Tell Them About Health

Tell Them About Health T-TAH | Transforming health education through story telling.

HE WENT TO DONATE BLOOD, BUT WHAT HE DISCOVERED LEFT HIM IN TEARS.Musa, a 30-year-old entrepreneur, was at the hospital ...
29/08/2026

HE WENT TO DONATE BLOOD, BUT WHAT HE DISCOVERED LEFT HIM IN TEARS.

Musa, a 30-year-old entrepreneur, was at the hospital to donate blood for his sick neighbour because her blood level was low. Since her sister said she was O+, just like him, he decided to help.

But something unexpected happened.

He was told that besides ensuring that his blood group was compatible, his blood also had to be screened to make sure it was safe for donation.

Musa felt offended at first. He said he was healthy and had never been to the hospital because of any serious illness. After much persuasion, he agreed to the screening.

Moments later, when the results were out, he discovered that he had hepatitis B infection.

Musa sank into the chair in the consulting room. Tears flowed down his cheeks, regret written all over his face.

“I wish I had taken the test and gotten vaccinated earlier. Now I have to deal with this.”

He argued that he was fine, but he didn't know that he could have Hepatitis B infection even without obvious symptoms.

If you're like Musa, here are some vital facts you should know about hepatitis B:

✓ It is a viral infection that attacks the liver. It can be acute or chronic.

✓ In 2024, hepatitis B caused an estimated 1.1 million deaths worldwide, mostly from complications such as liver cirrhosis and primary liver cancer.

✓ It can be transmitted through:

• Mother-to-child during birth.

• Contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person.

• Unprotected s*x with an infected partner.

• Exposure to contaminated needles or other sharp instruments.

• Unsafe blood transfusion.

Some symptoms of hepatitis B infection include:

✓ Yellowing of the skin and eyes.

✓ Passing dark-coloured urine.

✓ Feeling nauseous.

✓ Vomiting.

✓ Feeling tired.

✓ Abdominal pain.

However, many people with hepatitis B may have no symptoms, especially when they are newly infected. This is one reason testing is important.

The good news is that hepatitis B can be prevented with vaccination.

You can also reduce your risk of infection by:

✓ Not sharing needles or sharp personal items such as clippers and razor blades.

✓ Avoiding contact with infected blood or body fluids and practising good hygiene after such exposure.

✓ Practising safe s*x by using condoms, and avoiding multiple s*xual partners.

✓ Getting tested, especially if you may have been exposed to the virus.

Hepatitis B is not something to be ashamed of, and a positive test is not the end of the road. People living with chronic hepatitis B can be monitored and, when necessary, treated to reduce the risk of serious liver complications.

Do not wait until you need to donate blood before you find out your hepatitis B status.

Get tested. Know your status. If you are not vaccinated, speak with a healthcare professional about getting vaccinated.

Have you ever checked your hepatitis B status or received the hepatitis B vaccine? Share this post with someone who needs to see it.

Note: This fictional story is solely for the purpose of health education, and not medical advice.

© Faith Nungak
T-TAH| Transforming Health Education Through Storytelling

Anyone who saw me during those days said I looked frustrated. They only saw the expression, but they couldn't feel what ...
24/07/2026

Anyone who saw me during those days said I looked frustrated. They only saw the expression, but they couldn't feel what I was carrying inside. Frustration didn't even seem like the right word for it.

My energy was always low. I was exhausted, and my mind felt distant from my job. I had never imagined that the job I once prayed for would no longer excite me.

I was heartbroken when my colleague said, "Working with you used to be enjoyable, but lately, I don't know anymore."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"You always show up tired. You lose interest easily, and you've become less productive," he said.

"I don't know what's wrong with me. Maybe I'm depressed," I finally admitted.

"Maybe you're experiencing burnout," he said.

"Burnout?" I repeated. "What does that even mean?"

"Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion that can result from prolonged or poorly managed stress, especially chronic stress related to work," he explained.

"Poorly managed stress," I echoed. "But I try," I said, disturbed.

"Yes, you do," my colleague replied, "but maybe you've been carrying more than you can manage alone. I think you should seek help."

"Thank you," I said.

I went to see a mental health professional. After listening to everything I had been feeling, she asked me one question.

"When was the last time you truly rested?"

That question led to a conversation that changed everything. Not overnight, but gradually.

