DHARAMSHALA: Public Health Division of the Department of Health, CTA organized a basic health care workshop to 32 recently arrived Tibetan women from Tibet, aged 17 -25 years,  and who are currently studying at Sherab Gatsel Lobling School, Dharamsala. The duration of this workshop was three days from 29th January to 31 January, 2014. Resource persons include 5 health coordinators from Department of Health, a volunteer mental health nurse and a doctor from MentseeKhang.

The training mainly focused on women’s health issues such as sexually transmitted diseases, cancers, diet and nutrition, general health and hygiene and mental health. Talks were also given on Tuberculosis, HIV AIDS and Hepatitis-B with Power Point presentations from respective resource persons. In addition, this workshop involved presentation from traditional Tibetan Medicine’s perspectives on women’s health.

On the last day, as requested by the administration of Sherab Gatsel Lobling School, a half an hour presentation on general information about sexual transmitted diseases especially on AIDS, was provided to about 40  male students as well. This workshop was aimed to create greater awareness about basic health issues particularly relevant to women’s health among these newly arrived Tibetan women and to empower them to practice positive health seeking behaviours in their daily life. The second phase of this workshop will be provided to another group of 30 newly arrived female students at TCV, Suja soon.

Submitted by: Department of Health, CTA