Gold Fields Specialist Warns Against Calling Menopausal Ghanaian Women Witches

Women experiencing menopause should receive understanding and support rather than being subjected to insults, discrimination and accusations of witchcraft, a health specialist at Gold Fields Ghana has warned.

Dr Magdalene Bakari, Lead Specialist for Health Services at Gold Fields Ghana, says harmful misconceptions about menopause continue to expose women to emotional abuse and social isolation, despite the condition being a natural stage of life.

She made the appeal during a breast health and menopause awareness forum organised by the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation at Akoon in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality.

The event brought together residents from the company’s host communities, employees, their spouses, corporate organisations and students to discuss women’s health and the challenges associated with menopause and breast cancer.

Dr Bakari observed that although every woman goes through menopause, many families and communities remain uncomfortable discussing it. This lack of understanding, she explained, leaves affected women without the emotional and practical support they need.

“When it comes to menopause, it has become a taboo topic in society. We know every woman will go through it, but we never prepare our minds for it and we do not know how to support people going through it,” she said.

She therefore called for sustained public education to help people understand the physical and emotional changes associated with menopause and abandon the practice of attaching harmful labels to women experiencing the transition.

The specialist also used the occasion to stress the importance of breast cancer awareness, particularly the need for early detection. She noted that identifying the disease early and seeking timely treatment could save lives.

The forum formed part of the Foundation’s activities for this year’s Breast Cancer Awareness Week, which was held under the theme, “Beyond the Pink: The Full Picture”.

Participants also had the opportunity to interact with health professionals, including a gynaecologist, surgeon and psychologist, who provided information on medical care and emotional support for people affected by the conditions.

Dr Bakari acknowledged that the Foundation had organised several awareness initiatives but maintained that more education was needed to protect women’s health and improve their quality of life.

Some participants welcomed the programme and encouraged the Foundation to organise similar forums regularly so that more communities could benefit from the information.

Source: https://x.com/citi973/status/2116788163301740828?s=46

Bestnews feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com