Arun Kumar’s Post

When it comes to ensuring equitable access to #FamilyPlanning services, the availability and affordability of #health commodities like the contraceptive medroxyprogesterone acetate intramuscular (MPA-IM) is crucial. Explore the USAID Global Health Supply Chain Program-Procurement and Supply Management Project's economic assessment of establishing an MPA-IM manufacturing facility in sub-Saharan Africa, and see how we can overcome the challenges of creating this critical infrastructure. 👇

Reflecting on National #Girl Child Day is essential, considering the alarming statistic that nearly one in three #women in India faces spousal violence. Disturbingly, this #violence is not confined to homes but extends to public spaces, workplaces, and educational institutions. Despite India's adoption of laws and programmes to combat #genderbasedviolence , a significant gap exists, as elucidated in an analysis by the Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability (CBGA) for IndiaSpend. It is imperative to address these inadequacies to create a safer environment for #girls and #women across the nation.  https://lnkd.in/gyKvHCjs #genderbasedviolence #NationalGirlChildDay #girlchildeducation #safespaces #genderequality #girlsrights #equalityforall #empowerwomen #equalopportunities #genderinequality #breakingstereotypes #Indiaspend

RESEARCH ROUNDUP | This Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability (CBGA) study from 2023 highlighted gaps in budgetary provisions for addressing #genderbasedviolence in India. Read here: https://lnkd.in/gyKvHCjs #budget2024 #gender #endviolenceagainstwomen

MPA-IM is one of the most popular contraceptives used by women in sub-Saharan Africa. On #WorldContraceptionDay, we’re sharing the steps needed to promote its manufacture and an economic assessment for doing so. Read the report: https://lnkd.in/ePQah2mu

Today a 2 days state level consultation on State Policy for Empowerment of Women and Girls has begun in Madhya pradesh which is a joint approach of Dept of Women & Child and UNFPA. It aims to come up with a 10 years strategic policy document which will benefit almost 5 crore women in state. When we talk about women and child the first thing which we cannot ignore is GBV. Violence against women is tantamount to a mix of discrimination and torture that hurts women physically, psychologically, sexually and economically. It is one of the pervasive forms of humanrights violation that denies equality, security, dignity, self-worth to women and these are in contradiction to the rights enshrined in our Constitution. Today I was part of the group which focuses on discussion on GBV and discrimination. Fortunately I was lucky be part of some of extremely experienced people from varios departments like Home, WCD, SRLM and civil societies like Helpage India, TRI, Pradan, and more. Though with limit time we tried to touch upon various factors and existing schemes run by Gov of MP on women. Sharing you a summary of same. This policy discussion aims to provide a strategic approach to addressing GBV in Madhya Pradesh through the health sector, emphasizing the importance of integrating services, community engagement, legal enforcement, and support systems.

The National Girl Child initiative, launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2008, aims to uplift women in India by raising awareness about gender inequalities, sexual abuse, domestic violence, differential education, and more. It also aligns with the "Beti Bachao Beti Padhao" scheme initiated by the government. The celebration of this day throughout India is guided by three objectives: 1)Highlighting the inequalities faced by girls in the country. 2) Promoting awareness about the rights of a girl child. 3) Generating awareness on the importance of girl education, health, and nutrition. Quoting Mahatma Phule, "You educate a boy, you educate a man; you educate an individual. But if you educate a girl, you educate an entire family." Let us collectively strive to make a positive impact by educating every girl child in India. The picture has taken during conducting skill enhancement activity in one of the school as a part of CSR activity 🙌 #righttoeducation #righttoequality #righttofreedomofspeech #awarenessmatters #darshanakedare

Gender based violence is a pertinent issue that policy makers and enforcement mechanisms are trying to solve. Trainings, awareness campaigns and new institutions are often the answers. But are we involving the affected women in the whole process of understanding the issues and their expectations from the institutions and systems that are in place? We have enough institutional mechanisms in place, however lag behind in implementation and enforcement. The reason can be poor design of schemes and systems that is a result of lack of informed policy making taking cues from affected population in their regional and social context. We at Centre for Public Policy Research has initiated a research and advocacy campaign to strengthen the existing institutional mechanisms combating GBV in India. #genderbasedviolence #indiafightsgbv #indiasaysnotogbv

Were you aware that malnutrition affects more women than men?  When it comes to closing the gender gap, nutrition must be part of the conversation. Our programmes support women as much as they do children. Maharashtra is an excellent example - together with UNICEF and Norad - Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation we’re empowering women by providing education around best nutrition practices, for them and their families. We’re also challenging gender norms by engaging men in early childhood development practices to strengthen shared family support for young children. Read more about our programme in Maharashtra here: https://lnkd.in/eMYDHWP7 #Nutrition4All #SDG2 #SDG3 #SDG4 #malnutritionmatters #partnerships 

National Family Health Survey-5 | Understanding trends in the extent of violence against women can be helpful in challenging violence against women and gender inequality. In this paper, we compare the incidence of violence, as measured in the National Family Health Surveys, to the reporting of violence, as compiled by the National Crime Records Bureau. We also shed light on heterogeneity in incidence and reporting across India’s states. We find that violence against women is common, that most violence against women is not reported to the police, that violence by husbands is less likely to be reported than violence by others, and that the reporting of violence has not improved over the last decade and a half. These concerning findings highlight the urgent need for social and legal interventions to reduce violence against women, and to improve its reporting. https://lnkd.in/gCdhnkfk

Delaying the age at which young women deliver their first child is important, as it prevents them from dropping out of school, facilitates their career advancement, supports their overall health and builds their agency. When the global human footprint is higher, adolescent birth rates are lower. Infrastructure has played an important role in reducing adolescent birth rates in the ASEAN region. The ASEAN Secretariat #WomenCount #SDG9