GCC Menopause Summit: Integrating Women’s Health, Work and Family life
Explored the 37 symptoms and seven fields of transformation women might experience, the opening panel discussed the mental, physical and emotional impacts of menopause and shared personal stories about entering the phase prematurely.
The Summit featured keynotes from several healthcare professionals, conferring the treatments and therapies that can be used to manage symptoms. Nurbanu Mergaliyeva of Nabta Health spoke about working with a psychologist to overcome menopausal challenges, while Dr Marlain Mubarak of King’s College Hospital London shared different hormone replacement therapies. Dispelling the myths around bioidentical hormone therapy, Dr Rupinder Ruprai of HealthBay Clinics revealed how it could provide a safe, regulated and more personalised approach to managing symptoms.
The impacts of diet, nutrition, exercise and sleep need more attention that we give it, with panellists sharing personal experiences of different solutions, with a caution that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. A panel featuring Dr Khalid Shukri of the holistic wellness centre Wellth highlighted the power of peptides in managing symptoms.
Turning to the discussion on workforce participation, Leah Cotterill of Cigna Healthcare MEA revealed survey data that shows eight in ten menopausal women feel they lack support in the workplace. One in ten have left a job due to symptoms, and during another titled ‘Hot Flashes, Cool Careers, ’ the panel moderated by Katy Holmes of the British Chamber of Commerce Dubai, Cheryl Thornton of the CIPD Middle East Advisory Board explained how simple adjustments to workplace policies and practices can make a significant difference, while Barry Harwood, of Harwood Partners, talked of the importance of visible male allies and preventing the brain drain that occurs when talented women leave the workplace.
Her Excellency Mubaraka Ibrahim, Chief AI Officer at Emirates Health Services UAE, delivered the final keynote address. HE Mubaraka spoke about the potential of artificial intelligence to transform care for menopausal women by improving symptom tracking, accelerating drug development, and addressing unique needs with personalised solutions.
The summit's founders included Sharon James, women’s wellness coach and menopause educator; Katy Holmes, CEO of British Chamber of Commerce Dubai; Sophie Smith, Founder/CEO of Nabta Health; and Dr Harmeek Singh, Founder of Plan and Chairman of Women’s Run.
