As India strives to make health a fundamental right, many social constraints continue to deprive us of an all inclusive healthcare strategy. A major hurdle is India’s skewed sex ratio caused by harmful practices like female foeticide. Secondly is violence and discrimination against women. Thirdly, it is the difficulty of accessing emergency healthcare services and lastly, the lack of hygiene and sanitation. Each of these factors violates human rights and has adverse health consequences, especially on women and children.
This Women’s Day, as the voice of the healthcare industry, Express Healthcare seeks to highlight issues that are not only detrimental to women’s health and well-being but also deter the progress of our nation. In this effort, we present a panel of experts who share their perspectives on the ways and means to improve the health indicators among women and thereby improve the quality of their lives.
Some of the areas covered in this special segment include, the Beti Bachao Programme, the PC-PNDT Act and its implementation, women healthcare initiatives and their effectiveness, need to improve sanitation and hygiene, as well as the security of women working in the healthcare sector.
As we set the stage for discussion, Dr Duru Shah, a social crusader speaks about the need for change in the attitude towards women. She also urges the industry to be a part of national campaigns for women empowerment. She also opines that the healthcare industry, in their own ingenious ways, should highlight the importance of cleanliness and add to the visibility of the Clean India Campaign.
Alisha Moopen and Zahabiya Khorakiwala, young faces of the healthcare sector bring fresh views on subjects like the PC PNDT Act and ways to strengthen the health system in India.
Well, as important it is to save the girl child, it is equally vital to give them education and a healthy life. Dr Tester Ashavaid, on the basis of her research, points out the major health hazards for women in India and Mangla Dembi, being a management expert, highlights the need for security of women at their workplace.
We also have women leaders like this year’s Padma Bhushan awardee, neonatologist Dr Neelam Kler and Apollo Kolkata CEO, Dr Rupali Basu, speak about women empowerment, drawing inferences from their own journey to the top in healthcare.
We also feature, Girindra Beehary and Sharad Agarwal, representing organisations like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and HLFPTT, speak about initiatives that reach out to women and educate them on several pivotal aspects like maternal health, HIV and family planning. Rajan Samuels, on behalf of Habitat for Humanity, has been working towards providing safe housing for poor Indian families. He also talks about the need to improve housing and sanitation for women in India.
We hope these insights pave the way for improved health conditions among women in our country, because as eminent writer Harriet Beecher Stowe puts it, “Women are the real architects of society.”
Happy International Women’s Day!!
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