Online Reporter
Judith Phiri, [email protected]
Women’s Health Clinic chief executive officer (CEO), Dr Vimbai Moreblessing Moyana Muguto has said women need a lot of support as they serve as the primary, unpaid caregivers for children, elderly parents, and spouses.
Speaking at the Women of Strength and Dignity (WOSAD) Mother’s Day event on Sunday, the specialist gynaecologist and obstetrician said lack of support results in immense emotional and physical labour significantly impacting women’s health.
“When l had my first child, l was doing my housemanship (medical internship) and l had to go on maternity leave. Fortunately my boss understood and l did not have to extend my internship because of maternity leave.
“He could have said the time you are on maternity leave, you are going to work for it because you were off as other places require people to fully finish their internship, however, he did not do that with me,” she said.
She said in terms of specialisation men were way ahead of women because most of the time when women give birth they have to nurse their children for two to three years or so.
Dr Muguto said women tend to go through a lot which they then accept as “normal” if they do not receive much support and the world has also made it a norm.
She added: “Taking care of women’s health us critical and involves a proactive approach combining regular medical screenings, a balanced diet and active lifestyle habits. While also prioritising mental well-being and managing stress is equally crucial for long-term wellness.”
WOSAD founder, Mrs Thembelihle Madondo, said called on women to not neglect their health.
“We forget about our health as we are busy taking care of the family and do not put ourselves first, we put other people first ahead of us. You feel a little bit of some pain in the body and you ignore, you carry on with your chores because you want the family to be happy.
“So, having the doctor here from Women’s Clinic was critical to conscientise the women about their health and the different stages they go through such as menstruation, menopause and the different diseases that might affect them,” she said.
She said having regular check-ups every now and then was important, while they should not ignore even the slightest pain in their body.
Giving a devotion as an elderly woman, Mrs Dandelion Bhebe said God views women as equal image-bearers created to reflect His character, designed with inherent dignity, strength and purpose.
She said rather than an afterthought, a woman was designed as a strong helper or rescuer, with the bible highlighting instances where Jesus famously broke cultural norms to restore, teach and empower women.
Mrs Bhebe said: “These days as women do we teach our children principles? We should also empower ourselves as women so that even when you became widows you are able to have financial security, emotional stability and maintain our dignity.”
Mother’s Day is celebrated in many parts of the world on the second Sunday in May, and complements similar celebrations honouring family members, such as Father’s Day, Siblings Day, and Grandparents’ Day.
Bongani Ndlovu