Moot urges action on women's health

Anemia remains a major health challenge for women of all ages, participants of a workshop on sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) stressed, calling for urgent measures to ensure adequate folic acid intake.

Organised by the Potohar Organisation for Development Advocacy (PODA) in collaboration with the District Population Welfare Office, Rawalpindi, the workshop engaged staff and Lady Health Workers from the Basic Health Unit in Kotha Kalan. Of the 25 women participants, nearly half were found to have haemoglobin levels below the World Health Organisation's recommended threshold.

Dr Asima Tariq, In-charge Family Health Clinic at Benazir Bhutto Hospital, underlined the importance of nutrition, awareness, and preventive measures in tackling anaemia.

Participants recommended declaring an "iron deficiency emergency" to raise awareness at the grassroots level, noting that women are now more receptive to such campaigns.