Women urged to seek menopause awareness

DAR ES SALAAM: DEPUTY Minister for Health, Dr Florence Samizi, has called for women to receive early education on menopause and mental health, saying better awareness will help them recognise symptoms, seek timely care and protect their wellbeing.

Speaking during the launch of the Mariam Mungula Foundation in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Dr Samizi said menopause and mental health remain important issues affecting many women and should not be ignored.

“We recognise that menopause and mental health issues are not understood and addressed early, they affect many women,” she said.

She said discussions on women’s health should go beyond diseases and prepare women with the knowledge and confidence needed to face health and social challenges.

“This event is not only about discussing diseases, but also about preparing women to deal with challenges and educating society on how to respond to them,” Dr Samizi said.

The Deputy Minister said empowering women with accurate health information would enable them to make informed decisions and seek medical services earlier.

She said the government continues to strengthen services for women, including HIV prevention, testing, counselling and treatment, as well as cervical cancer screening and early detection.

She noted that HIV prevalence among people aged 15 years and above stands at 4.4 per cent.

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“We must continue providing women with the right information, bringing services closer to them and removing barriers that prevent them from accessing health services,” she said.

Dr Samizi added that improving women’s health benefits families and national development. “When we protect a woman, we protect a family. When we empower families  with health knowledge, we strengthen the nation,” she said.

Foundation founder, Ms Mariam Mungula said the organisation will educate women on hormonal health, menopause, mental health, cervical cancer and HIV, while also promoting economic empowerment.

“Today is not just about launching a logo. Today, we are launching a vision,” she said.

Ms Mungula said many women spend much of their lives caring for others while neglecting their own health and the foundation aims to change that by encouraging women to understand their bodies, ask questions and seek services without fear.

She said healthier women contribute to stronger families and communities, making health education an investment in the country’s future.