The critical importance of health, hygiene and wellness in the community were major issues discussed at a recent forum held in Makoko area of Lagos State.
The annual event which is being organised by EXPOSE, a non- governmental for women and girls every Christmas came under the theme: “The Gift of Wellness: Mental Health, Menstrual Health and Education in Business Strategies”.
Speaking at the Makoko Vocational Center, the venue of the event, Founder of EXPOSE, Mrs. Monalisa Okojie affirmed that the theme of this year’s event was ideal, adding that it would go a long way in educating the women and girls on resilience, the importance of managing mental health, menstrual health and their businesses, which are an integral part of their daily life.
Mrs. Okojie who is also a legal practitioner as well as the president -Nehita Group of Companies and ANEROD regretted however, that most women don’t make out time to take adequate care of their health, highlighting the saying that “health is wealth” and that one needs to be healthy before pursuing any other aspects of life.
She expressed her organisation’s gratitude working with the Makoko community for the past five years in the sponsorship of several programmes.
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The key areas have been providing quality education to children and vocational training for needy women.
However, she noted that some children are on full scholarship at the Our Lady of Apostles Private School, Yaba, Lagos.
Giving a brief background of her organisation, Mrs. Okojie stated it was established some years ago to advance educational initiatives in the United States, Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya.
Speaking at the event, a United States based Nurse, Mrs. Efe Aidelojie who spoke on the importance of mental health, hygiene and wellness, urged girls to ensure proper hygiene during their menstrual period.
However, she warned against the use of pills during menstruation and educated them on the use of natural remedies and being physical active as solutions to menstrual cramps.
Explaining further, she gave examples such as drinking green tea, to lay down on the tummy on a warm towel to be active and incorporate regular physical exercises in their daily lives as this relives painful period notably before and during the menstrual period.
Also, Josephine Aidelojie, a Mental Health expert, advised women to take care of their mental health by avoiding anything that will cause them stress and depression.
The Mental Health expert stated that women are faced with lot of issues that could lead them to depression, such issues she said can be avoided.
While encouraging anyone who is depressed to seek medical attention, she disabused the generally held belief that those who seek counsel from mental health experts have psychiatric issues.
To her, when depression is not properly handled, it could lead to more dangerous issues’.
On her part, Dr. Precious Adeloye, stressed the need for collaboration among women who are into small scale businesses.
Dr. Adeloye indicated that for small scale businesses to grow, they need to collaborate with other smaller ones which gives them the opportunity to increase their market share and this strengthens the local economy.
This will also enable them compete against larger businesses in the long run and will be a win–win situation at all the times.
Dr. Adeloye educated the participants on the importance of not spending profit in business. She encouraged them to reinvest the profit to grow the business.
She advised the women to be consistence in whatever business they are involved, adding that it is important they enjoy it.
Similarly, the coordinator of the children’s scholarship programme on behalf of the NGO in Nigeria, Mrs. Yvonne da Silva, lauded the organisers of the event for their commitment to the Makoko community over the years, sponsoring the education to some of the needy children in the environment.
Also speaking at the programme, a representative of Sigma paints, one of the sponsors of the event, Ms. Seyi Ajai, emphasised the importance of continuing support for communities like Makoko and expressed a keen interest in expanding their partnership reach with EXPOSE.
This collaboration, she said is pivotal in their efforts to help more communities and foster significant change.
The high point of the event was distribution of food items, clothes and health kits to women and girls who participated at the event.
