Advocacy To Increas Health Care Support For Urban Poor & Rural Women

Ms Afroja Parvin

Background of the study
Bangladesh is one of the developing countries of the world having 13 million of population. Of the total population, women constitute 51% and they suffer from various health hazards due to their poverty, illiteracy and ignorance. Gender discrimination in health and nutrition or the lack of health overwhelmingly reflects the socio-cultural status of women. Similarly, women are four to five times less than males to receive health services for the same reason, particularly for the rural areas. According to World Health organization, women are ten times vulnerable than men towards STD & AIDS. It is an evident fact that three women die every hour in Bangladesh from the causes related pregnancy and childbirth. Considering the above situation, NUS conducted a study & advocacy work to mainstream gender issue, STD/HIV/AIDS program with the policy makers.

Objectives
To identify gaps and possibilities to mainstream gender issue in different sectors in perspective of AIDS in policy level. To sensitize the following target groups through the session for mainstreaming gender issues to work as pressure group to address gender issues in HIV/AIDS program in government sector. Like General Members of Honourable health Minister and Secretary "National STD/AIDS Network, Bangladesh, Journalists, Members of AIDS and Human Rights Activists, AIDS Project managing staff from Government in order to clear concepts of gender issue.

Methodology
The four months activity conducted to implement this research. Our approach is to find out the gaps and possibilities to mainstream gender issue in different sectors in perspective of AIDS in policy level. Methods of the study was Brain Storming Workshop with the policy makers & community people, Selection of key informants, dialogue the policy makers according to topic guide, Accumulate and analyze the information, Draft report preparation, Organize a seminar to present the draft report for validation and recommendation from the audience.

Findings


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