Workshop on Women's health

Kolkata

13th March,2011

Women's Health & Hygiene - 'Mukti' and 'Punarnabha Bangla' Conduct Workshops for Under-privileged Women

A woman is the backbone of every home. Oftentimes the lady of the house, engaged in looking after the welfare of every member in the family, neglects her own health. The effect of this is felt when deadly diseases suddenly rear their ugly heads. Women’s health, especially in the rural and slum areas is one of the most neglected aspects in the society today.

Menstruation, a natural physical phenomenon in women is still shrouded in shame and embarrassment. Women are not known to maintain proper hygiene during these days which often result in serious ailments. Most of them are not even aware of why menstruation happens in the first place. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the International Women's day it was an issue worth working towards.

"Only 12% of India's 355 million menstruating women use sanitary napkins (SNs).Over 88% of women resort to shocking alternatives like unsanitised cloth, ashes and husk sand. An incident of Reproductive Tract Infection (RTI) is 70% more common among these women. Inadequate menstrual protection makes adolescent girls (age group 12-18 years) miss 5 days of school in a month (50 days a year). Around 23% of these girls actually drop out of school after they started menstruating.” – Report published in TOI, New Delhi on January 23, 2011.

The Art of Living, together with Sunderban Social Development Center (SSDC), a Sultanpur based NGO took the initiative to reach out to women in the slums of Kolkata. 'Mukti', the women’s health arm of the SSDC has been working tirelessly to acquaint women about hygiene issues, especially during the menstrual cycle in rural regions. Four such workshops were held on 13th March, 2011 at the following places:

1. Ambedkar Colony, 34 Judges Court Road.

2. 7 no. Gyanendra Pally, Baguiati

3. Dhapa Colony

4. Dhakuria Rail Colony

The volunteers of 'The Art of Living' and ‘Mukti’ had conducted the sessions in these four slums simultaneously in the afternoon of 13th Mar 2011.

The first workshop on Health & Hygiene for women was held at Ambedkar Colony, 34 Judges Court Road Kolkata 700027. Adarsh Hindi High School provided their premises for the event. The workshop was attended by over 65 participants. Tapati Purkait & Tapasi Halder from 'Mukti' addressed the gathering, informing them about the prerequisites for maintaining their health & hygiene.

This was followed by a medical check-up for around 74 women by Dr. Pratima Srivastava. Free medicines were provided by Shri Anup Agarwal.

The second camp was held at 7 no. Gyanendra Pally , Baguiati. The volunteers of 'Mukti' Sima Mal and Purnima Mandal educated around 25 ladies present at the Baguiati workshop about the cycle and stressed on the importance of using sanitary napkins during these days. The members participated eagerly and agreed that a woman must take care of her health and maintain proper hygiene especially during the menstrual cycle. The volunteers also offered to sell them sanitary napkins manufactured by the NGO, at cheap prices.

Another two camps were held at CMCT School at Dhapa and Friend star Club at Dhakuria Rail Colony. Suparna Halder and Putul Halder were the representatives of ‘Mukti’ who were present at Dhapa while Minakhi Gayen and Sabitri Das volunteered at Dhakuria. Over 20 women were present in in each of the two workshops.

Besides spreading awareness about fundamental sanitary hygiene, the volunteers also educated the ladies about the uses of sanitary napkins during those few days of the month. The ladies showed their interest to buy the napkins for their monthly use and the volunteers were able to sell a good number of these products at a very nominal price.

The challenges that were found at the end of the workshops are: a) inadequate post natal care & nutrition for the women b) Calcium deficiency of menopausal women c) Menstrual issues of young girls. d) Skin & hair infections due to lack of hygiene.

Long-term plans:

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1) Have bi- monthly check up for women, along with advice on nutrition & hygiene

2) Have supply sufficient amount of sanitary napkins on monthly basis in every slum and encourage the ladies to buy these at a cheap prices

3) The women there who had not already participated in Nav Chetana Shivirs have been advised to do so. This will take place from April.

4) The monthly check ups will continue for an initial period of 6 months, i.e., till September 2011.

The workshop concluded with all of them agreeing to take better care of their health. Sabita from Baguiati, Lakhi from Dhakuria and some other ladies present in the workshop quipped, "We were waiting for such things in our area ". All are now looking forward to the Nav Chetna Shibirs scheduled in these areas in the following months.

In this same platform, the volunteers of The Art of Living organization acquainted the ladies about the courses that the organization offers and how millions across the globe have benefited physically, mentally and emotionally from the same. The enthusiastic ladies fixed a date (23rd-27th Mar) for a Nav Chetna Shibir in Baguiati.