Taba Addiction and Its Risks Amongst Gambian Women and Women –
By Nyima Sillah
“Taba,” the Mandinka time period for tobacco, refers to a regionally made tobacco substance that was generally utilized by older generations in The Gambia properly earlier than independence. This follow, which was usually adopted by people searching for power boosts or stress reduction, has taken a troubling flip lately. Today, a combination of varied substances underneath the identical title is getting used predominantly by ladies and women, and shockingly, it’s utilized by means of their genitals for a spread of functions.
Sold discreetly at native markets and inside communities, the substance is normally wrapped in small plastic knot-packs. Women have coined it “Musul la boro” in Mandinka and “Garab jigeen” in Wolof, each which means “medicine for women.” However, this so-called medication is having alarming well being penalties, with specialists elevating issues about its harmful results. Addiction to Taba amongst Gambian ladies is reportedly on the rise, primarily based on anecdotal proof.
Due to the delicate nature of the problem, and on the request of some sources, their actual names will likely be withheld.
Long-Distance Marriage: A Path to Taba Use
Fatima, 35, married in her closing yr of highschool to a husband who quickly left The Gambia for Europe through the irregular back-way migration. Over eight years later, her husband nonetheless hasn’t been in a position to go to because of lack of documentation. This separation led Fatima to start utilizing Taba, which in the end triggered her to develop pelvic inflammatory illness.
“One day, on my way to the market, a neighborhood friend told me about Taba. I tried it, and the first time, I thought I was going to die—I felt dizzy, constantly vomited, and had diarrhea,” Fatima defined. After that first unhealthy expertise, she stopped for some time however later resumed utilizing it and have become addicted.
“Once you get used to it, you stop worrying about your man. You don’t care whether he’s there or not. Now, I regret it. I’m on continuous medication to treat myself before my husband returns. The treatment is helping, but I don’t feel the same anymore,” she stated.
Divorce Caused by Taba Addiction
Isatou had waited for years for a suitor, however nobody requested for her hand in marriage. A pal prompt that Taba would assist her lose curiosity in married males. Unfortunately, her first expertise was disastrous.
“The first time I used it, I became unconscious. After I recovered, I used it again. Recently, I got married, but I can’t stop. Every time I use it, I feel repulsed by my husband’s touch. When he tries to be intimate, it doesn’t work, and we argue—leading to our divorce,” she shared.
From Medical Remedy to Pleasure
Awa’s expertise with Taba started when it was launched to her as a remedy for infections. However, over time, she realized that it didn’t heal her, and the pleasure it introduced saved her hooked.
“It causes bruising, intense itching, and even prevents me from urinating. Sometimes I bleed, but that doesn’t stop me from using it,” Awa defined. “It has become an addiction. I used to apply it only at night when my husband was away, but now I use it more than twice a day.”
Despite its small measurement and low value—D10—Awa famous that the extra one makes use of it, the extra it drains her financially.
The Booming Business of Taba
Fanta, a seasoned Taba vendor, proudly speaks of her thriving enterprise, narrating “I sell two types of Taba—one for snuff and the intra-vaginal variety. I keep the intra-vaginal Taba hidden, but customers know where to find me,” she stated. “On a busy day, I can sell between 2,000 to 3,000 dalasis, with some customers buying up to D500 worth.”
She declared that the intra-vaginal Taba is saved in a plastic bottle, rigorously avoided the wind to stop it from drying out, as it will lose its efficiency. Some clients even purchase it to resell in Europe.
Kumba, one other supplier, defined that the wholesale worth is D500 for a full black plastic bag, and she or he sells particular person packs for D10 to D15. She dismissed issues about its dangerous results, saying, “People say it’s bad, but I see nothing wrong with it. The first time is tough, but once you get used to it, it makes you feel good.”
Kumba admits she doesn’t know the precise chemical substances utilized in Taba, however she believes they don’t trigger hurt.
The Health Risks of Taba
Gambian gynecologist Dr. Musa Marena, Head of Reproductive Maternal, Neonatal, Child, and Adolescent Health on the Ministry of Health, offered a grim evaluation of Taba’s results.
“Taba is a concoction that contains substances with aphrodisiac properties. It is used to treat sexual infections or dysfunctions, but the danger lies in the way it is absorbed by the body,” Dr. Marena defined. “It can cause chemical injury to the reproductive tract, increasing the risk of infections and complicating the healing process.”
