Short Course on Addressing GBV as a Public Health Concern

To address gender-based violence (GBV) as a public health concern, Sama is organising a short course for healthcare professionals, medical officers, medical students, and residents. The aim is to enhance current perspectives and capacities, preparedness, and responses so as to be able to address these challenges effectively. The short course will be hosted in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, between 6 and 10 January 2025. APPLY NOW! Continue reading

Challenging Control: The Continuing Struggle for Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights

The patriarchal need to control sexuality significantly influences discussions on sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR). Women, young girls, gender-diverse people, and disabled individuals face stigma and humiliation when seeking SRHR services, including abortion. Access to comprehensive sexuality education is restricted, increasing vulnerability to gender-based violence. India recently proposed restricting the over-the-counter selling of emergency contraceptive pills, but international laws recognize emergency contraception as a basic human right. Continue reading

Recording of Webinar on SCD, Screenings, “Elimination,” and Ethics

On August 30, 2024, Sama conducted a webinar titled “Screen to Treat or Stigmatise?: Ethical Dilemmas, Reproductive Governance, and Genetic Blood ‘Disorders'” as part of a series of consultations on “Interrogating SCD as a public health, reproductive justice, and disability justice issue.” Watch the recording of the webinar. Continue reading

Recording of the webinar on Sickle Cell ‘Disease’, Multiple Sclerosis and Disability

Sama organised a webinar on August 5, 2024, titled “Conceptual Constitution of Disability: A Public Health and Feminist Understanding of Sickle Cell ‘Disease’ & Multiple Sclerosis” as part of its ongoing work on sickle cell ‘disease’ (SCD) and facilitating critical discussions on SCD, gender, and other intersections. Watch the recording of the webinar. Continue reading

Webinar: Screen to Treat or Stigmatise?: Ethical Dilemmas, Reproductive Governance, and Genetic Blood ‘Disorders’

As part of a series of consultations and webinars on “Interrogating SCD as a public health, reproductive justice, and disability justice issue,” Sama is organising its second webinar titled, “Screen to Treat or Stigmatise?: Ethical Dilemmas, Reproductive Governance, and Genetic Blood ‘Disorders’” on Friday, the 30th of August, 2024, at 05:30 PM to 07:30 PM (IST). Continue reading

Webinar: Conceptual Constitution of Disability: A Public Health Understanding of Sickle Cell ‘Disease’ & Multiple Sclerosis

Sama is organising a webinar, “Conceptual Constitution of Disability: A Public Health and Feminist Understanding of Sickle Cell ‘Disease’ & Multiple Sclerosis,” on August 5, 2024 between 3:00 and 5:00 PM IST. The webinar aims to build an engagement beyond disease-specific silos and shed light on the shared concerns and experiences of people living with disabling chronic health conditions and genetic conditions. Continue reading

Round Table on Sickle Cell Disease: Some Photographs

Sama organised a one-day round table on 2nd July 2024 in Delhi, titled “Interrogating Sickle Cell Disease as a Public Health and Reproductive Justice Issue,” to deliberate on some critical issues on sickle cell disease (SCD) and share experiences from its field visits to Chhattisgarh for guidance on its future work on SCD. Here are some photographs of the round table. Continue reading

Interrogating Sickle Cell Disease as a Public Health and Reproductive Justice Issue

To deliberate on some critical issues on sickle cell disease (SCD), Sama organised a one-day round table on July 2, 2024, in Delhi to share observations from its field visits to Chhattisgarh for guidance on its future work on SCD. The round table, titled “Interrogating Sickle Cell Disease as a Public Health and Reproductive Justice Issue,” brought together doctors, health policy contributors, feminists, academics, and disability and public health activists to examine SCD from the perspective of patient rights and as a feminist public health issue through the lenses of reproductive justice and disability justice. Continue reading

Towards Addressing Gender Inequity and Gender-Based Violence: ASHAs

Adding to the series of training modules designed for healthcare providers, titled “Towards Addressing Gender Inequity and Gender-Based Violence,” is a training module tailored for ASHAs. As front-line community health workers, ASHAs have very frequent interactions with the community. Because of their location, they are also accessible and are often a safe and initial point of contact for survivors of violence. Continue reading