Education of women and girls: education is a human right and an essential tool for achieving equality as it ensures that girls grow up with knowledge of the world, ability for critical thinking and practical skills which lead to self confidence and self respect. Creation of an educational and environment where girls and boys are treated equally and encouraged to achieve their full potential, respecting their freedom of thought and belief, and where educational resources promote non-stereotyped images of women and men, would be effective in the elimination of the causes of discrimination against women and inequalities between women and men.

Empowering Women with Health Education

Geeta Nargund

"If you educate a man, you educate an individual; if you educate a woman, you educate a family" said Mahatma Gandhi. Empowering women with knowledge and awareness about health is fundamental to achieving global health.

Every minute of every day, somewhere in the world and most likely in a developing country, a woman dies from complications of pregnancy and childbirth. When a mother dies, children lose their support and care and therefore the next generation suffers.

There are varied health risks in different parts of the world among women. Mortality and morbidity rates are unacceptable in many developing countries in this new millennium. Health risks related to contraception and conception are two sides of the same coin and could be addressed effectively through health education at primary care level.

Reproductive and sexual health education programmes are the key to moving towards global change and health.

Geeta Nargund

Geeta Nargund is a Senior Lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Honorary Consultant in Reproductive Medicine at St Georges Hospital Medical School, London. She is also the Medical Director of the Centre for Reproduction and Advanced Technology (CREATE HEALTH), London.

She has published extensively on the use of Advanced Ultrasound Technology in Reproductive Medicine. She pioneered 'One-Stop' fertility diagnosis using advanced ultrasound technology and published the first scientific paper of cumulative live birth rates with Natural Cycle IVF (IVF without ovarian stimulation).

She is also the Chief Executive of a national charity Women's Health Foundation. Through this charity she is committed to raising public awareness about health and thereby helping women themselves to health.

Geeta is an advisor to two charities supporting rural women and children in India. She is a women's officer in the Labour Party and a prospective Parliamentary Candidate on The National Parliamentary Panel. She has also been a writer and broadcaster in India on women's issues for 15 years.