The increase and rapid rise of chronic diseases in developing countries and especially among women, who bear the brunt in most households, was the focus of the 2015 Women Forum of the International Church of Christ (I.C.O.C.) Abuja on October 17, 2015 titled “Your Health, Your Wealth.”
Bearing in mind that only a healthy woman could bring wealth to her family, the forum focused on non-communicable and communicable diseases such as cancer, hypertension, diabeties, hepatitis and HIV/AIDS. It’s been observed that most of these diseases could be managed if detected early and with adequate information for a change of lifestyle and balanced life. However, the majority of women here do not see the need for proper screening to detect the chronic diseases early, which cut most in their productive and prime years, leaving behind orphans and vulnerable children.
The aim of the one-day forum was to educate and disseminate information to women of different age groups and backgrounds by bringing female medical doctors who are specialists in these fields and who provided free basic health tests like blood-pressure, weight and sugar level. Information on how to access free cancer screening was also disseminated.
A welcome and short message from the Bible was delivered by the women’s ministry coordinator Augusta Obasa, titled “Wisdom.” She enumerated the essence of having wisdom for women to live a life full of peace, health and prosperity.
The goal of the message was for the 110 women in attendance to make use of the knowledge to advance their lives and that of their families and society at large. The three speakers made beautiful presentation of causes, prevention and management of common diseases with a very interactive question and answer session afterward.
Shared from ICOC Nigeria.
