In a first for the nation, Kerala is planning to build special wellness clinics for women in each of its 5415 community health centres. The clinics, which go by the name STHREE (Strengthening Her To Empower Everyone), are intended to treat a range of women's health concerns, including cancer screening, blood pressure, diabetes, and weariness. A specialised camp will be held at the Pallithura Community Health Centre as part of the inauguration. Both urban and rural community health centres are in operation, and these facilities are transforming local hospitals.
The purpose of the women's wellness clinics is to offer community screening camps and specialised services for women and children at the community health centres in the area. These clinics will be open every Tuesday and aim to encourage women to come in for regular health checkups.
State Health Minister Veena George has invited health professionals to support women's involvement in these wellness clinics, urging them to visit for routine exams. The program has been initiated as part of the ‘Viva Kerala’ campaign, a public health initiative that aims to eradicate anemia.
The clinic will focus on encouraging women to take responsibility for their own health and seek medical advice early, instead of waiting for complications to arise. The goal is also to assist women in managing perimenopause and menopause, as well as gynaecological and reproductive health concerns.
The health minister stressed the need to focus on women’s health as the centre of all health-related initiatives. For instance, several women visited the health centres as a result of the special early cancer screening campaign that was launched on February 4. More than 18 lakh people have undergone cancer screenings to date.
Image source: Indian Express, ETV Bharat, Preethi Hospitals