KARACHI: Speakers at an online programme on Tuesday said that it was very disturbing that discussing women’s health issues was still considered as a taboo in the country.

The executive director of Uks Research Centre and renowned gynaecologist Dr Tahira Kazmi discussed women’s health issues during a Facebook podcast to mark International Women’s Day.

They discussed ‘Gynae Feminism’ through which they enlightened women on the lack of health facilities and how they and their families should give importance to their health.

Dr Kazmi addressed the fact that many women were unaware of the risky changes in their gynaecological health which they ignore as they believe it was non-customary to discuss them with family or doctors.

She said she and the director of Uks were trying to spread awareness about gynaecological issues as 80 per cent of the women in Pakistan were facing them.

She said women’s rights are also considered human rights, and every possible facility should be provided to them, whether it’s a professional and experienced doctor or proper counselling regarding their gynaecological issues.

Dr Kazmi said that women should read and research everything by themselves regarding any unusual symptoms and changes in their health.

She said that every woman should get proper gynaecological check-ups every year.

The discussion also covered an alarming rise in cases of breast cancer, cervical cancer and uterine cancer in the country.

“The biggest reason for this rapid increase is that women ignore early and curable symptoms, which results in the final stage of cancer,” Dr Kazmi said.

She emphasised the importance of providing women with an effective antenatal and postnatal care.

The Uks director said that her main aim was to educate women living in far-flung areas, where they did not have access to experienced doctors and facilities.

She also stated that the main objective and motive of Uks Gynae Feminism was to educate and help women around Pakistan.

She said that in today’s fast-moving world, discussing women’s health issues is still considered taboo in the country, which is very disturbing and offensive to women.

Uks provided an open forum to all the women to discuss their issues that had not been answered or discussed before, she said and added that any woman can contact the centre through its Facebook page or WhatsApp contact.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2023