Apollo Hospital launches woman wellness clinic
The Well Women package features complete blood picture, complete urine analysis, random blood glucose, ultrasound pelvis, TSH, training of self-breast examination, cervical screening, gynaecology consultation with optional additions such as dental consult
MUSCAT: Apollo Hospital Muscat has introduced the concept of a woman wellness clinic in line with the increased focus on women’s health issues worldwide.
The focus on women’s health has increased several folds in the last decade or so. Keeping that in mind and the fact that women’s overall wellness deserves all the awareness it can get, Apollo Hospital Muscat has launched Well Women Clinic.
Her Highness Sayyida Basma Al Said inaugurated the clinic in the presence of Ambassador of Nepal to the Sultanate of Oman, Sarmila Parajuli Dhakal.
The hospital, since its inception, has been always on the forefront of healthcare advances and has a policy of spreading awareness on women’s wellness.
The icon in health sector
“Her Highness Sayyida Basma is an icon in the mental health sector in Oman; she has made active contributions in raising awareness about mental health in the Arab region,” noted V. T. Saileswaran, managing director of the Apollo Hospital Muscat at the press conference held at the International Medical Centre.
“As the Sultanate continues to excel in the development of women and society, it is of utmost importance to spread more awareness on women’s health and challenges as she is a crucial pillar of the society,” Saileswaran added.
As part of the opening session, a talk was held on ‘Women’s Health – Body and Mind’ by two of Apollo Hospital Muscat’s doctors Dr Archana Devi, gynaecologist and Dr Anand Kumar, MD in psychiatry.
Apollo Woman Wellness Clinic will be held every Saturday and Tuesday to make it accessible for working women as well.
The Well Women package features complete blood picture, complete urine analysis, random blood glucose, ultrasound pelvis, TSH (Thyroid), training of self-breast examination, cervical screening, gynaecology consultation with optional additions such as dental consultation, psychiatrist consultation.
Affordable package
“The idea is to make the package affordable and encompassing for the women to encourage taking initiative for regular check-ups that would lead to early diagnosis if need be,” said Dr Archana. Her area of expertise includes gynec problems relating to menstrual issues, pelvic infection, PCOD, fibroids and endometriosis. She has done her fellowship in ultrasonography and is an expert in gynec scans and antenatal scans. She was trained in Milan Fertility Centre under Dr Kamini Rao and has six years experience in the field of infertility. Previously, she has in India campaigned for awareness on breast and cervical cancer.
Importance of mental health
Equally important as physical health is mental health. Dr Anand Kumar S is a specialist psychiatrist with over eight years experience. He has worked extensively in private psychiatry settings in renowned DNB Accredited hospitals in India. He has expertise in psychopharmacology (medications for psychiatric illness) and therapies/ counselling. He is an active public speaker and strives to reduce the stigma associated with psychiatric illness and create awareness. Psychiatric illness can also be bidirectional with other medical problems including diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, cardiac problems and hypothyroidism. Dr Anand also has had good liaison experience in dealing with psychiatric illness post neurological illness such as epilepsy, stroke, Parkinson’s disease and head injury.
Psychiatry
High levels of stress, traumatic events, family history of psychiatric illness, maladaptive personality and poor coping skills can lead to psychiatric illness. In a minority of people, these problems might start even without a reason. “A woman’s mind is like a deep ocean. The internalisation of stress makes women more vulnerable to mental health problems. Stress management and maintaining a healthy work-life balance is the way forward towards positive mental health. A happy woman, in turn, creates a happy family,” said Dr Anand.
Dr Anand Kumar has experience in treating psychiatric illness like depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, psychosis, substance addiction in adults.