Latest news with #AFAB
The Hindu
3 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
A mural painting project in Fort Kochi brings queer realities to a public space
A large, colourful mural is taking shape on one of the walls in Fort Kochi's Poovath Street. Members of the queer community are painting their stories and lived experiences on it. Led by Mia, a transwoman and a visual artist, the four-day mural will reflect the queer community's realities, hopes and dreams of the future. Mia held a workshop earlier in the week for the members of the queer community in Kerala, which discussed issues including that of representation. 'The narratives that emerged at the workshop will be the ones that make it to the mural,' says Mia. 'Being queer, one often has to deal with apathy, indifference and even violence. Most of us have lost homes; but we have found homes and families, too. It was among the most common narratives that emerged at the workshop,' Mia adds. The project is a partnership between the Fearless Collective, a movement that works towards creating spaces for collective imagination, creative thinking and social discourse, and Sahayatrika, a Thrissur-based support group for individuals assigned female at birth (AFAB). Mia, who is working as a freelance artist in Delhi, has a fellowship from the Fearless Collective. The mural project is part of the fellowship. She decided to conduct it in her home State, to understand the current realities here and connect with trans persons and those belonging to gender minorities. Mia was chosen as the Fearless Ambassador after a mural project she did with the collective in Sri Lanka. The idea is to work with communities and provide a platform for its members to bring their narratives to a public space. 'The mural is intended to reclaim public spaces, not only by being visible, but also by having an open space for dialogue and community engagement.' Mia collaborated with Sahayatrika, which has been working as a helpline for the female gender assigned community and has a strong network of people from the community. While Kerala is among the progressive states when it comes to the transgender community in India, the policies tend to remain more on paper than in practice, says Yadhav S R, advocacy co-ordinator of Sahayatrika, which has been at the forefront of crisis interventions for the community. 'Gender minorities still don't have freedom over their bodies, or freedom of expression; many of them still face familial violence and that from the larger community' says Yadhav. The mural project will help many in expressing their trauma in a creative way. 'We do have queer creators advocating for the rights of the community through social and we are are hopeful. But we need to reclaim our space, voice and visibility in every little way we can,' Mia adds. The mural project is not exclusive to the queer community and does not require experience with art . It welcomes anyone who wants to express themselves creatively and declare their solidarity. The mural at Poovath Street, Fort Kochi, will be unveiled on June 8.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
What is the new endometriosis pill and why has it taken so long to be developed?
The world's first pill for endometriosis has been approved for NHS use, providing hope for people in the UK suffering from the painful condition. Endometriosis is notoriously understudied and misdiagnosed, so the new treatment is a milestone for the 1.5 million people in the UK affected by it. However, not everyone with endometriosis will be able to take it. Here's all you need to know about the new pill and why it's taken so long to be developed. Endometriosis is a medical condition in which cells similar to those in the lining of the uterus grow outside of it, in areas such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes and pelvis lining. Symptoms of endometriosis include extreme period pain, heavy period pains, pain when you poo or pee, and pain in your lower tummy and back. There is currently no cure, but symptoms can be mitigated with medication or surgery. The newly approved tablet, known as relugolix combination therapy, works by blocking specific hormones that contribute to endometriosis while providing sufficient hormone replacement. According to the charity Endometriosis UK, there are a number of benefits of the new pill. Unlike current injectable treatments, it can be taken at home, which makes things easier for the patient. It also manages symptoms faster without an initial flare-up, and side effects can be mitigated more easily because the pill is taken daily and can be stopped at any time if needed. However, Hannah Alderson, nutritionist and author of Everything I Know About Hormones warned that while the new medication indicates that 'the condition is finally being taken more seriously', the pill 'does not address the root cause of endometriosis'. She told The Standard that the pill doesn't treat inflammation but 'masks symptoms without tackling the underlying drivers of the condition'. The new endometriosis pill costs £72 for a 28-day supply. The first-of-its-kind treatment is only available to endometriosis patients who have tried all other medical and surgical treatments and found they did not help. This includes treatments like hormonal contraceptives and intrauterine delivery systems. As many as 1 in 10 women and those assigned female at birth (AFAB) suffer from endometriosis, yet it takes an average of eight years and ten months for it to be diagnosed and treatment options are limited. 'Endometriosis is one of the most under-diagnosed gynaecological conditions, largely because its symptoms often mimic normal period pain, IBS or other pelvic disorders', Dr. Amit Shah, Consultant Gynaecologist and cofounder of Harley St clinic Fertility Plus told The Standard. 'The current gold standard for diagnosis is laparoscopic surgery, meaning many women go undiagnosed for years because they cannot access or are not referred for this procedure', she said. Another factor is the long-term lack of research into endometriosis (and issues impacting women and AFAB people at large). Women and girls experiencing painful symptoms related to their reproductive health are frequently 'dismissed' by medical professionals, according to a recent report. 'Many women are told their pain is 'just part of having a period' and are dismissed before reaching a specialist', said Dr. Shah.
