As a part of the Vedruna Bicentenary initiatives, a Women’s Mental and Physical Health Awareness Program was organized in our community at Uplat. Dr. Shilpa obliged herself to be the resource person for the one day seminar in which 35 women from near and far villages participated.
Addressing women’s health issues, the session was focused on the importance of women’s emotional well-being. Dr. Shilpa explained that feelings are very important to every human being, encouraging women to acknowledge and express their feelings instead of suppressing them. She also explained how prolonged emotional stress can affect physical health. She encouraged the women to value themselves, care for their nutrition, rest, relaxation and make time for activities that bring them joy.
The second session was focused on women’s physical health issues, with special emphasis on Breast Cancer which is most prevalent, Cervical Cancer and Leukaemia. Women learned about self- examination, recognizing warning signs, such as lumps in breast, axilla, unusual discharge, any changes in the body and the importance of regular health check-up.
To make the session more meaningful and bring home this crucial message, Dr. Shilpa interacted with the women in their local Warli language, using examples from their daily lives and her own life experiences.
They gave their full attention, participated actively, asked many questions and were deeply appreciative of the opportunity they got to clear their doubts and for the new learnings. There was an air of new energy from the knowledge that they gained and a sense of gratitude for this occasion given to them who are otherwise engaged in work and caring for others except themselves. Many of the participants were surprised and taken up as they listened to Dr. Shilpa. They expressed their desire for a follow up and more such sessions.
Sr. Marcellina Aguiar, ccv