I started making small changes. I took my meal breaks instead of skipping them. I asked for support instead of pretending I was fine. I spent less time on my phone and started prioritizing sleep.

Little by little, I began to feel like myself again. Then I realized that rest is not a sign of weakness. It is something my body deserves.

If you are experiencing burnout:

✓ Seek help when you need it. You don't have to do everything on your own. Delegate tasks when possible, and consider seeking support from a qualified mental health professional, such as a psychologist, therapist, or counselor.

✓ Take regular breaks whenever you can. Eat balanced meals, and avoid skipping meals.

✓ Reduce unnecessary screen time, especially before bedtime, and prioritize getting enough quality sleep.

✓ Engage in activities that help you relax and manage stress. Examples include yoga, deep breathing exercises, spending time in nature, or hobbies you enjoy.

✓ Practice mindfulness by acknowledging your thoughts and feelings without judging yourself.

If this story reminds you of yourself or someone you care about, don't wait until you are completely exhausted. Start making small changes today, and encourage someone else to do the same.

Note: This story is fictional and written solely for health education. It is not medical advice. If symptoms of burnout, depression, or emotional distress persist or interfere with your daily life, consider speaking with a qualified healthcare or mental health professional.

© Faith Nungak

T-TAH (Tell Them About Health) | Transforming Health Education Through Storytelling

If anyone had told me that this stomach pain would turn out this way, I wouldn't have believed it. Maybe it was because ...
22/07/2026

If anyone had told me that this stomach pain would turn out this way, I wouldn't have believed it. Maybe it was because of how it started. It was just a dull pain around my belly button. I thought it had something to do with what I had eaten earlier, so I drank warm water and took a rest. But the pain didn't go away. Then I took some painkillers, hoping it would pass. Instead, it got worse.

A few hours later, the pain moved to the lower right side of my belly. I started feeling like I wanted to vomit, and I lost my appetite. My friend kept insisting that we should go to the hospital, but I insisted it was just stomach pain and that I would be fine. By evening, I could barely stand. My friend alerted our neighbours, who rushed me to the hospital.

At the hospital, the doctor examined me and requested some tests. Then he told me I had acute appendicitis. He explained that I needed surgery as soon as possible because delaying treatment increases the risk that the inflamed appendix could burst. If that happened, the infection could spread inside my abdomen, making treatment more complicated and recovery much longer.

I was fortunate. I received treatment before my appendix burst.

Now, this is what I want you to know.

Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix, a small finger like pouch attached to the large intestine. It commonly starts with pain around the belly button before moving to the lower right side of the abdomen. The pain often becomes worse over several hours. Some people may also feel like vomiting, lose their appetite, or develop a fever. Symptoms can vary from person to person and do not always follow the typical pattern.

If you experience severe or worsening abdominal pain, especially if it is accompanied by vomiting, loss of appetite, fever, or pain that moves to the lower right side of your abdomen, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Do not ignore persistent or worsening pain. Do not rely on painkillers or home remedies instead of getting assessed by a healthcare professional.

This fictional story is written solely for the purpose of health education and should not be regarded as medical advice.

© Faith Nungak
T-TAH | Transforming Health Education Through Storytelling

There was a time I thought my mum was simply being overprotective.She insisted I ate fruits and vegetables, stayed hydra...
15/07/2026

There was a time I thought my mum was simply being overprotective.

She insisted I ate fruits and vegetables, stayed hydrated, wore warm clothes when the weather was cold, got enough rest, and never missed my medication each time I was on any.

As a teenager, I couldn't understand why she was so strict. I thought she was trying to control every aspect of my life.

To avoid arguments, I eventually started following her advice.

Then something changed.

My sickle cell crises became less frequent. My hospital visits reduced, and the pain was no longer a constant part of my life.

That experience taught me an important lesson:

Health is often protected by the small, consistent habits we overlook.

For people living with sickle cell disease, prevention is not just a recommendation, it can make a real difference. Staying hydrated, taking prescribed medications, eating a balanced diet, getting adequate rest, avoiding extreme temperatures, and attending regular medical check-ups can help reduce the risk of crises.

Looking back, I now understand that my mum wasn't trying to control me.

She was helping me live a healthier life.

PS: This fictional story is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice.

© Faith Nungak

T-TAH | Transforming Health Education through Story Telling.

