MENOPAUSE: Women urged to seek care, manage symptoms early

Platform bringing together women, healthcare professionals, policy makers, corporate organisations, wellness practitioners and community stakeholders, Menopause West Africa, has warned that menopause symptoms could be fatal if not properly managed, saying although menopause is not a disease, issues affecting women should be treated with concern because of their unique role in society.

Chairman of the Organising Committee of Menopause West Africa, Mr Clifford Okwesi, said no fewer than 100 women had been commissioned as mentors, adding that plans were underway to reach 3,000 churches and other places of worship across the country. Okwesi spoke during the induction of no fewer than 100 women as mentors at the 2026 edition of Menopause West Africa, themed, ‘Advancing the Conversation on Women’s Health, Well-Being and Institutional Support’, held in Lagos and sponsored by Menofix Herbals capsule.

Also speaking at the event, veteran Nollywood actress, Patience Ozokwor, said menopause was not a disease but a stage in every woman’s life. She charged the mentors, also known as Menopause Champions, to reach out to grassroots communities and educate younger women who had not yet reached that stage of life on how to ensure a smooth transition. The actress called on women in positions of authority to support other women on the subject and empower them meaningfully, rather than limiting such support to their relatives.

According to her, by empowering more women would reduce family burdens, which often rested on women. She advised women to watch their diets, exercise regularly and, most importantly, visit hospitals at regular intervals to monitor their health and make necessary adjustments. She said: “Do things that will help your body. Get up, walk around and don’t eat all the time.” Meanwhile, President of the Association of West African Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists, AWASOG, Professor Brian Adinma, said menopause marked a significant stage in a woman’s reproductive life and represented a new beginning that required knowledge, preparation and care.

The medical expert discussed several aspects of menopause, including its types, stages, symptoms and management procedures, before answering questions from participants. For her part, President of the Customs Officers’ Wives Association, COWA, Mrs Kikilomo Adeniyi, said menopause was not the end of womanhood but a new chapter in life that required strength, wisdom and renewed purpose.

Represented by the President of COWA’s Tin Can Island Chapter, Mrs Caroline Ifeoluwa, Adeniyi said the health, welfare and empowerment of women remained central to the association’s vision, adding that a healthy woman built a stronger family.