Our Widow Mothers and Grandmas sharing their Concerns on International Women's Day


International Women's day was commemorated on March 10th 2018 at the Nalam Child Development Centre, Project of Buds of Christ at Tiruchengode. This year the focus was on highlighting the concerns of women and grandmothers in the context of HIV. The chief guests for the meeting were Ms. Aseen Banu, Secretary /Sub Judge, District Legal Services Authority, Namakkal, Mr. Saddique Ali, Senior Administrative Officer and Dr. Dhivya, Medical officer, ART centre, Tiruchengode.

The women's group of the centre presented their concerns in the areas of Health, Social, Economic, Emotional and Protection context and also derived a set of recommendations. The key highlights were on stigma and discrimination in the private health care settings, family, work place and community, economic instability due to lack of regular income, burden of supporting their children's education and protection issues of widow women and children.

Ms. Aseen Banu spoke about the laws and acts that help women and children like the Prevention of Child Marriage, domestic violence and also on protection issues. She also assured the support from the district legal authority on any issues of discrimination in the hospital setting, land disputes, property issues and on all legal issues and facilitating access to the government schemes were assured at the meeting. 

The support in accessing the legal services through Para legal volunteers in enabling a friendly access to the legal benefits was also ensured. Further legal advice and counsel has been ensured at the centre on a monthly basis.


The Medical officer Dr. Dhivya also assured full support of the team in ensuring a conducive environment for people living with HIV in the treatment settings not only in Govt hospitals but also in private hospitals by talking and sensitising them. The commemoration ended with acknowledging and awarding a widow women and a grand mother as STARS in providing the best possible care for their children and grandchildren.




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