By Ijeoma Umeh
The need for women to adopt healthy lifestyles and periodically go for medical checks formed crux of talks as the Edo State Chapter of the Standup for Women Society (SWS) commemorated the International Women’s Day yesterday in Benin City.
Members of the organization, also known as Liberators, were at the Ogba market in Oredo Local Government Area where they carried out an Advocacy program and raised awareness on various gender issues, addressing traders with public address systems.
Leading the delegation, Liberator Margaret Quist-Igumah, Chairperson of the organization, stated that consideration for the burden on women of current economic realities, would continue to drive the initiatives of the organization in order to support them to reduce the resultant stress.
She stated that the Advocacy visit to markets was one of several activities lined up to mark the IWD 2024 with theme: Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress.
The Advocacy Team went round the market to inspire change, motivate and encourage women to keep faith in an expected positive turn around of not only the nation’s economic and sociopolitical fortunes but also their own fortunes as women.
The team also visited Deaconnesss Mary Odia, Iye Eki of the market who expressed joy for the visit and thanked the team for their words of encouragement.
Lib.Pst. Cyrina Williams prayed for the Iyeki and the rest of the market women.
Other members of the organization took turns in enlightening women on the need to take their health seriously through exercise, diets and to adopt healthy lifestyle routines that would keep sickness at bay and promote longevity, including periodical health checks to detect early onset of diseases and need to boost their immunity through simple, natural diets.
“For those whose business often required sedentary lifestyle, it is time to have a new orientation. Try to take short walks away from your wares. Take fruits and vegetables, drink enough water, jettison soft drinks and above all, try and spend less time using electronic mobile devices. Adopt exercise as a normal routine and do not self-medicate. I repeat, periodical health checks help to ensure diseases are detected early where they are still in the budding stage. Hypertension, Diabetes, Blood clots are fingered as culprits in many sudden deaths.” Liberator Grace Ijeoma Umeh, Secretary of the organization stated.
From Ogba market, the team moved to the Benin Recreation Club at Ikpokan, off Sapele Road.
The Squash and Snooker sessions were opened for the delegation and Coach Innocent Eragbe, founder of the Omozokpia Tennis Academy and Abdul Umoru, Former Surveyor General of Edo state took turns to coach Liberators and watched them demonstrate the knowledge they had gained.
The Chairperson stated that the SWS Women Keep-fit Initiative will be unveiled to help not only members but other women make exercise an integral part of their daily activities.
The organization has scheduled her second investiture ceremony for March 23 in Benin City, the event it is expected that the emblem for the Women Keep-fit Initiative will be held out by members and guests alike to support healthy living.
The SWS-Edo News Magazine will also be launched at the event.