Pushing Anaemia reduction in women is not just a feminist agenda: Kuda’s story

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"For Kuda, this was a period filled with strange and weird experiences like waking up with a swollen face and swollen feet and, at certain times, experiencing cramps in her teeth and tongue (how crazy is that)"

When we talk about how anaemia exacerbates gender disparities by hindering the learning potential and life opportunities of adolescent girls, weakening their immune systems, and increasing the risk of life-threatening complications during pregnancy and childbirth, some people may mistakenly dismiss it as a feminist agenda statement. However, it's crucial to recognise that these are real experiences that girls are facing right now. To emphasise the profound impact of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) on the lives of adolescent girls – a formative stage that shapes their journey into adulthood and womanhood – let's delve into Kuda's personal story of how she battled IDA during her early adolescent years.

Let me take you back a little. Imagine that year when you were in Form 2 roughly 14 years old, how did it feel, what did you do? For some, it was a moment to enjoy the last days of feeling like a child, probably being hit by confusion here and there while starting to act like the grown-up person you were.  However, for Kuda, this was a period filled with strange and weird experiences like waking up with a swollen face and swollen feet and, at certain times, experiencing cramps in her teeth and tongue (how crazy is that). As if that was not enough, she started fainting regularly be it at school or home. In the summer, she could tell it would be a hot day as early as 4 am because her body would wake up feeling she struggled with those symptoms and missed school frequently, her peers began to speculate. They interpreted her frequent fainting episodes as a sign of pregnancy. This added an extra burden on her as she not only had to focus on her health but also had to deal with the emotional toll of false rumours. This made Kuda’s early high school year unbearable and something not to look forward to.

Kuda made it a priority to improve her iron levels, so she regularly took iron supplements. However, these made her feel bloated, sometimes she would substitute with a syrup which still had an undesirable taste, on occasions when her symptoms were severe instead of blood transfusions she would get drips, which also helped a bit.  However, she struggled to consume certain iron-rich foods like spinach and cabbage, which led her to explore options such as blackjack and drinking boiled avocado leaves and seed water. Her mother frequently sent her bottled beetroot, knowing it was one of her favourite foods. Combined with dietary adjustments and iron supplements, Kuda successfully overcame her iron deficiency anaemia (IDA).

Despite everything, Kuda managed to weather the storm of IDA, and although it left its mark on her life, she emerged even stronger. While this was one of the most severe episodes of IDA, it also serves as a powerful reminder that there is always light at the end of the tunnel if you are willing to seek help and address the issue of IDA.


If you want to also share your iron deficiency anaemia lived experience please do reach out to us on our social media platforms on the link below. 

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