BENGALURU: The Karnataka government plans to introduce a dedicated Women’s Health Policy, focusing on menstrual health, menopause and preventive healthcare. Health and Family Welfare Minister UT Khader announced this at a discussion on ‘Healthy Menopause, Healthy Women, Healthy Family’ at Arogya Soudha on Tuesday. Actor and former MP Ramya was named the brand ambassador for the campaign.
Khader said that while Karnataka has a health policy, it lacks a policy exclusively addressing women’s health concerns. The proposed policy would be the first of its kind in the country and aims to improve awareness, encourage preventive healthcare and ensure timely diagnosis and treatment of health issues affecting women, he added.
As part of the initiative, the health department will launch a programme called ‘Ruthu Thare’ to create awareness on menstrual health and menopause. ASHA workers will conduct door-to-door visits over the next six months to collect data on women’s health, educate them about pre-menopause and post-menopause, and identify those requiring medical attention at an early stage. Information on lifestyle, nutrition, sleep, self-care and other aspects of healthy ageing will also be shared with women through the campaign.
A committee headed by Dr Jyothsna Mirlay, consultant gynaecologist specialised in menopause and midlife women’s health, was constituted to guide the programme and prepare scientific recommendations. The department also plans to establish dedicated women’s midlife health clinics to provide specialised care for women experiencing menopausal symptoms.
Welcoming the initiative, Ramya said that awareness about menopause remains low despite many women experiencing physical and mental health challenges during the transition. She noted that menopause often occurs earlier among Indian women than in several other countries and said awareness campaigns would be conducted in both urban and rural areas. She suggested introducing a questionnaire to identify women with menopausal symptoms so they can be referred for screening and treatment.
Dr Jyothsna said symptoms during menopause should not be dismissed as a normal part of ageing. She stressed that timely medical consultation and treatment are essential, adding that changing lifestyles are contributing to the earlier onset of menopause in many women.