years...it needs to be done.
I went for my very first pap smear this year.
Thank God, I got the all clear.
Cervical Cancer is treatable if it's caught early,
So get into the habit of regularly going for a pap smear as recommended by your doctor.
Mine told me, I only need to go for screening every three years.
For more information here are some helpful links below
I get stuck inside my head sometimes.
Keeping my problems, fears, anxieties and worries to myself.
I only share when the storm has passed.
This is going to change.
I have learned the wonderfulness of sharing and consulting
in confidants.
Confidants who are colleagues, friends and family.
I have learnt about the blissfulness of release of perfection,
and 'keeping it together',
of not carrying the load on my own.
This is going to change.
I have learned the wonderfulness of sharing and consulting
in confidants.
Confidants who are colleagues, friends and family.
I have learnt about the blissfulness of release of perfection,
and 'keeping it together',
of not carrying the load on my own.
I always used to worry what people would think of me,
if I showed them the mess & chaos that I am dealing with.
But the last few months,
sharing helped me grow,
sharing helped me learn,
sharing made me feel safe and loved,
sharing helped me rest,
sharing helped me learn I am not alone
and sharing helped me fix the mess.
if I showed them the mess & chaos that I am dealing with.
But the last few months,
sharing helped me grow,
sharing helped me learn,
sharing made me feel safe and loved,
sharing helped me rest,
sharing helped me learn I am not alone
and sharing helped me fix the mess.
So here's to me praying, speaking up, and sharing more.
I created a video. 😀😀😀
I created a whole 6 minute video
6.59 minutes to be exact.
My boss asked me too...
My boss asked me to help someone out!?!
Me!....Me!? Me with my mobile phone. 😃😃😃
I was surprised and frightened at first.
Yet the word "okay" slipped out my mouth,
and responded to her request before I could stop it.
Then reckless adrenaline induced panic set in,
making my mouth dry,
and pins and needles in my fingers and toes
for the rest of the morning.
Next day we started.
Me and the subject looked for a location.
Natural light is always best for mobile phone filming.
But we only had five hours...
If we filmed outside...
center of town traffic would have ruined our sound
So some bad lighting choices were made,
we found an empty conference room.
The blinds refused to open,
used the room lighting instead.
Sadly, it's the type of lighting that
strips the warmth out of black people's skin,
Leaving an unflattering grayish tint.
What could I do though?
I am still an amateur mobile storyteller,
who had a five hour deadline.
Set up the tripod
Framed my shot,
using the rule of threes.
Checked the sound.
And 1 hour later we had interview footage!
Then pushing the discouraging anxiety monsters aside,
I sat in my office corner,
and clocked in some serious hours on Kinemaster.
Many discussions later,
after several back and forths.
I reluctantly sent the email
with the final project attached.
She uploads it on to You Tube,
and Voila!
We are done.
It is out of my hands.
It is very far from perfect but I still love it.
I see ALL my limitations and mistakes.
But it's okay because I finished a whole project!
I didn't wait for inspiration.
I didn't wait for the call of the muse.
I just did it!!!
I have decided to make more videos.
I will also be drawing, writing and painting more.
Point is ....I will keep creating.
I am sorry my dear Muse,
I hope you'll forgive me.
But I have learnt from Ira Glass that consistency is important ,
So I am throwing our co-dependent relationship out the window.
Muse, you are part of the process,
but now you will no longer be the trigger.
And for you dear reader,
before you go venture off to other parts of the internet,
watch this video...
Also watch this one by Evelyn From the Internets too...
Some people will not understand until you crush them.
Some people will not behave until you crush them.
Some people don't understand any other language but being unmercifully crushed.
So that is what we will do Dad,
we will crush them.
They don't know that you taught us how to be cold blooded too.
We will crush them into nothingness
and scatter them into oblivion.
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