Stephanie Linus Daily

Author: stephanielinusdaily

  • Thank You For 2 Million Facebook Fans!

    Hey lovelies,

    I just found out my Facebook Page now has over 2 Million Fans! Wow, that’s amazing!!!

    I’m grateful for everything. Thank you for your love and support; for your shares, for your comments, for your likes, for your reposts and much more. It means a lot to me, every single one of them!

    I may not be able to respond to every question or comment but I truly appreciate them and thank you for always visiting. Whenever I want to have a good laugh, I know I can get some from the comment section of my Facebook Page. You are all so real. Thank you for your honest expressions, your constructive criticisms and your praise. Truly, you all are awesome.

    Thank you for 2 Million fans!!!

  • We Must Not Keep Silent

    How did we get to the point where a pregnant woman with labour complications will be rushed to a hospital and will be left outside, unattended to, till the point that she dies? How did we get to the point where in that moment of grief and in a desperate attempt to save the unborn twins, her niece was forced to rip the dead woman’s belly open to bring out the babies who also sadly died?

    I’m sure by now you must have heard of this very sad occurrence which took place some days ago in Douala, Cameroon. According to news reports, thirty-one year old, Monique Koumate was inflicted by labour complications and rushed to Laquintini Hospital by her partner on Saturday 12th March, 2016.

    She was reportedly denied medical attention since she had no money and later died at the gates of the hospital. Some reports however claim that the woman was already dead on arrival at the hospital, but it doesn’t change the fact that the babies who were still kicking in her womb could have been saved with proper medical attention.

    Her niece was then forced to rescue the babies through C- section in order to preserve life. She bought a blade in a shop close by, and in the midst of an amazed crowd cut the womb of the dead woman, in an attempt to save the babies.

    One of the twins came out dead. The other was still breathing but some minutes later on died.

    A continent as richly blessed as Africa should not have to witness such tragedy. There should be more value placed on the human life, regardless of how rich or poor the person is.

    I feel so sad for the niece. What she did was so scary, but so brave. I don’t know what I would have done in her situation. The pictures and video of the emergency surgery is so heartbreaking to watch.

    It’s really such a shame that we had to loose three precious lives to a situation that could have been avoided. Their death is a reminder that we cannot keep silent, that we need to do more as a people, as a nation and as a continent. Africa continues to stay at the bottom of the rank with regards to maternal health and access to affordable health care.

    But I refuse to believe hope is lost. We must continue to speak out, continue to demand better systems in healthcare, in politics, in education, in governance, in development and much more.

    Their deaths are a reminder of how much it hurts. Their deaths must not be in vain.

     

  • It’s Endometriosis Awareness Week: 10 Things You Need To Know About The Condition

    Hey ladies,

    Let’s have some serious talk about our health today, shall we?

    You’ve probably heard of the term “Endometriosis“. Some women who have had severe menstrual pain have probably heard about this as it is one of the symptoms of this condition. It is a chronic condition that affects approximately 1 in 10 women’s reproductive health.

    Despite the fact that millions of women are currently living with the disease it’s not a well understood condition.

    So, what is endometriosis? In brief: endometriosis is a disease in which tissue that normally grows inside the womb grows outside it – most commonly on the ovaries and fallopian tubes, inside the abdomen and on the bowl and bladder. This tissue responds to the menstrual cycle each month and also bleeds. This can cause pain, inflammation and the formation of scar tissue because there is no way for this blood to leave the body.

    Endometriosis can manifest itself in lots of different ways and partly because we all still tend to dismiss ‘menstrual issues’ as the sort of pain women should put up with. We normalise ‘women’s pain’ to the extent that women often dismiss their own symptoms and delay seeking help.

    When symptoms are present, they may include:

    • Abdominal cramps or back pain during menstruation.
    • Very painful menstrual cramps.
    • Painful bowel movements.
    • Painful urination, especially during menstruation.
    • Abnormal or heavy bleeding during periods.
    • Painful sex.
    • Difficulty becoming pregnant.

    So ladies, if you’ve noticed any of the above symptoms, please don’t keep it to yourself. Speak to your doctor about it immediately!

