Latest news with #FederationofObstetricandGynaecologicalSocietiesofIndia
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Social media campaign urges India to view menstruation as a sign of health
1 2 3 Pune: On World Menstrual Hygiene Day (May 28), a new social media campaign is challenging India's entrenched narrative around menstruation. Launched by Tata Trusts, the initiative asks a provocative question: "What if we delink menstruation from fertility, and instead see it simply as a symbol of health?" The campaign spotlights four influential figures in a woman's menstrual journey, including mothers, mothers-in-law, ASHA workers, and men. Through a series of short films and a catchy jingle, 'Maheena Aa Gaya', the campaign aims to normalise conversations about periods and dismantle long-standing taboos. Medical experts support this reframing. Dr Sunita Tandulwadkar, president of the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India and head of obstetrics and gynaecology at Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune, stated, "The regulation of periods goes much beyond highlighting the fertility of a woman. It represents her health condition. Monitoring periods is even more important in today's world where lifestyles have changed. Long working hours, high stress, irregular sleep, fast food, and rising obesity all play a role, not just in fertility but also overall health. " Dr Manisha Kulkarni, senior consultant in the obstetrics and gynaecology department at Sahyadri Hospitals, Hadapsar, said, "Many women experience heavy or painful periods, which can lead to anaemia due to blood loss. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Killer New Toyota 4Runner Is Utter Perfection (Take A Look) MorninJoy Undo Some also face premenstrual syndrome (PMS), a real condition marked by mood swings, sadness, or irritability before periods. In cases of severe pain or heavy bleeding, conditions like endometriosis — where tissue similar to the uterus lining grows outside it — may be diagnosed. These issues can lead to fatigue, weight gain, or even hypothyroidism. However, irregular periods don't always mean infertility. With minimal treatment, many women with irregular cycles can still conceive. Common myths persist such as painful periods are not normal and should be checked; you can and should bathe and exercise during periods; periods don't need to last a full week to be 'cleaning' the body; and healthy cycles can vary. PMS is real—many women experience emotional and physical changes days before their period." Kulkarni emphasises getting medical help early is key. The campaign also highlights several issues that women continue to face as the topic is not often talked about freely in Indian households. "The lack of reliable access to water and private spaces, whether to bathe, change, or dispose of pads, makes it difficult for girls to manage their periods with safety and dignity," said Divyang Waghela, head of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) at Tata Trusts. "Lack of infrastructure and agency compound this problem. We strive to tackle barriers around infrastructure, belief systems, and environments perpetuating them. Through this, girls can view periods as a normal part of health, not something to be hidden away," Waghela said. Creative director Keigan Pinto emphasised the campaign's relatable approach. "We're not asking people to radically shift their thinking. We simply want them to understand that a period is just a 'lakshan'—a symptom, like hair loss. Capturing this, we created a simple, light film that we shot in people's homes, with a powerful, memorable song with a hook rooted in Indian pop culture, offering an important reminder: 'Maheene ko sirf sehat se jodo' (link that time of the month only to health)."
Hans India
14-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
FOGSI's ‘Waves 2025' to focus on women's health, wellness
Visakhapatnam: Focusing on the theme 'sailing into the future of women's health and wellness', the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) is organising a conference 'Waves 2025-FOGSI presidential conference' in Visakhapatnam. The two-day event, commencing on May 17, will see renowned gynaecologists, health experts, medical students and researchers from across the country sharing insights into women's health and wellness. A number of sessions will be conducted on topics such as ultrasound in infertility, pregnancy management techniques, emergency obstetric care, challenges in hormonal therapy and women's rehabilitative health. Over the course of these two days, various sessions will be conducted on crucial topics such as advanced laparoscopic surgeries, ultrasound in infertility, pregnancy management techniques, emergency obstetric care, challenges in hormonal therapy, and women's rehabilitative health. Organised under the chairpersonship of Dr Subbaraju and Dr T Radha and Dr Padmavathi Naidu, president of the OG Society, the event aims to serve as an effective platform for knowledge exchange among medical professionals. Doctors from Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and other parts of the country are attending the conference. As part of the presidential oration, Dr Sunita Tandulwadkar will talk about clinical crossroads-real stories from reproduction to recovery, while Dr N Palaniappan to speak about induction of labour, use, misuse and abuse as part of the vice-presidential oration. Dr Ananth Karumanchi from Los Angeles, USA will brief about pathophysiology of Preeclampsia as part of the Dr GRK Raju oration. The inaugural ceremony will be held on May 17th at 5:30 pm at Radisson Blu in the city and Union Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu is scheduled to take part as chief guest.