The Lady Who Collapsed at Her GraduationIt was a joyful day as Fatima's family and friends gathered to celebrate her gra...
09/07/2026

The Lady Who Collapsed at Her Graduation

It was a joyful day as Fatima's family and friends gathered to celebrate her graduation, a milestone she had worked so hard to achieve.

With a smile on her face, she climbed the stairs leading to the podium to receive her award as the Best Graduating Student. Just a few steps away from the podium, her vision became blurry. She felt dizzy, lost her balance, and collapsed.

The hall erupted into panic.

Her father rushed to her side while lecturers and a few medical personnel in the audience hurried to help. Together, they carried her to the school clinic as worried family members followed behind.

"Village people ooo!" a middle-aged woman in a flowing boubou gown and black turban exclaimed.

"Maybe it's stage fright," another woman sitting beside her suggested.

What no one knew was that Fatima had been silently battling a problem for the past six months.

Her monthly periods had become unusually heavy. She changed her sanitary pads almost every two hours because they became soaked so quickly. The bleeding often lasted more than seven days and was sometimes accompanied by large blood clots.

A friend had once told her that her aunt also bled heavily during her periods, so Fatima convinced herself it was "normal."

As the months went by, she became tired more easily. Climbing a flight of stairs left her breathless, and even small activities made her heart race. Her friends often commented that she looked pale, but she blamed it on the stress of her final year.

She ignored the warning signs.

That afternoon, on the happiest day of her academic journey, her body could no longer keep up.

At the hospital, blood tests revealed a problem.

"Fatima," the doctor said gently, "your blood level is dangerously low. The heavy menstrual bleeding have caused severe anaemia."

Anaemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to its tissues. In Fatima's case, the prolonged heavy menstrual bleeding had gradually drained her body's iron stores, leaving her weak and exhausted.

The doctors stabilized her and referred her to a gynecologist so the cause of her heavy menstrual bleeding could be properly investigated and treated, helping to prevent it from happening again.

Lying in her hospital bed, Fatima couldn't stop thinking about all the warning signs she had ignored because she believed that heavy periods were something women had to endure.
Before she was discharged, the gynecologist told Fatima something she wished she had known months earlier:

Heavy menstrual bleeding, medically known as menorrhagia, should not be ignored. See a doctor if you:

✓ Need to change your sanitary pad or tampon every two hours or less because it becomes soaked.

✓ Need to use two sanitary pads at the same time to control the bleeding.

✓ Pass large blood clots during your period.

✓ Bleed for more than seven days.

✓ Experience unusual tiredness, weakness, dizziness, or shortness of breath.

The earlier the cause is identified and treated, the better the outcome.

Your health is your greatest wealth.

PS:This story is fictional and written solely for health education. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

© Faith Nungak
T-TAH | Transforming Health Education Through Storytelling

I didn't know that those painkillers could cause a peptic ulcer.It started with a burning pain in my stomach. Some days ...
08/07/2026

I didn't know that those painkillers could cause a peptic ulcer.

It started with a burning pain in my stomach. Some days it got worse when I hadn't eaten. Other days, eating seemed to make it worse. Then came the burning pain in my chest, belching, and occasional urge to vomit. I blamed my irregular eating habits, my love for spicy food, and the stress from work.

One afternoon, I mentioned it to my friend Nengak, a medical student.

"I think I have a peptic ulcer," I said. "I've been skipping meals a lot, eating too much pepper, and work has been stressful."

Nengak smiled. "Those things can make the symptoms worse, but they don't usually cause peptic ulcer disease."

I frowned. "Then what does?"

"The two major causes are a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori and long-term use of certain painkillers known as NSAIDs."

"NSAIDs?"

"Yes. Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs. Medicines like Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Diclofenac, and Naproxen."

I was shocked.

"Oh!"

"What is it?" he asked.

"I've been taking Diclofenac and Ibuprofen regularly for months because of my backache."

"That could explain it," he said. "But don't jump to conclusions. You need to see a doctor. There are other conditions that can cause similar symptoms, so it's important to get properly evaluated."

The next day, I went to the hospital.

The doctor asked about my symptoms, my eating habits, my medical history, and the medications I had been taking. I also underwent some investigations, including a test for H. pylori.

When the results came back, the H. pylori test was negative.

