COMMUNITIES, especially women, are urged to prioritize their health by monitoring and caring for themselves to prevent diseases that could hinder their goals. Taking proactive steps in maintaining well-being and seeking medical attention when necessary can help individuals focus on their aspirations and lead fulfilling lives.

That was stated yesterday in Dar es Salaam by the Ambassador for Vigor Zanzibar Companies and Golden Tulip Dar City Center, Haitham Turky, during a Walkathon of kilometers to commemorate World Women Wellness Day 2024, alongside the official opening of Shifaa Pan African Hospital Limited.

The 4.2-kilometer walk started from the Golden Tulip Dar City Center hotel to Shifaa Pan African Hospital Limited located in the Kinondoni municipality, with the aim of raising awareness among the community, especially women, about the importance of their health.

Haitham emphasized that health is crucial for the well-being of the community, especially women, and thus it is important for health issues to be taught in society just like other subjects to have a healthy society and contribute to the overall development of the nation.

"Health is one of the most important things in our lives, although we are taught to read in our religions, health is important. Therefore, it is important to be taught how to take care of our health," said Haitham.

Additionally, Haitham mentioned that the presence of the hospital in the country will provide more opportunities for the community, especially various services related to women that were previously inadequate in the country.

He added that the hospital will provide specialized training on spreading education on how to maintain and improve health, such as exercises, nutrition, and how to live happily to avoid stress and frequent visits to hospitals.

"Most people live with stress due to work or various activities, and also going to the hospital when we feel unwell, so it is good to have a culture of taking care of our health, especially the issue of taking long breaths because science tells us that the more you hold your breath, the longer you live and the slower you will age," said Haitham.

Bashir Haroon, Managing Director of Shifaa Hospital, stated that women are the backbone of society starting from the family level, so it is important to commemorate World Women Wellness Day 2024 by caring for and supporting women by providing gynecological, nutritional, and medical specialist services to all participating women.

Haroon said that the charity walk had a significant turnout, especially from both genders, in commemorating that day, which shows appreciation and care for women, especially in terms of their health.

"Our country is fortunate to be led by a female president, so this walk directly touches her in her efforts as a role model in the Tanzanian community because women are the backbone of our society," he said.

He added that the presence of the hospital will achieve the goal of bringing about change in the healthcare sector in Tanzania as they have collaborated with various stakeholders to support government efforts.

"We have prioritized the female gender because our hospital is led by a woman and they go through various challenges of nurturing, childbirth, and services, so we prioritize their health. Our responsibility now is to provide comprehensive, appropriate, and quality services to our communities, especially women, because they are important," said Haroon.

Suheil Kassim, Country Manager of Golden Tulip Dar City Center Hotel, said that they have collaborated with the hospital and other stakeholders in commemorating that day as they have She Travel Club program, which is a global association, aimed at emphasizing and providing essential services for women when traveling.

Additionally, Dr. Anil Mehta, a Senior Family Physician from India, said that he has collaborated with the hospital to provide capacity building for its staff and facilitate access to various services which one must adhere to in various countries like India.

 “We have partnered with this hospital so as we can equip them with important skills which will enable them provide services and attract more neighboring countries to come to Tanzania for such services and treatments. This is a dream come true because people will not need to travel abroad for treatments” said Dr. Anil.

World Women Wellness Day is a globally recognized day and it was established to raise awareness about women's health issues, empower women to make their health a priority, and encourage society to act for equal access to care and wellness resources. It’s an opportunity to toast to the incredible strides the world has made towards acknowledging and improving women's health and wellness.