Widespread prevalence of RTI, STI and HIV/AIDS in world’s less developed regions has thrown challenges towards making people aware about these life diminishing diseases.
Improving women’s access to information is one of the strategic approaches towards raising awareness on the issue under Swabhiman programme. A three-day advocacy and sensitisation workshop was organised by Swabhiman between February 25-27 to orient its community health educators and health volunteers on RTI, STI and HIV/AIDS, its causes, symptoms and consequences.
The health educators and volunteers from the intervention areas of Shri Ram JJ Camp (Dhula Kuan), New Ashok Nagar and Chattarpur in Delhi took part in the activity, conducted by Ms. Anita Papreja.
The workshop dealt with key issues of fostering an understanding of RTI/STI, its symptoms, modes of transmission and prevention, appreciating the importance of seeking timely help from a qualified doctor, long-term consequences of untreated RTI/STI, and understanding the relationship between STIs and HIV.
Attending the workshop, Kamlesh, a Swabhiman volunteer, stated, “Earlier I was under the misconception that RTI/STI affected only women. Now I have clarity on how our male counterparts can also transmit infection in partner, thanks to today’s orientation.