A workshop on health issues affecting women and girls in the State was organised here to develop inputs for the Odisha State Policy for the Girl Child and Women, which is a part of a series of consultations over various programmes, schemes and provisions for the empowerment of women and development of the girl child.
Social Welfare Director S Aswasthi, National Health Mission managing director Roopa Mishra, UNFPA State Programme coordinator Dr Deepa Prasad and Family Welfare director Dr Shashikanta Mishra participated in the consultation and raised concern over the data of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS).
As per the NFHS data, 40.7 per cent of the children are underweight in the State and as per the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) data, 64 per cent of the girls are normal but more girls than boys suffer in cases of severely malnourished children.
Further, the total fertility rate (TFR) of the State is lower than the national
average but there has been a significant decline in the Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) to 258.
Various other women health issues like reproductive health issues beyond maternal health, reproductive
morbidities, prevention and treatment of cancer of, uterus, ovary, and breast were also discussed by eminent dignitaries attending the
workshop.
Issues related to harassment at workplace, gender violence and facilities for
sexually abused victims and health issues of
elderly women were also emphasised.