RESUMO
The public health threats posed by diabetes and depression individually have been well emphasised globally. However, it is increasingly important to understand these diseases' causes, relationships, and implications in comorbid states. Depression, anxiety, and diabetes are the top 10 causes of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in countries worldwide. Several reports have also suggested depression to occur two to three times more frequently in people with diabetes mellitus; with the majority of the cases remaining under-diagnosed, the causes and relationship remain rather complex and understudied. Although the exact link between depression and diabetes is yet to be detailed, quite a number of studies have supported that there is a bidirectional relationship between diabetes and depression. As Pieces of evidence, theories and reports continue to shed more light on the cause and relationship between these two conditions, its implications remain understudied, especially in low-middle-income settings. This commentary draws out the need for intentional screening for depressive symptoms in diabetic patients as early as possible from the implications of its neglect. It is, however, recommended that in the management of diabetes mellitus, emphasis should also be placed on depression as a co-morbidity, just as certain other disease conditions like hypertension and dyslipidaemia are considered.
RESUMO
Underneath the façade of supposedly bubbly girls, living daily lives in many parts of Nigeria lies the problem of lack of access to proper menstrual hygiene management tools or kits. From schools to business places, religious organizations amongst others, a hive of women and girls face the harsh reality of inability to manage their periods due to poor access to water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities, common in many low- and middle-income countries of which Nigeria sits top. The issue of privacy and dignity during menstruation is still one area in which women and girls in Nigeria are failed every day. All of these further taking a toll on the emotional life, education, productivity of the girl child amongst others. The pandemic further impedes the ability/efforts of non-governmental organizations hitherto saddled with the responsibility of tutoring young girls in mostly rural and underserved communities the art of making re-useable pads to address the challenge of period poverty. Deep-seated Menstrual taboos, common among many Nigerian tribes have also served as major setbacks to proper menstrual hygiene management. With all of these, the period poverty struggle, made worse by poor water sanitation and hygiene facilities in Nigerian communities continues. There is still an urgent need to increase sensitization, and advocacy to break menstrual taboos, reduce cost and improve access to menstrual hygiene products and facilities especially following the COVID-19 pandemic and its attendant overbearing effects.
