A swimming coach in Nigeria provides inspiration and life lessons to disabled people
It was one of the sessions with students of the Pacelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted, where Emeka Chuks Nnadi, the swimming coach, uses his Swim in 1 Day, or SID, nonprofit to teach swimming to disabled children.
In a country where hundreds drown every year, often because of boat mishaps but sometimes as a result of domestic accidents, the initiative has so far taught at least 400 disabled people how to swim. It has also aided their personal development.
'It (has) helped me a lot, especially in class,' said 14-year-old Fikayo Adodo, one of Nnadi's trainees who is blind. 'I am very confident now to speak with a crowd, with people. My brain is sharper, like very great."
The World Health Organization considers drowning as one of the leading causes of death through unintentional injury globally, with at least 300,000 people dying from drowning every year. The most at risk are young children.
Many of the deaths occur in African countries like Nigeria, with limited resources and training to avert such deaths.
In Nigeria — a country of more than 200 million people, 35 million of whom the government says are disabled — the challenge is far worse for disabled people who have less access to limited opportunities and resources in addition to societal stigma.
While the initiative is raising awareness among the children about drowning, it benefits wider society in different ways, Nnadi said, especially 'if you want to have disabled people that are contributing to the economy and not just dependent on us as a society to take care of them.'
Changing a stereotype
Nnadi recalled setting up the nonprofit after moving back to Nigeria from Spain in 2022 and seeing how disabled people are treated compared to others. It was a wide gap, he said, and thought that teaching them how to swim at a young age would be a great way to improve their lives.
'There is a thing in Africa where parents are ashamed of their (disabled) kids,' he said. 'So (I am) trying to make people understand that your child that is blind could actually become a swimming superstar or a lawyer or doctor.'
'I find it rewarding (watching) them transform right under my eyes,' Nnadi said of the results of such lessons.
Lives are being transformed a stroke at a time
Watching them take their lessons, some struggle to stay calm in the water and stroke their way through it, but Nnadi and the two volunteers working with him patiently guide them through the water, often leaving them excited to quickly try again.
Some of them said that it gives them pleasure, while it is a lifesaving skill for some and it's therapy for others. Experts have also said that swimming can improve mental well-being, in addition to the physical benefits from exercising.
'Swimming (has) taught me to face my fears, it has (given) me boldness, it has given me courage, it has made me overcome my fears,' said 13-year-old Ikenna Goodluck, who is blind and among Nnadi's trainees.
Ejiro Justina Obinwanne said that the initiative has helped her son Chinedu become more determined in life.
'He is selfless and determined to make something out of the lives of children that the world has written off in a lot of ways,' she said of Nnadi.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
19 hours ago
- The Sun
Six years after Brit Alana Cutland leapt to her death from plane, fury as common drug STILL missing ‘suicide' warning
A PRESCRIPTION drug a teenager took before jumping to her death from a plane while suffering a "psychotic event" still does not list the potential side effect. Alana Cutland, 19, fell 5,00ft into thick jungle during a dream trip researching rare blue crabs in Madagascar in July 2019. 4 4 The teenager, from Milton Keynes, cut short her six-week research trip after suffering psychosis and hallucinations understood to be caused by anti-malaria drug doxycycline. At an inquest into her death in August 2020, Milton Keynes coroner Tom Osborne said Alana had 'suffered a psychotic delirium event that led to her behaviour and death'. He added that it was 'quite apparent' that the reaction was caused by the drug - warning there was 'nothing on the drug information leaflet that either highlights or mentions this possibility'. Mr Osborne asked for a review into the information sent out to patients prescribed doxycycline. He added: 'If she or her parents have been aware of this possible side-effect they may have been able to intervene earlier to avoid her death.' And six years on from his stark warning, the information leaflet - seen by The Sun - still fails to mention the potential side effect, sparking fresh fury. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has insisted, however, that a "number of reviews" have established "no causal link" between doxycycline and psychiatric adverse reactions. But Professor David Healy, the expert witness commissioned by the Coroner for Alana's inquest, said there are "hundreds of compelling case reports of doxycycline causing suicide". He told The Sun: "What we need to remember is that MHRA are a bureaucracy - like the aviation authorities. "They licence paperwork that Boeing or pharma companies send in to them but they aren't engineers or pharmacologists and don't fly planes or monitor what happens to patients on meds. "They have no training in working out how to establish a link between a drug and a problem. "It's pilots and doctors who keep us safe - or used to keep us safe. "Pilots still do because they have an incentive to do so - if we don't make it to wherever alive, they don't either so if a door blows off a plane, they won't fly again till the problem - not just that door is fixed. "But doctors don't have the same incentive. "If you claim a problem has happened on a drug they gave you, they are now more likely to throw you out through the open door for spreading misinformation than take your side and insist drug labels mention this problem." Professor Healy said experts know "how and why" doxycycline causes suicide and epidemiological studies. He