By: Saidu Jalloh
The National Public Health Agency (NPHA), through the Mental Health Secretariat in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Medical Women Association (SLMWA), held a one-day unique wellness retreat themed “Empowering Wellness for Women in Medicine” on Saturday, 16th November 2024, at the Occasions Resort in Lakka.
The event aimed to foster women’s well-being and professional development in the medical field, focusing on career growth, mentorship, and work-life balance. It provided a platform for networking, sharing experiences, and addressing the unique challenges faced by women in their careers.
The Medical Women’s Retreat serves as an essential initiative to empower women in medicine by focusing on their mental health and professional growth. By fostering an environment of support and collaboration, this retreat addresses immediate concerns and contributes to long-term improvements in the well-being of female medical professionals.
The participants discussed topics such as burnout prevention, resilience building, and navigating workplace dynamics, providing insights on overcoming barriers and achieving success.
Dr. Olabisi Cole, the President of the Sierra Leone Medical Women’s Association and a clinic operator for pregnant women, mothers, and children, welcomed the attendees. She stated that the event was exclusively for women, including female doctors, to talk freely in a safe space.
She emphasized the importance of coming together as peers, mentors, and friends, focusing on women in leadership roles who empower and inspire each other to reach new heights in their personal and professional lives. She reiterated the value of gathering not in white medical coats or while taking swabs but in building a network of support. Dr. Cole added that this was a safe place to be heard and listened to, making it an event to remember.
She introduced the MC, Dr. Alreen Vandi, another female doctor, and one of the event planners. Dr. Vandi thanked everyone for coming and highlighted the importance of such gatherings. She then introduced the moderator of the event, Dr. Mariama Mustapha, a pediatrician, obstetrician, lecturer, public health expert, and mother. Dr. Mustapha expressed her elation that everyone made time out of their busy schedules to attend the event. She emphasized that the discussions should be inspiring, honest, and therapeutic to aid the growth of women in full-time jobs. She also stated that the role of women is to redefine multitasking, such as being a mother, wife, chef, planner, driver, and having a full-time job.
Dr. Mustapha read out the discussion topic to the panelists and directed the first question to Dr. Eva Hanciles, a retired doctor and current lecturer at COHMAS. The question was: “If you were not a doctor, what would you have been today?” Dr. Hanciles smiled and replied calmly that she had always planned to be a medical doctor since childhood. She shared that she married in her forties to a man who, despite being African, behaved like a Western man and treated her with respect, sharing household roles irrespective of gender. This balance allowed her to manage her work life effectively.
She emphasized the importance of grooming sons to be respectful and supportive partners. Dr. Hanciles also highlighted the need for working women to carve out “me time” to replenish their energy, stating that being good at everything requires learning and processing, making planning easier.
After the panel discussion, Dr. Carol Labour, the Presidential Adviser, lectured on stress management. She said everyone should set a time for reflection as it helps deal with stress.
She taught us a technique for practicing the Pause, a type of meditation that helps overcome stress or trauma.
Dr. Carol Labor is a distinguished public health expert with over 29 years of professional experience. She is the Founder and Principal Consultant of the Women’s Wellness Group. She has dedicated 11 years to international development in Sierra Leone, focusing on education and psychosocial programs in post-war, natural disaster, and complex trauma settings.
Dr. Labor holds a Doctor of Public Health degree and has conducted seminal research on mental health and psychosocial support in diverse African immigrant and refugee communities.
She focused her facilitation on stress and how it manifests in people as well as various ways, including physical symptoms like headaches, muscle tension, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. Emotional symptoms: Anxiety, irritability, depression, and feeling overwhelmed. Behavioral symptoms: Changes in appetite, withdrawal from social activities, and increased use of alcohol or drugs.
Dr Carol Labor and the participants listed the consequences of Unmanaged Stress and what it could lead to. Dr. Labour emphasized that unmanaged stress can lead to serious health issues such as Cardiovascular problems, High blood pressure, heart disease, Mental health disorders, Anxiety disorders, depression, Digestive issues, Stomach ulcers, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
In a group session, each group was asked to name ways of overcoming and managing stress considering the following strategies: Exercise regularly; physical activity can help reduce stress hormones and improve mood; practice mindfulness and relaxation techniques: Meditation, deep breathing exercises, and yoga can help calm the mind, Maintain a healthy lifestyle, Eat a balanced diet, get enough sleep, and avoid excessive caffeine and alcohol and Seek social support Talk to friends, family, or a mental health professional about your stress before it is too late.
