Ask Fola

03 Sep 2009

This is your place to ask me questions about your problems. Just type your question as a blog comment and check back for my advice. I hope to get your answers out within the week.

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Teen problems

Tom 
12 Jun 2009 12:30

Dear Auntie Fola,

My daughters are now in their teens - the sexually active age group. The thought that they might soon be in a relationship fills me with horror, especially when I think about all the sexually transmitted infections out there. I find it difficult to talk to them about sex and sexual health. My wife complains that I worry too much about the matter. The thing is, I feel I do not worry enough. I have thought about restricting the girls’ movements, like by imposing curfew, but I know that it will not work. What can I do?

Tom, New Cross

Dear Tom

Auntie Fola 
12 Jun 2009 13:00

You need to understand that although you and your family are African, you now live in a different environment to where you were born. Here in the UK, parental involvement in educating teenagers about sexual health is common.

You and your wife need to improve your communication skills so you can both ‘connect’ with the girls and ensure everybody is relaxed about discussing sex and relationship issues. There is no need for lectures. Casual remarks about the advantages of postponing sex and the risks associated with unsafe sex (e.g. pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections) can make a big impression.

Try and avoid actions that affect your children’s rights, as they could lead to child protection issues. Finally, encourage the girls to access sexual health information that is available from charities and some young people’s websites.

Fola

My friends

Virginia 
12 Jun 2009 13:13

Dear Auntie Fola,

I am an African girl aged 16. I live in North London with my mum, two older brothers and a younger sister. My mum doesn’t like any of my friends because she says they are not from the same ‘background’. Infact she says we children will have to marry only people from my tribe (I am a Muganda from Uganda). She hates it when we bring home friends who are ‘outsiders’. My brothers are particularly upset about this, as their girlfriends are not from Uganda. How can we make mum understand that in choosing a friend, tribe or ethnic origin really should not be an issue?

Virginia, Edmonton

Dear Virginia

Auntie Fola 
12 Jun 2009 13:15

Dear Virginia,

You and your brothers will need to work towards building trust with your mum and creating a good balance between your education (which is of great importance to many African parents) and the things you enjoy doing in your free time.

Try and be mindful of the kind of friends you hang out with. You also need to work on your communication skills, so that you can give good explanations to your mum about why it is the character, not the tribe, of a friend that matters most. Let your mum know that you are capable of making the right decision about what sort of friends you want. Also, let her know that the world today is like one big village, where people from different cultural and ethnic background mix. You can mention examples of couples from different cultures who are married and in a good relationship. You can also encourage your mum to attend workshops aimed at promoting cohesion between the different races.

Fola

Bill Bartmann

Bill Bartmann 
02 Sep 2009 03:03

Great site...keep up the good work. I ♥ Auntie Fola!

Barack Obama’s Schools Address: 8 September 2009

Barack Obama
20 Sep 2009 03:52

The President: Hello everyone – how’s everybody doing today? I’m here with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. And we’ve got students tuning in from all across America, kindergarten through twelfth grade. I’m glad you all could join us today.
I know that for many of you, today is the first day of school. And for those of you in kindergarten, or starting middle or high school, it’s your first day in a new school, so it’s understandable if you’re a little nervous. I imagine there are some seniors out there who are feeling pretty good right now, with just one more year to go. And no matter what grade you’re in, some of you are probably wishing it were still summer, and you could’ve stayed in bed just a little longer this morning.
I know that feeling. When I was young, my family lived in Indonesia for a few years, and my mother didn’t have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school. So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday – at 4:30 in the morning.
Now I wasn’t too happy about getting up that early. A lot of times, I’d fall asleep right there at the kitchen table. But whenever I’d complain, my mother would just give me one of those looks and say, "This is no picnic for me either, buster."
So I know some of you are still adjusting to being back at school. But I’m here today because I have something important to discuss with you. I’m here because I want to talk with you about your education and what’s expected of all of you in this new school year.
Now I’ve given a lot of speeches about education. And I’ve talked a lot about responsibility.
I’ve talked about your teachers’ responsibility for inspiring you, and pushing you to learn.
I’ve talked about your parents’ responsibility for making sure you stay on track, and get your homework done, and don’t spend every waking hour in front of the TV or with that Xbox.
I’ve talked a lot about your government’s responsibility for setting high standards, supporting teachers and principals, and turning around schools that aren’t working where students aren’t getting the opportunities they deserve.
But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, and the best schools in the world – and none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities. Unless you show up to those schools; pay attention to those teachers; listen to your parents, grandparents and other adults; and put in the hard work it takes to succeed.
And that’s what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education. I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself.


Continue: http://www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResources/PreparedSchoolRemarks/

Gnarls!

Jonatha Walters-Abegwe
20 Sep 2009 09:33

Cool site, love the info. I do a lot of research online on a daily basis and for the most part, people lack substance but, I just wanted to make a quick comment to say I'm glad I found your blog. Thanks. Emoticon: Smile

Like me!