    As we mark the Endometriosis Awareness Week, I’d like to share 10 important facts about the condition which I found HERE:

    1. Endometriosis can affect any woman of child-bearing age (it is rare in women who have been through the menopause)
    2. Symptoms include: pelvic pain, heavy periods, bladder and bowel problems, fatigue, depression, pain during or after sexual intercouse, problems conceiving and difficulty fulfilling professional and social commitments. (NB: some women don’t experience any symptoms at all).
    3. Any pain experienced often correlates to your menstrual cycle, but not always. Equally, the severity of pain experienced does not always correlate to the amount of scar tissue present, the pain is more dependent on where the abnormal tissue is located.
    4. There is currently no cure, no proven cause or known way of preventing endometriosis.
    5. There are some ways to manage symptoms. These include: pain relief, complementary therapies, hormone treatment and surgery. The best course of action will be recommended depending on the patient’s age, severity of the disease and desire to have children.
    6. The only definitive way to diagnose endometriosis is by a laparoscopy – a small operation that involves inserting a camera into the pelvis via the belly button.
    7. The disease can cause infertility. But 50% of women suffering from endometriosis will not experience any problems conceiving.
    8. Endometriosis is not an infection and it is not contagious.
    9. Some women experience relief from their symptoms during pregnancy but in many cases symptoms return along with a woman’s period. Pregnancy is not a cure for the disease.
    10. Having a hysterectomy does not always cure endometriosis. It only treats the disease on the organs that were removed.

    Ladies, have you had any experience with this condition or its symptoms? What steps did you take to help yourself?

    Let’s share…

  • Monday Motivation: Practice The Pause

    A brand new week is at your doorstep. It’s my prayer that this week brings you more joy than you’ve ever imagined! Let’s all keep our minds busy on all that is pure, true, noble, admirable, excellent, lovely, and praiseworthy.

    Sometimes things get hectic, or maybe confusing. But I’ve found something that works for me all the time which I’d like to share with you today.

    Just PAUSE.

    This image below says it all:

    Clipboard23 And I’d like to add: Whenever the situation looks bleak, take a deep breath…everything is going to be OK. #FaithOverFear #MondayMotivation #YoureNotAlone #ShineStrong

    Stay positive, stay hopeful.

    Work hard for what you want because it won’t come to you without a fight. Keep on believing in yourself and stay blessed.

    Have a lovely week!

    xoxo
    Stephanie

  • The Big WIN!

    Happy Sunday Lovelies! I trust you’re having a relaxing day.

    I’m sure by now, you’ve heard about the big win at the recent Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) 2015.

    Yay!!! DRY won three awards including the most coveted award of the night:
    Best Costume Design – Uche Nancy
    Best Sound Editor – Marquex Jose Guillermo
    Best Overall Movie In Africa – Stephanie Linus

    the big winIt was such an honour to get such recognition for a movie with a deep social message and cause. I’m grateful to the organisers of the AMVCA, all our sponsors, cast and crew who believed in this project. I’m also grateful to you for your votes and for believing in us.

    One of the big surprises of the AMVCA Night was the brand new GS5 Car which I won from GAC Motors. It was such a big surprise and it symbolizes a lot that I am grateful for. I recently picked up the car at an event organised by GAC Motors and their sole dealer, CIG Motors.

    It’s really a lovely car and I can’t wait to start using it!

    Stephanie-and-Lala Stephanie-and-Lala1

    Keep spreading the word about Fistula and Child Marriages.

    Wishing you a fabulous week!

  • WOW! I Made The NPR’s List Of Names We’d Like To See When We Google ‘Women Changing The World’

    I feel so humbled right now.

    In honor of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, NPR.org put together a list of some amazing global women in an article titled: Names We’d Like To See When We Google ‘Women Changing The World’.

    It really humbled me to find out I made the list, and I’m so grateful to the organisation and many others who appreciate our work. Through the movie, DRY, and the Extended Hands Foundation, we have been working to raise awareness about the negative effect of poor maternal health and early marriage such as Vesico Vaginal Fistula. Also, through the support of donor organisations, we have repaired some women in different communities who have been living with this condition. We are not relenting in our work, and recognitions like this go a long way in encouraging us.

    According to NPR, the list is comprised of “some of the unsung women making strides in the developing world. Maybe in a few years they’ll top Google’s lists of women changing the world in ways large and small.”

    Here’s what they had to say about me:

    Stephanie Linus, filmmaker

    Linus, 33, a Nigerian filmmaker and actor, created a Nollywood movie called DRY about obstetric fistula — a hole between the vagina and bladder (or rectum in some cases) that can result from prolonged obstructed labor in childbirth, leaving a woman unable to control her bodily waste. Some 2 million women are affected worldwide. Surgery can help but is not always an option, since many of the women affected are poor. She hopes her film educates the world about the problem, and she’s raising money for the Extended Hands Foundation, which she set up to support surgical help.

