HERA opens perimenopause counselling centre in Skopje

Association for Health Education and Research HERA has opened a perimenopause counselling room at the "Sakam da znam" Youth Centre in Skopje. The premises are located at Elisije Popovski Marko Street no. 2, close to the Clinical Center "Mother Teresa".

The counselling room will operate once a week; it is planned to be open on Wednesdays from 15:00 to 18:00. Women may come in person or call HERA’s telephone numbers to schedule a consultation with a physician.

Services and how to access them

Dr. Velimir Saveski, president of HERA, said the new service will give women concrete support and stress the importance of perimenopause care in the country.

"Specifically, women receive professional support in one place from trained personnel who will provide them with all the necessary information and services for this period of a woman's life that has not been much addressed so far, and we believe women need appropriate care and services during this period," said Dr. Velimir Saveski.

Gynecologist Prim. Dr. Iskra Dukovska warned that the hormonal changes that occur in the years before, during and after menopause carry a significant risk for chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis, and outlined what patients can expect from the counselling room.

"These chronic diseases can significantly affect a woman's life and functioning, especially given that life expectancy now continues and a woman spends about one third of her life in this perimenopause. From that follows an increased need for good medical care and services for these patients. This counselling centre will provide direct communication with a gynecologist where a woman can describe her symptoms, where she can receive verified and up-to-date information, where a joint decision can be made to address the appropriate problems and directions for better health. As a gynecologist, I personally believe that patients will be able to receive an extremely important way in which they can be heard, where their problems and symptoms can be seriously considered and where together we can decide how to deal with those symptoms going forward. The opening of this counselling centre will allow every woman to know that she should not be silent, that the period should not just pass, that she should take care of her health and that there are professionals who will help with that through good information and good guidance," said Prim. Dr. Iskra Dukovska.

Journalist: B. Nestoroska.

Photo: K. Popov)