Kempo Imaguinwe 
12 Oct 2009 12:35

I'm sure many of you are like me and one of the first things you do in the morning is head here and check out the new post. Along with seeing the new posts, I'm also always checking out the blog roll rss feed and watching them grow, or shrink sometimes. In one of my past ...but all in all excellent site. Keep it up!

photostatic

Donnie Buouye 
12 Oct 2009 13:51

Just wanted to drop you a line to say, I enjoy reading your site. I thought about starting a blog myself but don't have the time.
Oh well maybe one day....

Online Stock Trading

HenleyL 
13 Oct 2009 18:04

Hey, I really enjoy your blog. I have a blog too in a totally unrelated field <A HREF="http://www.fiu.edu/~its/wwwboard/messages/1309.html">(Online Stock Trading)</A> but I like to check in here on a regular basis, just to see what's going on and it's always interesting to say the least. It's always entertaining what people have to say.

holla to all at mambo.org.uk

JoJo Johnnie Jnr
26 Oct 2009 04:59

Yo
I saw the msg on mambo.org.uk
Very well constructed
In fact I have been Googling for something like this for ages
mambo.org.uk is definitely on my bookmarks now.
Great effort congrats !
Jon

good day to all at mambo.org.uk

JoJo Jon
01 Nov 2009 06:45

Hello there Wasup
I read yer msg on mambo.org.uk
Very informative
In fact I have been searching for something similar for yonks
mambo.org.uk is just what I was looking for.
Great effort keep up the good work !
J-Jonski

Licking/kissing of infected person's penis

Bassie 
07 Dec 2009 14:47

Can I get HIV from just kissing/licking a penis with my mouth from an infected person? This thing just happened for just 5 - 10 minutes!!

Regards,
B.

Unprotected sex

Mghanga 
18 Dec 2009 13:18

Dear Auntie Fola,

I attended a workshop where somebody said it is possible for someone to have unprotected sex with a positive person – and not get infected. How’s this possible? I always thought you get the virus the moment you use a condom when having sex with a positive person.

Mghanga, Dalston

Dear Mghanga

Auntie Fola 
18 Dec 2009 13:20

HIV isn't passed on EVERY time unprotected sex happens but it could be passed on ANY time it happens. The risk depends on the following:

What kind of sex
The kind of unprotected sex you have can make a big difference. For example, oral sex is less risky than vaginal sex, which is less risky than anal sex.

Man or a woman.
It's easier for women to get infected (although millions of African men also been infected). If a man has HIV his semen (with the virus in it) is left inside the woman's vagina for a long time, giving HIV more chance to enter her bloodstream. If a woman has HIV it's harder for her body fluids (e.g., vaginal fluid or blood) to get into the man's body through his penis.

Damage during sex
Friction during sex can cause small cuts inside the vagina or on the skin of the penis. The damage can be too small for you to see it but it allows HIV to pass from one body to another.

The amount of HIV inside the body.
People recently infected have a very high level of HIV in their body, making it easier for them to pass on HIV. If a positive person is taking HIV medicines, that usually means less HIV in their body, so they are less likely to infect others.

Ejaculation
The risk of a man infecting someone is greater if he ejaculates inside them. If he pulls out before he ejaculates, the risk is lower (although infection could still happen).

Other illnesses
If an HIV negative person has an illness (e.g. a sexually transmitted infection, TB or malaria) then their immune system is under attack already, so is less able to protect them from getting HIV. If an HIV positive person has another illness, this weakens their immune system even more, leading to higher levels of HIV in their body. This makes it easier for them to pass on HIV.

Circumcision
Studies have shown that circumcised men are less likely to get HIV. Removing the foreskin – which can be easily damaged during sex – makes the tip of the penis tougher and harder for HIV to get through.
But if a circumcised man has HIV this does NOT make him less likely to infect a woman.

All of the things I’ve mentioned above may reduce the risk of HIV infection but none are guaranteed to protect you or your partner. Condoms are the best protection against HIV (and other sexually transmitted infections). If you’d like to talk in confidence to someone about how HIV is passed on you can call the African AIDS Helpline on 0800 0967500 or THT Direct on 0845 1221 200.

A. Fola

M.B.T. 
10 May 2010 23:19

Wow...I'm very enjoy reading your post. Great.

Thanks Dr. Fola for all of your good work on this forum. I enjoy your insights much.

Great, yah.

Armani 
22 May 2010 02:24

Thank for this great post, I like what you write.

Good news.

Jamin Tokwembe 
26 May 2010 00:51

Thanks for good news!

Ed Hardy says...

Ed Hardy
27 May 2010 07:49

good share, great article, very useful for us...thanks!

This article!

Christiana Grace 
18 Jun 2010 16:42

One again, your article's very good. Fola. Thank you! Very much.

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