Women’s Health Summit: Beyond the Diagnosis promises support for women

WOMEN’S Health Physiotherapist and Director of InSync Health Wellness Beauty, Kimberly Hoffman will host a women’s health summit on May 28, which is celebrated as International Day of Action for Women’s Health.

For the past four years, Hoffman has been using her platform and influence to educate women on issues pertaining to women’s health. She has written and published articles, hosted workshops, and seminars, and used her social media to host lives with other medical professionals and educate women across the Caribbean, United States, and Canada on health issues affecting the modern woman.

“For centuries, women who are ill or in pain have had to seek treatment from a medical profession dominated by men and informed by scientific research that often failed to incorporate female experiences,” she says. “Women’s concerns were dismissed, minimised, or reduced to psychosis. Though we have come a far way, women continue to suffer in silence and ignorance.

“I believe the first step to acknowledging women’s rights to health is through education — providing them with accurate evidence-based information on issues pertaining to their health and all available treatment options. Doing this will allow women to be able to make educated decisions about their health and bodies.”

International Day of Action for Women’s Health has been observed globally on May 28 every year since 1987. The main purpose of the day is to promote the sexual and reproductive health and rights of all women all over the world.

“This is why I have taken the initiative to plan this summit for International Day of Action for Women’s Health 2022, so Jamaican women can be educated on various health conditions that are prevalent in Jamaica such as fibroids, endometriosis, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and infertility. The summit also aims to provide a holistic view of the treatment options available to our population of women by providing a multi-disciplinary approach to the treatment of various conditions,” she adds.

Part proceeds from the event, which will be held at The Lawns of ACE Total Healthcare, 4 Hillcrest Avenue, will be used to support women with health conditions, by assisting with rehabilitative expenses such as physical therapy and psychotherapy as well as to support children affected financially by their mothers’ illnesses.

Event objectives

1. Educate women on issues pertaining to women’s health.

2. To inform women on available treatment options that are supported by evidence-based practice.

3. To provide a safe supportive forum for women to ask questions to industry experts.

4. To provide a safe space to speak with other women experiencing similar health concerns.

5. To present to women a holistic method of treating women’s health conditions.

6. To raise funds to assist women with major health conditions pay for rehabilitative expenses (physical and mental) as well as support children affected financially by their mother’s illnesses.

Target audience: Women age 25-65

Status: Working class/professionals

Health status: Has one or more women’s health conditions or healthy women who just want to be educated.

Format of programme

A moderated panel discussion on different topics featuring industry experts. Experts will include:

Dr Leroy Campbell: Obstetrician/gynaecologist, feto-maternal health specialist.

Rosemarie Voordouw: Licensed associate psychologist.

Kimberly Hoffman: Pelvic health physiotherapist.

Anna-Kay Greenwood: Certified weight management specialist, personal trainer and sports nutritionist.