added: "Doctors who go by drug labels rather than what is happening to the person right in front of them kill patients like Tom Kingston recently and Alana Cutland and others." Alana died on July 25, 2019, when she broke open the door of a small aircraft after fighting off the shocked pilot and researcher Ruth Johnson, who was escorting her back to the UK. 4 4 The student had been taking doxycycline before her death – an antibiotic that kills bacteria in the body and is prescribed by a GP. Her devastated parents Neil and Alison previously said it was 'tragic' that their daughter's death was 'essentially caused by the side effects of doxycycline'. They said: 'We realise that such drugs have an important role to play, but it shocked us to discover that such a severe side effect could be virtually undocumented.' Doxycycline, which is prescribed to treat bacterial infections, has been authorised as an anti-malaria drug for more than 50 years. It is taken orally every 12 hours, with prescriptions normally starting before somebody travels to a country exposed to high-risk of malaria. In a case report published in leading medical journal The BMJ in 2019, three young people with no history of mental illness were treated for skin conditions with doxycycline. All three developed 'suicidal ideation' with an outcome of suicide in two of the cases, the report says. Emily Darlington, MP for Milton Keynes Central, told The Sun: 'My heart goes out to Alana's friends and family. "I am urging the Department of Health to read the coroner's report and consider what changes should be made as a consequence of their recommendations.' What is doxycyline? DOXYCYCLINE is prescribed by GPs to treat bacterial infections. It works by inhibiting protein synthesis in bacteria - meaning it stops bacteria from reproducing rather than killing them outright, giving the body's immune system a better chance to fight off the infection. The drug is prescribed for conditions including malaria, skin, dental and urinary tract infections, sexually transmitted infectins as well as lyme disease. It is also used to combat acne, rosacea and other conditions such as cholera, typhus and anthrax. Side effects include headaches, nausea and vomiting, and an increased sensitivity to sunlight. More serious and rare side effects include allergic reactions, increased pressure around the brain and permanent tooth discolouration in young children. The drug is usually taken by adults and children over 12 years old. Following multiple studies in the UK and globally, a comprehensive review of all reported psychiatric events linked to the drug doxycycline was conducted by the Commission on Human Medicines. No causal link between the drug nd psychiatric adverse reactions like acute psychosis, hallucinations, or suicidality was found, according to the review. Last year, an EMA study of real-world data also supported these findings. In 2020, a scientific consensus report was published by the US National Academies that said: "Based on the available evidence, the committee concludes that there is insufficient or inadequate evidence of an association between the use of doxycycline for malaria prophylaxis and persistent or latent psychiatric events. "Current evidence does not suggest further study of such an association is warranted, given the lack of evidence regarding biologic plausibility." The MHRA has vowed to continue to "closely monitor reports", however, and said it is "considering if further additional studies into this area are required". Dr Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer, told The Sun: 'Patient safety is our top priority. 'Our thoughts remain with Alana Cutland's family following her tragic death. 'A number of reviews into the suspected association between doxycycline and psychiatric events have been conducted both in the UK and globally. "These reviews have consistently not been able to establish a causal link. "However, we continue to keep this issue under close review and will take regulatory action if new evidence emerges that changes the balance of benefits and risks.'
The Independent
20 hours ago
- The Independent
Senegal's ‘schools for husbands' aim to shift gender roles and keep mothers from dying
On a recent evening in Senegal 's capital of Dakar, an imam named Ibrahima Diane explained to a group of men why they should be more involved in household chores. 'The Prophet himself says a man who does not help support his wife and children is not a good Muslim,' the 53-year-old said, as he described bathing his baby and helping his wife with other duties. Some of the 14 men chuckled, not quite sold. Others applauded. Diane was taking part in a 'school for husbands,' a United Nations-backed initiative where respected male community members learn about 'positive masculinity' in health and social issues and promote them in their communities. In Senegal, as in many other West African countries with large rural or conservative populations, men often have the final say in major household decisions, including ones related to health. Women may need their permission for life-changing decisions on accessing family planning or other reproductive health services, along with hospital deliveries or prenatal care. Following his sessions at the school for husbands, Diane regularly holds sermons during Friday prayers where he discusses issues around gender and reproductive health, from gender-based violence to fighting stigma around HIV. 'Many women appreciate my sermons," he said. 'They say their husbands' behavior changed since they attended them." He said some men have told him the sermons inspired them to become more caring husbands and fathers. Habib Diallo, a 60-year-old former army commando, said attending the sermons and discussions with the imam taught him about the risks of home births. 'When my son's wife was pregnant, I encouraged him to take her to the hospital for the delivery,' Diallo said. 