Fawaz Adebisi
The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, MHWUN, Aro Branch, has organized a health seminar and conducted free medical tests for about 200 participants as part of efforts to promote healthy living and preventive healthcare among health workers.
The event, themed “Your Health, Your Priority,” was held on Wednesday at Conference Hall 1 of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta.
Participants underwent free fasting blood sugar, Hepatitis B, and blood pressure tests before the commencement of lectures focused on healthy lifestyles and emergency health awareness.
Speaking during the opening session, the Branch Chairman of MHWUN Aro Branch, Comrade Ojewande Oluwafemi, urged members and other attendees to prioritize their wellbeing, stressing that good health remains essential to productivity and quality of life.
He appreciated the guest speakers for their contributions to the programme and reminded participants that “health is wealth,” noting that no career or responsibility should come at the expense of personal health. He also offered prayers for members and attendees.
Delivering the first lecture, Mrs. Ololade Oladunni, a Clinical Nutritionist and Registered Dietitian as well as Head of the Nutrition Department at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, highlighted the importance of healthy eating habits, especially among busy workers.
According to her, unhealthy lifestyle choices such as skipping breakfast, poor sleeping habits, inadequate water intake, lack of exercise, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and poor stress management contribute significantly to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.
“When you eat well, your immunity improves, your energy level increases, your mental health becomes better, and fatigue is reduced,” she said.
She warned that poor nutrition and sedentary lifestyles can result in obesity, weight gain, poor concentration, and other health complications.
Mrs. Oladunni advised participants to eat balanced diets, reduce their intake of carbonated drinks, fried foods, and junk foods, avoid overeating, consume more fruits and vegetables, and stay adequately hydrated.
Describing healthy eating as an investment in long-term well-being, she urged participants to adopt healthier dietary practices.
“Let food be your medicine and not medicine be your food,” she said.
The second lecture was delivered by Mrs. Elizabeth Orebiyi, who spoke on recognizing signs before collapse and responding appropriately during emergencies.
She emphasized that prevention is both better and cheaper than cure, stressing the need for greater awareness of health conditions that may lead to sudden collapse.
Mrs. Orebiyi identified heart attacks, low blood pressure, severe bleeding, dehydration, sepsis, stroke, emotional stress, anxiety, fatigue, drug or alcohol intoxication, and severe allergic reactions among common causes of collapse.
She also educated participants on early warning signs and basic first-aid measures that can be administered before professional medical assistance arrives.
Also, the event featured the recognition and celebration of retired members of the union, who were honoured for their years of dedicated service to the healthcare sector.
Speaking in an interview, the Branch Secretary of MHWUN Aro Branch, Mr. Olaoye Adeyeye Ayola said the programme combined three major activities: a health seminar, a retirement appreciation ceremony, and the union’s Annual General Meeting. AGM.
He explained that while the retirement ceremony and AGM are annual events, the health seminar is organised periodically to educate members on health-related issues, including nutrition, mental health, diabetes and other emerging health concerns.
“The seminar is designed to help our members understand how to manage their health and improve their lifestyle. We bring professionals to educate them on healthy living and disease prevention,” he said.
Ayola added that the retirement programme serves as a platform to appreciate members who have dedicated decades of service to the profession.
“We appreciate them, pray with them and present gifts to them. Spending 35 years in service is not a small achievement,” he said.
He disclosed that about 15 retirees attended this year’s appreciation ceremony, while several others were unable to participate due to travel and other commitments.
The branch Secretary also encouraged health workers to join professional unions, describing union membership as an important source of welfare, representation, and career support.
The event concluded with the union’s Annual General Meeting and cooperative discussions among members.
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