. . . tackles Menopause, Breast Cancer & Anemia
Female staff and students, staff joined guests as all filled the BUPF International Conference Centre on Wednesday, 27 August 2025, for the First Bells University Female Health Talk Series 1.0, a multi-disciplinary forum that demystified menopause, promoted monthly breast self-examination and spotlighted Nigeria’s silent anemia epidemic.
Keynote speaker Dr. Temitope Akpelishi, Director of Health Services, labelled perimenopause the “zone of chaos”, explaining how estrogen fluctuations from age 35 can trigger mood swings, hot flashes and bone-density loss. “Menopause is confirmed only after twelve consecutive months without a period,” she stressed, urging attendees to seek individualized hormone-replacement plans rather than endure symptoms in silence.
ACNO Ayobami Banjoko, a breast-care nurse, demonstrated the Monthly Breast Exam (MBE)—a three-step touch, look and squeeze routine women should perform at the end of every menstrual cycle. “Ninety-five percent of lumps are first noticed by women themselves,” Banjoko said, while volunteers circulated silicone breast models for hands-on practice.
Pharm. Taiwo Adedire of Fidson Healthcare introduced Femina, a new 60 mg iron + 0.4 mg folic acid tablet now recommended by WHO to break the intergenerational cycle of anemia affecting 47 % of Nigerian women. Adolescents are to take one tablet weekly; pregnant women, daily.
Free blood-pressure and blood-sugar screenings ran non-stop, with attending nurses logging over 180 consultations. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ngozi Arisa representing the Vice-Chancellor’s representative, Prof. Jeremiah O. Ojediran, RE (COREN), FNSE, FNIAE, IION, closed the event by promising to make the Female Health Talk an annual fixture on the university calendar.