By Benjamin Njoku

Venus67 and Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) Lagos hosted a health and empowerment programme for International Women’s Day at POWA Secretariat, Ikeja.

The event was attended by key stakeholders, including the Lagos State Police Commissioner, the Chairperson of POWA Lagos Chapter, Mrs Juliet Odesanya, POWA leadership, medical professionals, and members of the media. It focused on women’s health, particularly fibroids awareness, with a health talk and free medical screenings.

The programme underscores a shared commitment to improving the wellbeing of women within police communities.

The event emphasized the urgent need to raise awareness about fibroids, a condition affecting a significant number of women, particularly in Africa.

Ms. Balogun Morenikeji Mautin, Head of Health Education at Ikosi Isheri Local Government Health Department, led a health talk addressing what fibroids are, common symptoms, preventive practices, and the importance of early medical consultation. The session was interactive, allowing women to ask questions and receive professional guidance.

With over 142 women in attendance, it also featured pregnancy care tips covering the critical intersection of fibroids and maternal health; the importance of regular antenatal visits, proper nutrition during pregnancy, early detection of potential complications, and maintaining healthy lifestyle practices that support both maternal and child health.

As part of the educational vision of the event, the Founder of Venus67, Babatunde Opeifa, introduced the KidCode Africa Academy to the police community, a digital literacy and coding programme designed to equip young people with foundational technology skills.

An initiative that aims to position children within the POWA community for opportunities in the evolving tech landscape. The programme outlined the importance of early digital education and the vision to empower the next generation with future-ready skills.

Affecting up to 80 per cent of Nigerian women of reproductive age, fibroids remain poorly understood and frequently untreated, with consequences ranging from infertility to death.

Nigeria loses more than N10.8 billion annually, treating approximately 12.77 million women costing an average of N850,000 per patient. Yet the average delay between symptom onset and seeking medical care exceeds 20 years, while 57.4 per cent of Nigerian adolescent girls experience heavy menstrual bleeding, a key fibroid symptom often dismissed as normal.