M.A.G. blog, signed by Lydia

This week's contributors: Lydia, Pépé Pépinière, and Titi, this week's subjects: The Intersection of Fashion, Urinary tract infections (UTIs), Funny Fashion, and Dubai.

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African Fashion on European Runways: While challenges persist, African designers are making waves globally. Their designs grace international runways, challenging stereotypes and redefining beauty norms. Naomi Campbell's call for an African Vogue magazine underscores the need to showcase the continent's contributions to the global fashion industry. Naomi Campbell

Post-Covid-19 Shifts: The pandemic accelerated digital transformation, and African customers have embraced online shopping. As delivery restrictions eased, online sales surged, reflecting changing consumer behavior. African fashion is poised to thrive in this new landscape, bridging continents and celebrating diversity. A Harmonious Blend: European fashion may have left its imprint on Africa, but the continent's resilience and creativity continue to shape the industry. As African designers weave their stories into fabrics, they remind us that fashion transcends borders—it's a universal language that celebrates heritage, innovation, and the human spirit. So, let us celebrate the fusion of European influence and African authenticity, for it is in this intersection that the true magic of fashion unfolds.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) affect about 16% of Ghanaian women (one out of 6) and are mainly caused by bacteria entering the urinary tract. The most common culprit is Escherichia coli (E.coli) which, like Klebsiella pneumonia, is usually found in the digestive system and is mainly contracted when using public toilets, but also from washing the anus first and the vagina after, or anal touching during sex. Other bacteria such as Staphylococcus saprophyticus (found in the environment) can also cause UTIs. Poor hygiene and sexual activity may contribute, but urinary tract abnormalities, menopause, and some birth control methods can also play a role. Common symptoms include a frequent urge to urinate, pain or a burning sensation during urination, cloudy or strong-smelling urine, lower abdominal pain or discomfort, feeling tired or shaky, fever, or chills. Staying hydrated (resulting in regularly urinating, i.e. washing the urinary tract clean), practicing good hygiene (but not by using aggressive soaps and other such feminine products), urinating before and after sexual activity, and wearing breathable underwear like cotton slips rather than nylon or polyester helps to avoid UTI. Untreated UTIs can cause kidney infections. UTI alone does not cause infertility among women but PID (pelvic inflammation disease) due to recurrent urinary tract infection can hamper conception chances. Even in men, UTI can cause infertility. Practicing good hygiene: Gynecologists will confirm that the majority of vaginal problems are a result of excessive hygiene. Your vagina has its own way of protecting against infections or bad smells, disturbing this natural bacterial protection with a “Kill all' soap will upset the natural balance and open you up for infections. Use natural organic soaps without any of the unnecessary chemicals if you want to smell fresh. Using public toilets. Especially at school dormitories, it can be endemic, you treat it and the next day catch it again. What to do? First of all, flush the WC. Secondly, you could clean the toilet with a disinfectant. Or, have a small plastic bag and cut a hole in the bottom, cover your pubic area, pee in the bag let the urine fall into the WC, and throw the bag away. Excessive? Decide for yourself. A bit of a visit to a doctor these days and some pills set you back an easy 400 GHS.

Funny Fashion from our Ibrahim Mahama travels from Tamale to London. This internationally acclaimed artist was recently commissioned to decorate the Barbican Centre in London. Unusually, he did not use old jute sacks but rather used woven fabrics made in the Tamale Sports Stadium by about a thousand people. Our local press already covered it, but I still wanted to mention some more details. The “installation” is titled “Purple Hibiscus” after Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s 2003 novel about domestic violence and religious zealotry in post-colonial Nigeria. Ibrahim chose pink to contrast with the typical grey London sky, and maybe to draw attention to our recently approved legislation which will make it illegal for anyone to identify as LGBTQ+.

Dubai is a big expensive children's park. The saying is that juvenile pregnancy is directly related to Kentucky Fried Chicken and iPhones. I would add Dubai for the slightly older. We see pictures of airplane wings on WhatsApp, yes she is going, and where the money came from remains a bit of a mystery. For what it costs, the ticket, the stay, and the entrance fees to the various playgrounds and other amusement options I think Dubai is overpriced and the quality of what is on offer is often overtaken in other places. I'd rather go on safari in east/south Africa, or to Zanzibar or Egypt or Morocco for the same money and do and see things which you cannot do anywhere else. Rollercoasters are available worldwide and now that there are fewer and fewer visa restrictions for us in Africa (maybe that's why we wanted to go to Dubai in the first place, Dubai was one of the few places away from here that welcomed us), I suggest you think twice about how you spend your money.

Lydia...

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