You are not immune against health challenges, prioritise your health – MHWUN urges workers

Ogbeide Osagie, Edo State chairman of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN),has urged health personnel to prioritise their health as they were not immune against health challenges

Osagie made the call during the Edo State chapter of the women’s wing of MHWUN workshop in Benin City with the theme, ‘Addressing Depression and Breast Cancer Among Working Women.’

He noted that as working women, they carry the professional responsibilities, family obligations, and societal expectations often at great personal cost.

He opined that depression remained a silent burden, while breast cancer continues to threaten the health and lives of many productive women.

“These challenges demand awareness, early detection, mutual support, and the courage to speak up. When we (health workers) come together, we can break the silence, reduce stigma, and build a healthier, stronger workforce.

“Let this workshop empower us with knowledge, encourage regular screening, promote mental health support, and strengthen solidarity among us,” he said.

Earlier, Mercy Omokhodion, coordinator, South- South zone of the Women Committee of the union, described the event as apt, noting that mental health was all over the place.

Omokhodion noted that the workshop was geared toward empowering the women to educate themselves on matters of union and health.

“Yes, I can tell you for free that today, the lectures were okay and the issue of health care was one thing I actually enjoyed very much.

Mental health is all over the place.

“Often times, you hear people say somebody has committed suicide. Empower the women to educate them on matters of union and health, besides agitation for condition of service.

“This programme is a step-down training as directed by the National Council of the Medical and Health Workers’ Union that had been run through the South-South Zone, which we have also stepped down at our own state.

“What we have is not just a trade union, but I prefer to call the Medical and Health Workers an institution because we don’t just do only the Aluta issues or the solidarity issues, we also go into letting all our members, especially the women, understand how to take care of themselves, especially in their workplace and how to also face depression,” she added.

At the occasion, Wonderful Ezra-Oderinde, chairperson, Nigerian Psychological Association, Edo State, delivered a lecture on the topic, ‘Addressing Depression Among Working Women,’ while Charity Uansoje, vice chairperson, Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria, Edo State chapter, spoke on ‘Addressing Breast Cancer Among Working Women.’