Art forms being used to boost women's reproductive health in Patna
PATNA: Accessing health services with dignity has always been a difficult job for women and Covid-19 pandemic has further worsened the situation. Several women have complained of facing difficulties in getting institutional deliveries and institutional abortions, impacting their health.
A Patna City-based woman said she was denied delivery at a private clinic in Rajendra Nagar she used to visit regularly.
Finally, she had to change her doctor.
Asha volunteers working on women issues said getting abortion was a difficult job amid pandemic. Vaishali-based Asha worker Manju Devi said she took a woman to a health centre the other day and despite waiting for six hours, abortion could not be done. “In rural areas, women hardly get support from their family members if they want abortion. As time lapses, doctors refuse to conduct abortion,” she added.
Another woman from Vaishali, mother of two, also wanted to terminate her pregnancy as Covid-19 pandemic had badly affected the economic condition of her house. However, she was not supported by her husband and in-laws and it also led to domestic violence.
Asha volunteers working on women issues said getting abortion was a difficult job amid pandemic. Vaishali-based Asha worker Manju Devi said she took a woman to a health centre the other day and despite waiting for six hours, abortion could not be done. “In rural areas, women hardly get support from their family members if they want abortion. As time lapses, doctors refuse to conduct abortion,” she added.
Another woman from Vaishali, mother of two, also wanted to terminate her pregnancy as Covid-19 pandemic had badly affected the economic condition of her house. However, she was not supported by her husband and in-laws and it also led to domestic violence.
Hajipur-based Asha worker Rashmi Kumari said, “A woman should not be discouraged if she wants family planning or needs contraceptive.”
Meanwhile, several local artists are using various art forms to promote family planning and help women get sexual and reproductive health services with dignity as part of their ‘swastha mahila, swastha parivaar, swastha Bihar’ campaign.
For instance, Patna-based artist Amrit Singh is using Sujini, Madhubani and Manjusha art forms to explain how important it is for women to talk openly about their sexual and reproductive health issues with their family members.
Amrit said while interacting with artists in villages, he found it was a taboo for unmarried women to even discuss their sexual health. “Almost every household has Sujini art work. Even Madhubani paintings are now very common. Hence, we decided to use them to help women,” he said.
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