PANAJI
The Girls Islamic Organisation (GIO) Goa organised two awareness sessions this month focusing on women’s health issues, including cancer and hormonal health.
GIO Goa President Madeeha Khan said the aim is to create safe spaces for women to speak freely and learn without judgement.
On 13 July, GIO held a session titled “Hormones and Her” at the Islamic Centre in Bilwan Peddem, Mapusa, focusing on PCOS and PCOD. About 85 women attended, many learning about these issues for the first time.
Dr Vyoma Shanbhag, a women’s hormone specialist from Panjim, explained the causes, early symptoms, and treatment options for PCOS and PCOD. Dt Kulsum Khan, Clinical Dietitian at Healthway Hospital, spoke on the link between lifestyle and hormonal health, urging women to eat balanced meals and reduce sugar and processed foods.
On 20 July, GIO held a cancer awareness programme with Dr Shivani Jain from Manipal Hospital, Panjim, who spoke on breast and cervical cancer. She highlighted that breast cancer affects 1 in 28 women in India and is not always hereditary, while cervical cancer is largely caused by HPV infection and can be prevented through vaccination and Pap smear tests.
GIO said it will continue organising such programmes to support women’s health in Goa.
