Mysore/Mysuru: Being a man or a woman has a significant impact on health as a result of both biological and gender-related differences. The health of women is of particular concern because in many societies they are disadvantaged by discrimination rooted in sociocultural factors.

Giving special attention to women’s health, the Mysuru District Health Department is all set to launch 10 exclusive Women’s Wellness Clinics to provide women-friendly treatment facilities. This is part of a State-wide project that has been sanctioned to establish 128 such clinics all over Karnataka under National Health Mission. In Mysuru, all the 10 Women’s Wellness Clinics will be up and running by the end of November.

District Health Officer (DHO) Dr. K.H Prasad told Star of Mysore that Mysuru has been selected for the pilot project with 10 Women’s Wellness Clinics and this success story will be replicated across the State. This is a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country and Mysuru has been selected for the pilot project as this Tier-II city has a population of over 10 lakh and has fairly good medical care facilities.  

“Though women come to Primary Health Centres and Community Health Centres, they are not comfortable discussing their problems openly, especially if the doctors are male. With exclusive women-staffed clinics, they can feel more comfortable about addressing their health issues,” he said.

Such clinics will be on par with private women’s clinics and will address adolescents and women-related issues, screening, counselling, mental health, diet and nutrition, thyroid issues, family planning services, prenatal and ante-natal care. These clinics will be part of Urban Public Health Centres where a separate portion or room that is painted pink is allocated to examine women.  This is to ensure privacy and comfort during treatment, the DHO said.

 Apart from the pink room, the Women’s Wellness Clinics will have a waiting area, separate enclosure for medical screening and a bed to rest. “The clinics will ensure privacy and comfort during treatment and the staff includes a woman doctor and nurses,” he added.

“Women still hesitate to see a male doctor especially for gynaecological issues. These clinics will help women share their personal, private, confidential matters with female doctors, and many problems can be addressed in the initial stages itself,” Dr. Prasad stated.

These Women’s Wellness Clinics will have facilities for blood tests, medical screening and also to screen non-communicable diseases such as the cancers of the uterus and breasts, he said.

“Facilities and staff will be provided by the Government and all of them have been trained in different aspects of women’s health. If required, the women patients will be referred to other Government hospitals for advanced treatment,” he said.

10 clinics to begin functioning by November end

1. Rajendranagar;  2. Nazarbad; 3. Bannimantap; 4. H.H.M.B.G. (Jockey Quarters); 5. T.K. Layout; 6. Nachanahalli Palya; 7. Giriyabovipalya; 8. Kumbarakoppal; 9. Subramanyanagar; 10. Shanthinagar.