The COVID-19 pandemic witnessed a spike in global hunger, according to a fresh report from the United Nations (UN). According to the organisation, “there was a dramatic worsening of world hunger in 2020…much of it likely related to the fallout of COVID-19. While the pandemic’s impact has yet to be fully mapped, a multi-agency report […]
women's health
Gender equality in international crosshairs
This week saw an international conference held in Paris, France, where the item on the agenda was one of massive importance: gender equality. The three-day conference, which opened on Wednesday, foregrounded equality of the sexes as a global priority, seeking to – as The Associated Press (AP) reports – “fast-track the road to gender equality […]
C-sections on the rise globally
The rate of caesarean sections (or c-sections) is on the rise worldwide, according to data which found that such procedures now account for more than one-fifth of childbirths. The research further postulates that, by 2030, c-sections may account for almost one-third of childbirths as numbers increase. It is important to note that a c-section can […]
‘COVID widows’ struggle highlights the invisible pain of India’s bereaved women
Nobody has been untouched by the COVID-19 pandemic, with one of the most brutal effects being bereavement. In India, where widowhood has long been stigmatised often to shocking degrees, ‘COVID widows’ are struggling. Widowhood is a global issue which relegates many bereaved women, having undergone incalculable tragedy, to the sidelines of society. This has been […]
Gender discrimination lingers: We must push for equality
The observance of International Women’s Day, which we mark today, is crucial in raising awareness of gender discrimination and the need to advance towards gender equality. It is important in India, a country beset by a range of issues related to gender discrimination despite advances made. The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is […]
HPV awareness the need of the hour to fight cervical cancer
Today marks the culmination of the fourth International HPV Awareness Campaign, coinciding with International HPV Awareness Day. Raising awareness of HPV [the human papillomavirus] is essential in the fight against cancer – most prominently cervical cancer. As the World Health Organization (WHO) explains, “there are more than 100 types of HPV, of which at least […]
Endometriosis Awareness Month begins
Today marks the beginning of Endometriosis Awareness Month, an observance aimed to raise public understanding and knowledge of a condition which affects almost 200 million women worldwide. That figure, however, is almost certainly an underestimate. As previously outlined by Health Issues India, “endometriosis is a condition in which tissue that normally lines the inside of […]
Family planning report shows use of modern contraceptives on the up in India
India has made substantial progress in the last eight years according to a recent report published by organisation Family Planning 2020, which found that now more than 139 million Indian women and girls used modern contraceptives. “Access to [family planning] is fundamental to the success of the [Sustainable Development Goals],” FP2020 – “a global partnership […]
Anaemia still a concern among India’s women and kids
The latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data reasserts anaemia as a major concern in India – especially among its women and children. According to the fifth set of NFHS data, India’s prevalence of the disease is the highest in the world. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare posits a rate of 39.86 […]
Midwives: A vital and life-saving investment
It need not be said, but is often overlooked, that public health systems benefit substantially from the work of midwives. This has been quantified to the tune of 4.3 million lives that could be saved per year by the year 2035 in new research published in The Lancet. The paper “[estimates] that, relative to current […]