KL hospital debuts women’s health campaign with interactive session
A CAFE talk bringing women together over perimenopause was organised to help those suffering in silence and isolation.
It typically affects a woman’s well-being, but “by becoming more aware and attuned to the changes early on, women can reclaim control,” said Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur obstetrics and gynaecology consultant Dr Premitha Damodaran.
The hospital collaborated with Parenthood Media Network’s (PMN) KitaParents platform to organise the “Sip & Share” event in Cyberjaya, Selangor, aimed at fostering open conversations about women’s health.
It marked the official debut of the hospital’s “What Women Want For Health” campaign, positioning it as a supportive space for honest and transparent dialogue.
Frequently dismissed as “just stress” or a sign of ageing, perimenopause is a misunderstood phase in a woman’s life.
Dr Premitha, who is also on the board of the International Menopause Society (IMS), led the interactive session that was attended by mothers from KitaParents.
“As a specialist who has been advocating for menopause awareness for many years, I often see women in my clinic navigating perimenopause feeling isolated because they do not realise their symptoms are part of a larger hormonal shift.
“Understanding that you do not have to suffer in silence is the first step,” she said.
PMN chief executive officer Teresa Chin said, “Women today juggle multiple roles as mothers, professionals and caregivers often at the expense of their own physiological well-being.
“By bringing Dr Premitha out of the clinical setting and into a cafe, we are making essential health knowledge accessible and community driven,” said Chin.
Prompt cards like “One thing I blamed on stress ... but now I’m not so sure” and “The symptom I Googled at 2am but didn’t dare ask anyone about” got the conversation flowing.
There was also a Q&A followed by buka puasa and mingling session.