'At first, he was hesitant. He worried about the cost and didn't trust the hospital. But when I explained how much safer it would be for both his wife and the baby, he agreed.' No more barking orders The program launched in Senegal in 2011 but in recent years has caught the attention of the Ministry of Women, Family, Gender and Child Protection, which sees it an effective strategy to combat maternal and infant mortality. 'Without men's involvement, attitudes around maternal health won't change," said 54-year-old Aida Diouf, a female health worker who collaborates with the program. Many husbands prefer their wives not be treated by male health workers, she said. The classes for husbands follow similar efforts in other African countries, particularly Niger, Togo, and Burkina Faso, where the United Nations Population Fund says it improved women's access to reproductive health services by increasing male involvement, growing the use of contraceptives by both men and women and expanding access to prenatal care and skilled birth attendants. Discussions for men also have focused on girls' rights, equality and the harmful effects of female genital mutilation. The program now operates over 20 schools in Senegal, and over 300 men have been trained. In some communities, men who once enforced patriarchal norms now promote gender equality, which has led to a reduction in the number of forced marriages and more acceptance of family planning, according to Senegal's ministry of gender. Men join the groups after being recruited based on trust, leadership and commitment. Candidates must be married, respected locally and supportive of women's health and rights. After training, the men act as peer educators, visiting homes and hosting informal talks. 'My husband used to not do much around the house, just bark orders. Now he actually cooks and helps out with daily tasks,' said Khary Ndeye, 52. Still too many dying in childbirth While maternal and infant deaths in Senegal have declined over the past decade, experts say it still has a long way to go. It recorded 237 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births in 2023, while 21 newborns out of every 1,000 died within their first month. The U.N. globally wants to reduce maternal deaths to 70 deaths per 100,000 live births and newborn deaths to under 12 per 1,000 by 2030. One key problem was that many women have been giving birth at home, said El Hadj Malick, one of the Senegal program's coordinators. 'By educating men about the importance of supporting their wives during pregnancy, taking them to the hospital and helping with domestic work at home, you're protecting people's health,' Malick said. He said he still experiences difficulty changing mindsets on some issues. 'When we just talk to them about gender, there is sometimes tension because it's seen as something abstract or even foreign,' Malick said. Some men mistakenly believe such talk will promote LGBTQ+ issues, which remain largely taboo in much of West Africa. "But when we focus on women's right to be healthy, it puts a human face on the concept and its becomes universal,' Malick said. ___ ___ The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
The Guardian
2 days ago
- The Guardian
Dr Anne Merriman obituary
My friend Anne Merriman, who has died aged 90, was a pioneering doctor and founder of the Hospice Africa charity, which aims to offer 'palliative care for all those in need' across the continent. While working in Singapore in the 1980s, Anne devised an affordable morphine-based painkiller, and took it to Africa in the 90s. In 1993 in Kampala, Uganda, she founded Hospice Africa, establishing a hospice model that could be adapted for other countries. By 2023, Hospice Africa had cared for more than 37,000 patients in Uganda, and today it helps provide home-based palliative care in more than 35 countries across Africa. Born in Liverpool, Anne was the third of four children of Josie (nee Dunne), a typist, and Thomas Merriman, a primary school headteacher. Aged four, Anne had opened a magazine about missionaries in Africa and told her mother she was 'going to help these children'. That conviction deepened when, at 14, she watched The Visitation, a film about medical nuns in Africa. After her secondary education at Broughton Hall Convent grammar school, Anne crossed the Irish Sea in 1954 to join the Medical Missionaries of Mary. As a young sister she studied medicine at University College Dublin, and on gaining her degree in 1963, she departed for Nigeria for the first of two postings there. In 1973 Anne left the order and returned to Liverpool to work as a consultant and senior lecturer in geriatric medicine at the David Lewis Northern hospital for four years. The hospital closed in 1978, and Anne continued to develop her compassion-driven approach to palliative care while revamping the geriatric medicine units at hospitals in Whiston and St Helens. Anne's mother was good friends with my grandmother, and our families had in common a favourite holiday cottage in the Lake District. Despite her love of that area, and her ties to Liverpool, after Josie's death in 1981 Anne moved abroad again, first to Malaysia in 1983, to take up an associate professor role in the department of public health at the Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang, then to the National University of Singapore the following year as a senior teaching fellow. From her flat she started the volunteer-led Hospice Care Group, which became the country's Hospice Care Association. With help from the university hospital, she developed a groundbreaking formula of affordable pure oral morphine – comprising morphine powder, water and a preservative. On becoming medical director of the newly opened Nairobi hospice in 1990, Anne took that formula to Kenya. It was Kampala, though, that became home for the last chapter of her life, and where she decided to set up Hospice Africa. There, Anne also helped to establish the African Palliative Care Association (2003) and the Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care in Africa (2009). Anne was made MBE in 2003, and was posthumously conferred with Uganda's National Independence Diamond Jubilee medal. She is survived by two nieces, Paula and Jane.
