Changing India’s abortion law to extend the timeframe within which a woman can have an abortion is not a step the Centre is willing to take, the Supreme Court has been informed. A blanket extension for the twenty-week window in which an abortion may be performed cannot be justified because of the right to life […]
women's rights
Sex ratio at birth: Improvements made?
India’s sex ratio at birth has improved, according to Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani. However, such a claim seems very much dependent on the figures used. Irani credited the Centre’s Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (Save Daughter, Educate Daughter) initiative with the improvement while speaking at an event last Friday. The disparity […]
Rape crisis centre opened in Mumbai
A hospital in Mumbai has become the first in India to open a crisis centre for survivors of sexual assault and other violent crimes. The King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital and Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College provides support for those who have experienced rape, acid attacks and child abuse with medical examination and counselling through […]
Abortion law reform in progress: Centre to HC
The Centre has informed the Madras High Court that a note has again been sent to the Union Ministry of Law and Justice, proposing a change to India’s abortion law. Last week, it was reported that the Centre was exploring extending the period during a woman’s pregnancy that they could undergo an abortion to between […]
Health benefits of breastfeeding: Health Ministry to raise awareness
World Breastfeeding Week may be over for the rest of the world, but the Union Health Ministry has announced plans to make it a monthly fixture in India to raise awareness of the health benefits of breastfeeding. During an event last week, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan announced that a breastfeeding awareness week will […]
A change in the abortion law?
Could India’s abortion law soon change? Steps may be taken towards amending the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, as the Centre has informed the Delhi High Court it is consulting with ministries on the same. Social activist Amit Sahni filed a public interest litigation (PIL) before the High Court earlier this year, seeking that […]
The district highlighting India’s sex ratio problem
A district in Uttarakhand reflects a broader issue concerning India’s sex ratio, according to a recent report in The Times of India. In 132 of the Uttarkashi district’s villages, not a single girl was born in three months out of 216 deliveries. The concerning figures, collected from the state health department, potentially cast a spotlight […]
The right to an informed choice: Dr Supriya Garikipati on how India can make menstrual health available for its girls and women
When it comes to menstrual health, India’s girls and women face extreme challenges ranging from lack of accessibility to menstrual hygiene products to stigma. In particular, there is the lack of ability to exercise their right to an informed choice. Health Issues India talks to expert Dr Supriya Garikipati about the situation surrounding menstrual health […]
Menstrual cups: A viable alternative?
Menstrual cups have the potential to be a safe, effective, and significantly more environmentally friendly way for girls and women to manage their menstrual health, a study released today has found. Analysing data from 43 studies involving 3,319 participants, covering a mixture of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and high-income countries, the study found that […]
HPV vaccination saves lives. As we have been reminded again.
New research confirms again what public health experts have long asserted: vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV) is an effective tool in reducing the spread of cervical cancer. For India, the news is important. Given the high death toll of cervical cancer in the country, and stalled efforts to roll out HPV vaccination, the finding […]