The Hindu
13-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
2-day conference of gynaecologists ‘WAVES 2025' on May 17-18
The Obstetrics and Gynaecological Society of Visakhapatnam (OGSV) will host the 'WAVES 2025, FOGSI Presidential Conference' on May 17 and 18 under the aegis of the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) at Radisson Blu hotel in Visakhapatnam. Union Minister of Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu will inaugurate the event on May 17 at 5.30 p.m. Renowned gynaecologists, women's health experts, medical students, and researchers from across the country will participate in the event. Over the course of two days, various sessions on crucial topics such as advanced laparoscopic surgeries, ultrasound in infertility, pregnancy management techniques, emergency obstetric care, challenges in hormonal therapy, and women's rehabilitative health will be conducted. The conference is being organised under the leadership of OGSV members Dr. Subbaraju, Dr T. Radha and Dr. Padmavathi Naidu.
The Guardian
01-04-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
India trains thousands of medics to promote vaccine in huge push to end cervical cancer
Tens of thousands of doctors across India are being trained to promote the HPV vaccine, in a push to eliminate cervical cancer in the country. They will check with mothers attending medical appointments that they intend to vaccinate their daughters, and visit schools and community centres armed with facts and slideshows to counter vaccine disinformation. One in five cervical cancer cases worldwide occur in India – and the overwhelming majority of those are caused by the human papillomavirus, or HPV. HPV vaccination has become routine practice in many countries and has been available in India privately since 2008, but with low take-up. Sutapa Biswas, co-founder of the Cancer Foundation of India, said imported vaccines were expensive and people were reluctant to spend money on prevention. Misinformation surrounding deaths during, but unrelated to, an HPV vaccine trial in the country had left it with 'baggage', she said. However, India has recently started manufacturing its own cervical cancer vaccine, and the government is expected to make it part of the national vaccination programme later this year or early next year. Biswas said it had been frustrating to know a vaccine was available but was not being used. 'So many times [we would hear] all kinds of excuses – 'the cost is so high, we cannot vaccinate'. But the cost of treating cancer is way higher.' Now, she said: 'Everything is kind of converging and we want to make the most of this opportunity. We are also keeping the pressure on the government so that we don't miss this chance.' Last year about 11,000 members of the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (Fogsi) underwent virtual training. About 100 of those trainees have now become the National HPV Faculty and will each train 500 general physicians from the Indian Medical Association over the next six months. The idea, Biswas said, 'is to build confidence'. Training includes practical information on dosages, details of the World Health Organization's push to eliminate cervical cancer, and advice on how to answer common questions. The implementation of India's cervical screening programme had been sluggish, she said. Most cancers are diagnosed late, and most people's experiences of the disease relate to death. Many non-specialist doctors 'didn't even know that a cancer could be eliminated and vaccination could be such a gamechanger', Biswas said. After the training, doctors are asked to approach their community in their local language to give short presentations. The Covid-19 pandemic, and associated vaccination campaigns, had helped, Biswas said – even in less-educated rural communities people now understood the link between viruses and vaccines. 'Now, when we are talking in the community, we can [explain] there's a virus causing cervical cancer – that's why we are here, we have a vaccine.' Training was also offered separately to local civil society organisations, she said 'on how to understand this and talk about it so there is no backlash'. Dr Priya Ganeshkumar, the gynaecologist and cancer specialist leading the project within Fogsi, said gynaecologists were well placed to do advocacy work. Families often returned to the doctor who had delivered their baby when their daughters started having periods, or in subsequent pregnancies 'so we have a lot of scope for talking about this vaccine', she said. It might be 'the daughter is sitting with the mother, and [we can] proactively ask the question 'hey, girl – what's your age?' [and ask the parent] 'Did you vaccinate your child?''. While many gynaecologists were already aware of the HPV vaccine, she asked: 'Did they emphasise it?' The training, she said, helped them to understand the importance of raising it with patients and to not assume that vaccination was the job of a paediatrician. The HPV vaccine is typically given to preteens, later than most childhood vaccinations. The potential was vast, Ganeshkumar said. 'We all know about cervical cancer – India is a hub of it. Every seven to eight minutes, a lady in India is dying due to cervical cancer, when it is preventable.' Cancer Research UK is providing about a quarter of the project's funding. Its chief executive, Michelle Mitchell, said it was part of efforts towards 'a future where almost nobody develops cervical cancer'.
