Women wellness takes centre stage

Experts at symposium stress on awareness about physical, mental, reproductive health of women

KARACHI:

In order to empower women, there is a need to create awareness about their mental, physical and reproductive health. These views were expressed by health practitioner, psychologists, lifestyle experts and showbiz personalities at a symposium held at a local hotel.

Empower Her: Women’s Wellness Symposium was organised in collaboration with Seed Ventures and The Express Tribune. The first panel discussion was on the topic of nurturing wellness through nutrition, bone-health and mental wellness with Sidra Iqbal as moderator. Endocrinologist Professor Dr Tasneem Ahsan said, “We grew up listening to the story of Cinderella.

No matter how capable and talented the girl was. Our society considers her life complete only when she married a ‘good’ boy.” Dr Tasneem stressed the need to empower the girls by better physical, sexual, reproductive and mental health. She said health screening, immunisation and maintaining work-life balance are imperative to keep women healthy.

Seed Ventures CEO Shaista Ayesha said, “There is a need to create awareness about sexual health, because awareness about this topic is the solution to many problems in society.” Nutritionist Dr Sidra Iqbal said in the panel discussion, “There are different stages in woman’s life, including menstruation, sexual health and pregnancy, but each stage has its own effects.

It is important that women consume diet rich in nutrients, including calcium and iron.” Haematologist Dr Ashar Akhlaq Ahmad said that 80 per cent of the patients in the haematology department are women. Actress Sanam Saeed said, “Through Pakistani dramas, awareness should be created among women to pay attention to their health as well as home.”

Psychologist Sana Siddiqui said, “World conditions indicate that stress will increase due to economic issues and we need to control them.” The topic of the second panel discussion was ‘Motherhood: The journey from conception to postpartum’. Actress Sunita Marshall said, “In the past, after marriage and giving birth, female actors used to leave work.

I also rested for eight months after maternity and then started working again.” Fitness trainer Zarmina Faisal Salman said, “During pregnancy you can do yoga and exercise with the advice of doctor, so that you can keep your body fit after giving birth. It is definitely a challenge but it is possible with effort.”

Psychologist Sana Siddiqui said, “After girls become mothers, they take time to handle the situation.” Gynaecologist Dr. Huma Haqqani said, “It is wrong to think that mother’s milk is toxic for a few days after giving birth. According to medical experts, breast milk is the best for keeping the newborn healthy for 48 hours after birth.

Even after that, if the mother continues to breastfeed the child, it reduces the risk of breast cancer.” The panel host, Sidra Iqbal said that most of the people called the condition of a woman suffering from postpartum depression ingratitude. Psychologist Sana Siddiqui said, Our society gets satisfaction by shaming people. Often women, who do not have children, are called barren women. Such a behaviour hurts women. But a woman also cannot be infertile as she has the option of adoption or In-virtu Fertilisation (IVF).