Yellow Epilepsy Women’s Night
EZULWINI – The Eswatini Epilepsy Organisation (EEO) hosted a Yellow Epilepsy Women’s Night Dinner under the same theme of Women and Wellness this past Friday at the Happy Valley Hotel.
As a health-based non-profit organisation, with a mandate to service the needs of persons with epilepsy (a neurological condition affecting brain health), EEO embark on a health media campaign to encourage the prioritisation of mental/ psychological/brain health in women in honour of Mother’s Day.
The event was well attended by representatives from the corporate, the health and government sectors, civil society organisations and the general public. Though it was a women’s event, men were also encouraged to attend as they play an important role in women’s wellness.
Colani Hlatjwako was the Programme Director alongside Gcebile Mvubu ‘The White Hippo’.
Encourage
According to EEO National Director Abraham Ntshalintshali, the organisation would like to encourage women to apply a holistic approach in taking care of themselves not only physically, economically or financially, but also mentally and psychologically – this is wellness, while exploring the challenges women face in being wives, partners, mothers, mother figures, caregivers, breadwinners, professionals, and how these affect wellness.
“This campaign will focus primarily on women as they usually have to balance many roles in society. It normally falls on women to be the nurturers, caregivers, while also being professionals, entrepreneurs and even the head of the household at times. As such, women easily become emotionally and psychologically overburdened with balancing the responsibilities that come with these tasks.” He went on to say, the campaign theme is: Women and Wellness. The campaign seek to unpack various subjects relevant to the topic of women and wellness.
Ntshalintshali shared with this publication that the topics to unpack during the campaign under the theme will include, but will not be limited to;
1. Attitudes in the country surrounding women and wellness.
2. Gaps in knowledge in areas surrounding
women and wellness.
3. Stereotypes, stigma and myths surrounding mental health in the country.
Member of Parliament (MP) Macford Sibandze was the ‘male champion’ speaker who highlighted the role responsible men can play in women’s wellness and also highlighted the social ills posed against women in society in general (politics, sports and culture, etc.)
Sindiso Bhembe spoke under the title ‘Woman: Your Mental Health Matters.’ She gave a clinician’s view on the state of women’s mental/psychological health in the country, encouraging women to prioritise their mental health.
One of the speakers, Bongile Mbingo spoke under the title: “Wellness is a Necessary Ingredient to Success.” She gave inspiring and encouraging speech highlighting the four types of wellness, namely; physical, emotional, social and spiritual wellness, as well as the implications of each.
Michelle Sandham, offered an important session on ‘Relaxation Techniques’, which is key to mental health. Sebenzile Matsenjwa spoke under the topic ‘Health and Fitness and a Business Mindset’. She spoke on her journey as a woman in the professional space, an entrepreneur and a fitness enthusiast and how this influenced her personal development and wellness as a woman.