Vice-Consul, Political, South Africa Consulate in Lagos, Busisiwe Dlamini, has emphasised the need for gender balance in the society, noting that it aids nation building. She advocated for advancement in the protection of women’s rights and welfare. Speaking at South Africa’s Women’s Day celebration in Lagos, Dlamini explained that the commemoration was not majorly centred on gender equality, which has held sway for years, but on equity and issues affecting women.
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Attributing suicidal attempts by women to mental health issues as a result of the challenges they face, she noted that enough attention was not being paid to women’s welfare. She stated that the fight for women rights dates back to 1956 when South African women made a march to the Union Building demanding non-discriminatory passport issuance, adding that it was later escalated to include the right to equal opportunities for women. Ghanaian Consul General in Lagos, Ms. Samata Gifty Bukari, urged women to prioritise education and join partisan politics.
 
“Please make sure you offer your children education; it gives them an edge,” she said. Laying emphasis on health issues common to women, Manager, Euracare Wellness Centre, Dr. Busola Ayelowo, stated that over 400,000 deaths recorded annually are attributed to breast cancer. She said that a common symptom of breast cancer is reflected in the skin around the breast.

“The first question I ask my patients is if the texture of the skin around their breasts looks like the peel of an orange,” she disclosed. She stated that age, genetics, gender and lifestyle are the common causes of breast cancer, adding that the male gender is also susceptible to the disease.

She urged women to pay attention to their wellness through continuous health examinations. She also recommended at least 12 months breastfeeding for nursing mothers to curb breast cancer occurrence.

“As a woman, when you are 40 years old, it is important that you check your breasts as it is the time when oncological cells begin to form. Quit smoking and alcohol intake or reduce the latter; stay healthy in terms of weight and avoid the intake of birth control pills,” she added.
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Ayelowo advised that breast examination should be performed as often as once in a month. Giving directives on how self-breast examination is performed, she added: “Look at your breast in the mirror. Raise your left arm; use three fingers from your right to examine the breast. Start from the outer region, like your armpit and examine all the way to the nipple, the inner region.”
 
Speaking on financial wellness, Managing Director, Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) Nigeria, Kike Mesubi, advised that women should manage their resources and have specific goals.
 
She stated that financial wellness begins with attitudinal change in one’s financial management. She urged women to save, noting that doing so would help them to achieve their financial goals.
 
“Savings and investments will take you to the same destination. However, one will help you arrive at your destination faster,” she added. Psychiatrist and mental health advocate, Maymuna Kadiri, identified stress as a significant driver of mental illness, adding that stress is mainly caused by trauma, relationship, economy/financial, sickness, school and work, employer issues and difficult team or work environment. 
 
She stated that research has shown that one in four individuals would have a mental health illness in their lifetime, disclosing that currently, one in five Nigerians suffer depression.
 
She urged women to identify their stressors and avoid them, adding that the first rule in managing mental health is self-care, which bothers on self-awareness, exercise, limited exposure to news and social media and boundary setting. 
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