By Princess-Ekwi Ajide, Abuja
Theresa Anthony of Comfort Stream Foundation says Nigeria will be much better if women take their health seriously.
She gave the advice at an event organised by the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, FCT charpter to commemorate the International Women’s Day.
In a lecture on Mental Health, Dr. Anthony, harped on the need for women need to take care of their mental health to avoid breakdown adding that women have a lot of things to take care of, hence the need to have a sound mind.
According to her, one needs to rest when there’s need to do so or take a break if the need arises.
She urged women to learn to say no whenever they do not feel up to it and to also know when to earn to seek medical help.
Dr. Anthony, encouraged women to become members of personal development groups where they can relieve themselves of personal stress and maintain a sound mind.
In her keynote address titled ” Gender Equality today for a Sustainable Tomorrow”, Mrs. Rafat Salami called on members of NAWOJ to use their reports to break gender biases noting that there is a dire need to mentor younger girls so as to keep them on the right track.
According to her, the duty for a better tomorrow lies in the hands of women and as such, women should be mentors to younger girls.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalist, FCT Council, Mr. Emmanuel Ogbeche who commended NAWOJ for focusing on the health of women said that breaking gender biases starts from the home where parents should lead in educating their children equally.
Mr. Ogbeche, said that the programme shows NAWOJ’s commitment to gender issues especially as it has become pertinent to exhibit that there is no difference between boys and girls when it comes to house chores.
For the chairperson Nigeria Association of Women Journalists ( NAWOJ) FCT, Chapter, Comrade Annah Daniel, the focus for the event “Healthy women, Healthy Nation is a wake up call for conscious and deliberate efforts by women to have frequent routine medical checks towards a healthy living as according to her, prevention is better than cure.
She noted that in Nigeria, according to a report by the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, 40 million women of childbearing age have health challenges surrounding birth this, she said, shows that women lack access to integrated health facilities.
Comrade Annah, noted that for a woman to excel in all her potentials, make a difference for a sustainable tomorrow from her home front to her immediate community; there is the need to advocate for a Healthy Woman since the economic gains of a healthy woman are immeasurable as they will reduce poverty and advance the rights of women and the girl child.
According to her, the theme for the 2022 International Women’s Day Celebration, “#Break the Bias is apt as it seeks to address biases against women globally and NAWOJ FCT in partnerdhip with other organizations of like minds are saying “NO to all forms of Biases militating against Gender Equality which she counted to include culture, constitution, violence, discrimination, stigmatization among others.
She advocated that there should be concerted efforts amongst women groups to establish a new political party that will support all women who desire to vie for any position in the 2023 general election.
High point of the event was the discussion of women’s menstrual hygiene where Queen Aina of Tarian Sanitary pad educated women on the best menstrual hygiene process pointing out that menstrual hygiene was very crucial to the health of women.