Dr. Marena emphasised that Taba’s use can result in extreme reproductive penalties, together with infertility, sexual dysfunction, and even deformity of the vagina. He additionally identified that it heightens the chance of sexually transmitted infections, resembling HIV and cervical most cancers.
“Most women using Taba do so in secret. When we examine them, we often find signs of its use. The substances are usually sticky, powdery, and black,” he added. According to Dr. Marena, the most typical customers are ladies between the ages of 25 and 45.
The Need for Awareness and Legislation
Women’s rights activist and Country Director of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, Tabu Njie Sarr, referred to as for instant motion. She famous that the unfavourable well being impression of Taba is critical, with rising issues about fertility points among the many youthful technology.
“Taba has been around for generations, but its current use needs to be addressed as it is harming both individuals and the health system,” Sarr warned. She additionally expressed concern about its rising prevalence amongst schoolgirls, citing peer stress and experimentation as components driving utilization.
“We need more data to create awareness and build capacity. Taba should be categorized alongside other harmful practices, with a concerted advocacy campaign to raise awareness,” she stated.
Hon. Fatou Sanyang Kinteh, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Welfare
Gender Minister Fatou Kinteh acknowledged that the advocacy in opposition to Taba use has been ongoing since 2020. Her ministry, in partnership with the Mothers Health Foundation (MOHF), has been working to lift consciousness about its unfavourable well being impacts, together with coaching feminine councilors on the problem.
“If Taba is banned, it will have a much greater impact and will be the only way we can truly succeed,” she emphasised. “But we need to collaborate with MOHF and the Ministry of Health to determine what can be done.”
Minister Kinteh expressed issues concerning the lack of knowledge on Taba utilization, explaining that having such knowledge would permit them to set measurable targets, much like the strategy taken with the combat in opposition to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). “With FGM, we conducted studies to gather data and use it as a baseline to measure the impact of our advocacy efforts. But with Taba, the situation is different. We need a study to understand the extent of its use, so we can develop accurate data and set clear goals to address the issue,” she added.
While she urged ladies and women to cease utilizing Taba, Kintehlamented the troubling proven fact that younger ladies are nonetheless participating in its use. She referred to as on them to cease contemplating the intense well being penalties related to it.
Fatmata Tambi of the Mothers Health Foundation (MOHF) defined that the trendy model of Taba is a modified type of the substance as soon as utilized by elders, containing substances resembling cow dung, burnt tree ashes, and marijuana. She echoed Minister Kinteh’s name for additional analysis to grasp the chemical composition of the substance, revealing that their basis is awaiting outcomes from a research performed by their analysis companions to analyze this.
“Taba should be included in tobacco regulations, with surveillance and legal action against violators,” Tambi really helpful. “It’s also crucial for users, or former users, to schedule regular screenings to ensure they receive timely treatment and discontinue its use.”
The Islamic Perspective on Taba
Sheikh Ebrahim Jarju, Vice President of the Supreme Islamic Council, described Taba as “haram” (forbidden) in Islam. He defined that using Taba undermines the marital bond by diminishing the pleasure a lady ought to expertise along with her husband, which violates Islamic rules.
“If a woman uses Taba, she denies her husband the rights to the pleasure that should come from their union,” he stated. He additionally warned that continued use of Taba might result in infertility and in the end hurt the start price, which impacts future generations.
The Way Forward: Legislation and Education
In 2022, researchers from the University of The Gambia and the University of Ibadan in Nigeria performed a research on genital tobacco powder use amongst Gambian ladies. The research discovered that ladies with decrease training ranges had been extra inclined to utilizing Taba, usually inspired by shut family and friends.
According to the research’s authors, creating consciousness is the simplest solution to fight the follow. However, a lot stays to be finished to deal with the rising downside and stop additional hurt.
The authorities, civil society, and media should all unite in a proactive marketing campaign to guard ladies and women from the risks of Taba.
Final Thoughts
The prevalence of Taba utilization amongst Gambian ladies and women is a rising public well being disaster. While its addictive qualities and dangerous results are clear, the shortage of concrete knowledge and widespread consciousness means the follow persists. It is essential that extra research are performed to grasp the complete impression of Taba and that legal guidelines are put in place to guard the well being and well-being of ladies and women in The Gambia.
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