Participants with organisers and others during the seminar on ‘women reproductive health and rights’ held on December 8. (Photo Courtesy: NEN)
Kohima, December 9 (MExN): With the ongoing 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence, North East Network (NEN), Nagaland in collaboration with Family Planning Association India (FPAI) Nagaland Branch and SEWA Kohima organised a seminar on ‘women reproductive health and rights’ on December 8.
According to NEN, the seminar was organised to create awareness on issue surrounding women reproductive health and rights and to identify such health concerns and assist them in seeking the help they need.
Ville Rhetso, Counsellor, FPA India Nagaland Branch explained the various women's reproductive systems. She mentioned the cultural sensitivity related to reproductive health which starts with the natural and biological process of menstruation in a girl’s life and urged the women to consider menstruation as a normal topic and discuss freely at home which will solves many other gynae related health issues.
Briefing on other topics such as pregnancy and abortion, she cited a story on how a girl and women suffers both physically and mentally when she had an unintended pregnancy and informed them about MTP Act and choices to help her in decision making. She shared issues related with infertility, STI & HIV. Furthermore, she illustrated contraception and its method for better quality life and healthy family and as a way to prevent unintended pregnancies as well as various sexually transmitted diseases.
Highlighting the sign and symptoms of breast cancer and cervical cancer, she also emphasized on screening and prevention and stressed on timely seeking health care services as most of the health issues are preventable with proper care and early diagnosis.
On the topic of gender based violence, she mentioned the health consequences of violence against of women and urged the women to be aware and help each other instead of judging and stigmatizing the victim. She remarked that the violation of the sexual and reproductive rights including the right to make decision for one's own body is also a violation against women.
Akangkokla Namo illustrated about menstrual related health problems including Pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS). She also explained various Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) and stressed on proper Diet during period. She further urged the participants to create a friendly environment at home where all the family members are free to discuss about menstruation and not considering it as shameful and dirty.
Concerns like reproductive rights of women – the rights of individuals to make decisions and have control over their reproductive health, need wider awareness for both men and women.
