The management and staff of Ola Senior High School have marked this year’s International Women’s Day with a health education programme aimed at empowering women and girls while promoting regular medical check-ups.

The event, organised by the school’s Ladies Caucus known as “Ladies of Virtue,” brought together health professionals, teachers and students to discuss women’s health, personal development and the importance of self-care.

Chief Executive Officer of Mobile Health Services Ghana, Courage Seyram Akpa, said society must begin to openly discuss issues such as menstruation and menopause, which were previously considered taboo.

According to him, menopause is a natural stage in a woman’s life but is often misunderstood, leading to stigma and negative labels against women experiencing mood swings and other symptoms.

He stressed that greater awareness would help families and communities provide the necessary support to women going through the transition.

Mr Akpa also urged the public to take health matters more seriously by undertaking regular medical check-ups instead of waiting until they fall ill.

He explained that many people ignore minor symptoms such as headaches, which could be early warning signs of serious health conditions.

He, therefore, advised individuals to visit health facilities at least once every three to six months for basic screenings such as blood pressure checks, weight assessment and laboratory tests to detect potential health problems early.

Teacher and former health worker, Mrs Sherita Edinam Agorku, said the programme included health screenings for participants, including checks for blood pressure, body mass index and eye examinations.

She explained that hypertension was once believed to affect only older people or those who were overweight, but recent observations show that it can affect people of all ages.

She added that the screenings were necessary to help participants better understand their health status and adopt healthier lifestyles.

Mrs Agorku also advised women to treat menopause as a natural health stage rather than a disease.

She noted that while menopause was traditionally believed to occur after age 50, it can now affect women as young as 35.

She encouraged women to undergo regular medical examinations and urged families not to stigmatise women who exhibit symptoms of menopause.

She further called for men to be included in such educational programmes so they can better understand and support their partners.

Headmistress of Ola Senior High School, Benedicta A.M. Agbezudor, explained that the school decided to organise the programme on campus to mark International Women’s Day while also creating a platform for teachers to focus on their own wellbeing.

She noted that many teachers dedicate most of their time to their students and often neglect their personal development and health. The programme therefore created an opportunity for staff to learn, interact and relieve stress.

Mrs Agbezudor encouraged women and girls not to abandon their dreams because of life’s challenges such as marriage, financial difficulties or age.

She emphasised that the global theme of this year’s celebration, “Rights, Justice and Action for Women and Girls,” calls on women to speak up against injustice and pursue their ambitions with confidence.

She also urged parents to support their children’s career interests rather than forcing them into professions they may not be passionate about.