‘Never tolerate abuse’ – women urged

Women’s Empowerment was the key point of the day when the KZN Department of Health, Umzinyathi District Office, held an event at the Mckenzie Hall. The event commemorated Women’s Month, with all government departments invited to attend.
The Umzinyathi District Director for Health, Mrs Shabangu delivered the purpose for the day. She urged the crowd to remember that if ‘you strike a woman, you strike a rock.’
“Women of South Africa need to move forward, and we need to start with the Women of Umzinyathi,” she added.
Miss DLS Zulu, District PHC Specialist, gave an informative talk on Sexual and reproductive rights. These included family planning, birth control methods and how they work, teenage pregnancy, and how it can negatively affect the health of the teenage mother and lead to complications. She also spoke on Breast and Cervical Cancer screening as well as how to do a breast self-exam. Cervical Cancer screening commonly known as Pap smears, are available free of charge at all government clinics and hospitals. Miss Zulu also discussed urinary tract infections, with the emphasis on women’s hygiene and drinking plenty of water (6-8 glasses per day). Mothers were also encouraged to speak openly to their young daughters on all these important issues so they can be well informed to make the correct choices in life.

We need to take the time to care for ourselves and to love ourselves first. We also matter and we cannot be effective in our roles as women if we are ill, depressed, stressed and troubled. Always have ‘ME’ time, to distress and pamper yourself.”

Mrs Mlambo, the District Manager for Chronic Diseases and Mental Health, also spoke about Mental Health in Women. The risk factors being: stress, HIV infection, domestic violence, family responsibilities, work pressure, cultural pressure e.g. polygamy. Common mental health problems experienced by women are stress, depression, anxiety, PTSD and substance abuse. Women were encouraged to look for the early signs of substance abuse in their children and other family members. The gist was, “Healthy minds create healthy nations.”
Ms B Zungu from the Department of Social Development gave an interesting talk on Gender Based Violence. She explained how the department empowers women to empower themselves through various projects in the community such as Poultry and Sewing. She also informed women on the process to follow when reporting domestic violence and other social problems.
Miss Kikia from the Department of Justice shared some legal knowledge with all relating to child and spousal maintenance and how to claim it. She also touched on how to get protection orders against abusive spouses and troublesome neighbors or relatives. She advised women not to tolerate abuse, but to report it to the authorities.
The guest speaker for the day, Mrs Mkhize from the Department of Education gave a very empowering speech about women in society and how they neglect themselves, their emotions and their health because as women, they always put everyone else first. “We need to take the time to care for ourselves and to love ourselves first. We also matter and we cannot be effective in our roles as women if we are ill, depressed, stressed and troubled. Always have ‘ME’ time, to distress and pamper yourself.”
“Go to the salon, go for a massage and do your nails. Feel better about how you look and feel.”