Hyderabad, July 4: Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, on Saturday organised a one-day awareness workshop titled “Aging with Confidence – Solutions for Bladder & Pelvic Floor Problems” at its premises, bringing together elderly women, caregivers and family members to promote awareness on bladder and pelvic floor health and encourage women to seek timely medical care.
The programme brought together elderly women, caregivers and family members for expert sessions on urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, bladder health and preventive measures to maintain pelvic floor strength. Participants also benefited from free Bone Mineral Density (BMD), blood pressure and blood sugar screenings, physiotherapy demonstrations and interactive counselling sessions.
The workshop was led by Dr Nirmala Papalkar and Dr Shreeja Gurrala from the Department of Urogynaecology, along with Dr Dharshitha, Consultant in Geriatric Medicine. Experts from Neurology, Rheumatology and Cardiology also participated in a multidisciplinary panel discussion, highlighting the importance of comprehensive care for elderly women.
Beyond the medical sessions, the programme’s most impactful outcome was the willingness of participants to share their personal experiences with urinary leakage, pelvic organ prolapse and other bladder-related conditions many for the first time. The discussions underscored how embarrassment, social stigma and lack of awareness often delay timely medical consultation.
The anonymous question-and-answer session further encouraged women to discuss concerns they had long kept private, helping them understand that these conditions are common, manageable and, in many cases, treatable.
“The biggest achievement of the workshop was creating a safe space where women felt comfortable talking about issues they had silently endured for years. Once they realise they are not alone, they become more confident in seeking timely treatment,” the organising team said.
The experts emphasised that bladder and pelvic floor disorders should not be accepted as an inevitable consequence of ageing. Early diagnosis, pelvic floor physiotherapy, lifestyle modifications and advanced medical treatments can significantly improve quality of life.
On this occasion Mr. Tejesvi Rao Veerepalli , CEO Apollo Hospitals Telugu States said through initiatives such as “Aging with Confidence,” Apollo Hospitals aims to raise awareness, reduce stigma and encourage more women to seek medical care early, enabling them to age with dignity, confidence and better health.
