Rights and Choices Basic for Women's Health: Engender Health Experts

Engender Health is a non governmental organization (NGO) working with gender issues. Experts working with the NGO expressed that rights and choices are the core issues related to women's health. Engender Health is partnering with the state governments of Bihar, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, to build standards for informed consent, clinical safety, infection prevention, and other aspects of quality service delivery. It is also engaging with the governments in Bihar and Rajasthan to develop a road map for adolescent health. Pamela Barnes, CEO of Engender Health, said, "It is high time for women across the world to have access to high quality services. Access to quality family planning services can reduce maternal mortality. Male involvement was necessary for successful family planning."

India has a maternal mortality rate of 178 per 1,00,000 live births. This implies 120 women die from pregnancy related problems daily. Barnes said, "Quality of care is one of the key components for greater acceptance of family planning in developing countries. When women are able to plan, they are more likely to survive childbirth and have healthier babies. Also, they can continue studies and earn more."

Madhubala Nath, country director of Engender Health, said, "It is important that attitudes of the service providers are addressed to counter cultural barriers. Unlearning has to be done before learning and it has to work simultaneously. Far too many programs skip the counseling part."

Source-Medindia