KU holds workshop on women’s reproductive health, PCOS awareness
Srinagar, Jun 30: To promote greater awareness around womenís reproductive health, the Department of Social Work, University of Kashmir (KU), organised a one-day research dissemination workshop on ìWomen and Reproductive Health with Special Reference to Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)î at the main campus on Monday.
A statement of KU issued here said that the event included participation from experts, resource persons, research scholars, and students from various departments.
Two technical sessions were held during the day, featuring presentations, discussions, and interactive dialogues to develop an understanding of PCOS-related health issues.
In her message, Vice-Chancellor KU, Prof. Nilofer Khan, highlighted the importance of such workshops and said, ìThe growing incidence of PCOS among young women in our region is a serious concern that requires greater awareness, early diagnosis and community support. It is essential to destigmatise such conditions and empower women to seek timely care and guidance."
Speaking at the inaugural session, Dean Research KU, Prof Muhammad Sultan Bhat, in his presidential address, called for collaborative and socially engaged research on womenís health issues.
ìWorkshops like these play a key role in informing policy, creating awareness, and guiding future research on gendered health experiences,î he said.
Keynote speaker, Prof Muhammad Ashraf Ganie, Director SKIMS, and a leading endocrinologist, called for urgent attention to the rising issue of PCOS and the need for inter-sectoral collaboration between clinicians, researchers, social workers and policy-makers.
ìPoor body image and the psychological burden associated with PCOS are compounded by societal attitudes that are often dismissive or uninformed,î he said.
Former professor Community Medicine, SKIMS Srinagar, Dr Abdul Majid Ganai, in his remarks, highlighted the growing prevalence of PCOS and the urgent need for awareness, timely diagnosis, and lifestyle interventions to manage the condition effectively.
Dr Arshad Hussain, a noted psychiatrist and professor, Department of Psychiatry, GMC Srinagar, spoke about the mood anxiety complex associated with PCOS, while other medical experts highlighted various clinical and hormonal aspects of the condition.
Earlier, in her welcome address, Head, Department of Social Work, KU, Prof Shazia Manzoor, stressed the importance of adopting a bio-psycho-social lens to understand the complexity of PCOS.
