Session in Tharparkar aims at breaking taboos about reproductive health

Seeta Kolhi, a ninth-grade student at the Govt Girls Secondary School Wehro Sharif, is the only literate female in her community. Most girls in her colony spend their days working in the fields, picking cotton and other crops, often alongside their families or on their own, with no opportunity to attend school.

She passed this information at a session on sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) in Tharparkar that was organised under a community development initiative. During the session, the critical importance of women’s sexual and reproductive health rights was discussed and participants emphasised that such rights are fundamental human rights as they are intrinsically linked to the rights to life, dignity, education, information and equality.

Seeta, who aspires to become a doctor, expressed her determination to counter societal stigmas through widespread awareness. Recalling her first menstrual experience, she shared, “I was shocked when I got my first period. Cultural barriers prevented me from discussing it with my mother or siblings. Feeling distressed, I confided in my teacher, who provided me with sanitary pads.”

She added that since then, she had been secretly educating her female friends about menstrual hygiene who used to rely on unhygienic cloths, but now they understood the importance of proper care.

This impactful initiative was spearheaded by Global Undergraduate Exchange Program fellows Sanjay Mathrani and Sandeep Chawla aiming to spread awareness about SRHR in marginalised communities.

Public health experts and doctors, including Dr Aliza Latif, Dr Jaiwanti Khatri and Dr Bhuneswari Rathi, highlighted the significance of reproductive health for the overall well-being and emotional stability of women and girls.

Speaking at the session, they addressed myths and misconceptions surrounding reproductive health and emphasised the need for discouraging early marriages, which were major contributors to maternal and child mortality, abortion, pregnancy-related complications and mental health issues such as stress and depression.

Speaking to the media, Mathrani discussed the pressing challenges faced by women and girls in marginalised areas like Tharparkar and Umerkot. “These communities lack access to proper health facilities and reproductive rights. Many accept their hardships as the will of ‘Bhagwan’, but as an exchange fellow, I felt a responsibility to give back to my community through advocacy and awareness,” he said.

Mathrani explained that socio-cultural taboos severely restricted access to essential SRHR services, such as family planning, contraception and STD prevention. He shared details of two awareness sessions held in the villages of Panna Shah and Ramji Kolhi attended by over 70 married women and 30 young girls.

Dr Jaiwanti, a female medical officer at the District Headquarter Hospital Umerkot and an SRHR expert, conducted a session focusing on fundamental aspects of sexual and reproductive health. She debunked common myths, provided an overview of the reproductive system, and discussed the global and local landscapes of SRHR.

“Every individual, whether formally educated or not, should advocate for consent and sexual and reproductive rights within their communities,” she stated, adding the she was always available to provide help to anyone working for such cause.

Chawla emphasised that empowering women and girls with critical knowledge and skills was pivotal to improving their health and well-being. “This community development initiative is a significant step towards changing the lives of hundreds of women and girls,” he added.

Through these sessions, the initiative has successfully raised awareness and fostered dialogue on SRHR, challenging deep-seated taboos and encouraging women and girls to take charge of their health and rights.