"So... if I don't have H. pylori, what's causing the ulcer?" I asked without remembering our conversation with Nengak the other day.

"Based on your symptoms, examination, test results, and your history of frequent NSAID use, you have peptic ulcer disease most likely caused by those painkillers."

"How can painkillers cause an ulcer?"

"NSAIDs reduce the production of substances called prostaglandins, which normally help protect the lining of your stomach and small intestine. Without enough protection, the lining becomes more vulnerable to damage from stomach acid. Over time, an ulcer can develop."

I suddenly remembered every tablet I had swallowed over the past few months. My stomach sank.

"So what happens if someone ignores it?"

"If left untreated, a peptic ulcer can lead to serious complications," the doctor explained. "It may bleed, causing vomiting of blood or passing black, tarry stools. It can also create a hole in the stomach or intestine, called a perforation, or cause a blockage that prevents food from passing normally."

"That sounds serious."

"It is. The good news is that peptic ulcer disease is treatable, and many cases can be prevented."

"How?"

He smiled.

"First, avoid taking NSAIDs unnecessarily. If you need them for a long time, speak with your healthcare provider about the safest option and the appropriate dose.

"If you smoke, quit. Limit alcohol intake because both can delay healing and increase the risk of complications.

"Practise good hygiene—wash your hands regularly, eat properly cooked food, and drink clean water. These measures help reduce the risk of H. pylori infection.

"And for you," he added, "avoid NSAIDs for now. I've prescribed another medication for your backache. Also, while skipping meals, spicy foods, and stress didn't cause your ulcer, they can make your symptoms worse, so try to eat regularly, reduce foods that trigger your symptoms, and manage your stress."

I nodded. "Okay, Doctor."

As I picked up my prescription, I made myself a promise.

I'd stop treating painkillers like harmless sweets.

And I'd tell other people what I'd learnt too.

Peptic ulcer disease is often preventable.

Use painkillers responsibly. Practise good hygiene. Don't ignore persistent stomach pain, and don't self-diagnose. If you think you may have a peptic ulcer, see a healthcare professional for proper evaluation and treatment.

PS: This fictional story is for health education only and should not be taken as personal medical advice.

© T-TAH | Tell Them About Health

Transforming health education through storytelling.

You are not lazy. If you feel tired all the time, something is off.“I’m just tired.”You say it often.Almost every day.Bu...
11/04/2026

You are not lazy. If you feel tired all the time, something is off.

“I’m just tired.”

You say it often.
Almost every day.

But deep down, you know something feels off.
Constant fatigue is not something to ignore.
It is often your body asking for help.

Not more caffeine.
Not more pressure.
Not more pushing.
Just better care.

Here are common reasons you may feel this way:

• Poor sleep
Sleep is when your body repairs itself. If your sleep is short or broken, your body does not recover properly. That is why even after resting, you may still wake up tired.

• Skipping meals
Food is your body’s fuel. Missing meals can cause low blood sugar, leading to weakness, dizziness, and low energy throughout the day.

• Mental overload
Too much stress or emotional strain can drain your mind. Over time, this shows up as physical tiredness, even when you have not done much physically.

If this feels like you, pause and listen to your body.

Start small:
Eat regularly.
Rest properly.
Create quiet moments for your mind.

And if it continues, speak to a healthcare professional.
You deserve to feel well, not just get through the day.

Have you been feeling like this lately? Save this post and take one small step today.

Photo Credit: Internet

09/04/2026

Your headaches could be telling you more than you think! It's easy to dismiss them as just stress, but they can signal important health factors like dehydration, poor sleep, eye strain, or even high blood pressure. Don't ignore what your body is trying to tell you. Watch our reel for key insights.

Start tracking your symptoms for 3 days to understand your triggers better!

You wash your hands… but are they truly clean?Most people rush handwashing and miss the spots where germs hide.Washing y...
08/04/2026

You wash your hands… but are they truly clean?

Most people rush handwashing and miss the spots where germs hide.

Washing your hands properly is one of the simplest ways to prevent infections and stay healthy. But technique matters.

Here is how to do it right:

• Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds

• Use soap, not just water

• Clean between your fingers and under your nails

• Rinse well and dry with a clean towel

It is good to wash, but it is better to wash well

A few extra seconds can protect you and the people around you from illness.

Good handwashing is a habit that saves lives.

Save this post and start washing your hands the right way today.

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