ORANGE Sierra Leone Women (OSL Women) convened leaders, medical experts, and participants for a one-day seminar themed “OSL Women Wellbeing,” focusing on raising awareness, sharing knowledge, and fostering community support for women’s health issues.

The seminar featured a series of addresses tackling critical health issues affecting women, from physical conditions like fibroids to mental health and workplace stress.

 Delivering the opening remarks, OSL Women President Priscilla Okechukwu emphasized the importance of women understanding their bodies and having a safe space to discuss challenges related to stress management and mental health. She highlighted the seminar as a platform for open dialogue, supported by knowledgeable speakers and partners who provided gifts for attendees. Georgina Vincent, Legal and Compliance Manager at Orange Money Finance Sierra Leone (OMFSL), served as Master of Ceremony and guided the proceedings.

Agnes Songa, Human Resources Director, delivered a heartfelt address, stressing that women’s well-being is a primary concern for any organization. She noted the multiple roles women juggle as partners, caregivers, and parents, and emphasized that a supportive workplace is essential for women to thrive. Songa encouraged solidarity among women, urging them to support each other, remain visible in the workforce, maintain good values, and avoid complacency.

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The medical segment began with Dr. Rosetta Cole, who presented on fibroids. She explained that fibroids are non-cancerous tumors common among women, particularly those of African descent, and detailed symptoms including heavy menstrual bleeding, pain, and reproductive challenges. Dr. Cole noted that diagnosis is typically done through ultrasound and that not all fibroids require treatment only those causing symptoms and discussed various management options.

The keynote speaker, Dr. Patricia Bah, Chief Nursing Officer at the Ministry of Health, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to women’s health. She outlined government initiatives to reduce maternal mortality and improve access to reproductive health services, including universal health coverage.

Dr. Bah emphasized a multi-sectoral approach involving ministries and community engagement, highlighting efforts to include non-communicable diseases, such as fibroids, in the national reproductive health strategy and ongoing work to pass a mental health bill into law.

A representative from Palanie and Sons, a pharmaceutical company, shared the company’s mission to provide quality, affordable medicines and services. He discussed plans for expansion and invited attendees to visit their branches, providing details on operating hours.

The seminar concluded with a session on mental health by Dr. Melvina Thompson, who focused on the unique pressures faced by women. She discussed the link between stress and physical conditions like diabetes and hypertension, defining well-being as encompassing emotional, physical, social, workplace, and societal factors.

Dr. Thompson described signs of stress and burnout, including low energy, irritability, and changes in habits, emphasizing the importance of resilience, strong support systems, and self-care practices such as exercise and proper sleep to manage workplace demands and maintain overall health.

The event served as a call to action for greater awareness and support for women’s health, encouraging collaboration among communities, corporations, and government to ensure women can lead healthy and productive lives.