Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 24 May 2025
The State Hub for Empowerment of Women (SHEW), under the Department of Social Welfare, recently organized an awareness programme for pregnant women and nursing mothers at the Birdline Anganwadi Centre. The initiative was conducted in collaboration with the Department of Health Services (DHS) and saw participation from 32 women.
The programme focused on the critical importance of maintaining good health and hygiene, particularly for women in vulnerable stages such as pregnancy and postnatal care.
Dr. H.M. Siddaraju, Deputy Director (Family Welfare), DHS, addressed the gathering on topics including the significance of health and hygiene, the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, issues surrounding early pregnancy, and the impact of anemia.
Dr. Shweta, Medical Officer with the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), provided insights into menstrual hygiene, the importance of a balanced nutritional diet, and services available at Adolescent Friendly Health Clinics (Yuva Clinics).
The session also included an interactive segment led by Ms. Hemlatha and Ms. P. Deepa Laxmi, Gender Specialist, who emphasized that health and hygiene form the foundation of a strong and resilient community. They encouraged participants to adopt hygienic practices in their daily lives to ensure long-term well-being for themselves and their families.
The programme was held under the guidance of Mr. Ravinder Kumar, Director of Social Welfare, and Ms. Reeta Devi, Nodal Officer, SHEW.