    Other women who were profiled on the list include: Dr. Odontuya Davaasuren, a doctor and professor; Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, a documentary filmmaker who won the Oscar for best documentary, short subject, for A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness and Garmai Sumo, a nurse in Liberia who works with children orphaned by the deadly virus.

    CLICK HERE to see the full list and read the stories of these amazing women.

     

  • Fun Photos From The ‘Nolly Thursday’ Screening Of DRY

    Hey lovelies!

    I trust you’ve had a great week.

    It was so nice to see some of you who came out for the special screening of DRY at Nolly Thursday, yesterday. The event which took place at the Genesis Deluxe Cinema, Lekki, Lagos was a fun one!

    I always love getting feedback from my fans and viewers about my work and that’s one special thing I was able to get from this event. Aside from the interesting photo session, selfies and mingling which we had before seeing the movie, there was also a Q&A session after the movie where I had the opportunity to share a lot more with everyone.

    I must say, I had an amazing evening! Thanks for the love, thanks for the selfies, thanks for a great time.

    I mustn’t forget Falz The Badh Guy, the MC of the night who made it such a fun event.

    Thanks to everyone who came. It was fun meeting you and watching DRY again with you all.

    Here are some photos:

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  • Meet With Me & Watch DRY At A Special Screening Tomorrow – Genesis Deluxe Cinemas, Lekki

    After carting away the most coveted award at the AMVCA 2016 over the weekend, DRY will be showing this Thursday 10th March at the Genesis Deluxe Cinema in Lekki, Lagos.

    The highly acclaimed movie, DRY, won three awards at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards 2016 on Saturday 5th March. The movie carted away the award for Best Costume Design, Best Sound and Best Overall movie in Africa.nolly thursday

    This special screening is a great opportunity for those who haven’t watched the award winning movie to do so. It will be screened at a discounted ticket price on Nolly Thursday, which is a showcase for the best of Nigerian films.

    The event kicks off at 6pm with pictures and mingling and then the first screening will start at about 7pm. There will be a Q&A session after the screening where guests will have an opportunity to meet with me and ask interesting questions.

    Falz D Bahd Guy will be the anchor of the special hangout. There will be music, cocktails, autographs and of course lots of fun.

    So, make it a date! Come along with your friends and family members.

    I look forward to seeing you!!!

  • A Strong Woman Is….

    We all look up to strong, independent women. But how do we become one ourselves?

    Its easy to give in to feelings of self-doubt and back down from challenges. But that’s certainly not what being a strong woman is all about.

    As we celebrate the International Women’s Day today, I am reminded of the qualities of a strong woman and encourage us all to stay strong always:

    A strong woman is one who feels deeply and loves fiercely.
    Her tears flow just as abundantly as her laughter…

    A strong woman is both soft and powerful
    She is both practical and spiritual…

    A strong woman in her essence is a gift to the world…

    A strong woman builds her own world.
    She is one who is wise enough to know that it will attract the man she will gladly share it with.

    A strong woman is one who is able to smile in the morning, like she wasn’t crying last night.

    A stong woman become strong because of the pain she has faced and won

    A woman with a voice, is by definition, a strong woman!

    What is your definition of a strong woman?

  • She Is Still A Child! #EseOruru

    I’ve been keenly following Ese Oruru‘s story on the news for some time now and the turn of events is really shocking, I must say!

    Different versions of her story keep creeping up in the news. It’s hard to know what to believe anymore.

    What I find most appalling is some people are blaming her for her predicament. Blaming a 14 year-old girl! For what! She is still a child!!

    It’s even more sad that there are still lots of girls taken from their parents care across the country and sexually abused everyday!

    Kudos to PUNCH for bringing Ese’s story to the fore. There are many more Ese’s out there who have been turned to sex slaves as young girls.

    If we must learn anything from Ese’s story, it is that we must put more efforts into protecting the girl child.

    Ese is just a child. The conditions under which she was abducted or left her parent’s home is not the issue. She is a minor who was abused.

    Now she is bearing a child and her life has taken on a whole new path.

    She needs counselling and our prayers. But most of all, we all have a collective responsibility to ensure this doesn’t repeat itself again.

    My prayers go out to Ese and her family I pray they find the strength to recover from this shocking experience

    I also pray for the young girls who were kidnapped from a secondary school in Lagos. May they be found safely and reunited with their families.

    #EseOruru, #ChildNotBride, #GirlChildEducation