Blog : Health Education

CHANGE ASSOCIATES

Better be Safe than Sorry

Mitu has been living in Dhaka for the last 16 years and working for Hydroxide Knitwear Ltd. for the last 15 years. Her husband also works in Dhaka and they have two school going children. Mitu is also a peer health educator of the HERhealth project and has received five of its trainings.

After participating in training five, Mitu discussed the issue of cervical cancer with her husband. She expressed her wish to get herself tested for cervical cancer. Her husband was a bit hesitant and deemed it unnecessary for Mitu to get tested. She informed him about the training she received and its messages. Her husband then took her to BSMMU (Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University). She consulted a doctor there and then underwent a pap smear to check for cervical cancer. She received the test result after a week and found out she did not have cervical cancer. She shared with the trainers, now that she has found out she does not have cervical cancer, she wants to get herself vaccinated.

“Money is of no value to me. I want to be safe and healthy for my children.” shared Mitu. She also thanked the HERhealth for the trainings and its various important messages. She is grateful because she learned about cervical cancer before it was too late and has already informed a lot of her family members and friends so that they can also get themselves tested and be safe.  

CHANGE ASSOCIATES

Dealing with anger

HERrespect training has been incredibly useful in my life. At present, I can understand the women’s importance in the family as well as in the factory. I was very ill-tempered and would become angry for simple reason. Nowadays, when I tend to be angry, I remind myself of the training. I have noticed the impact in my own life. I used to hit my wife for simple reasons even when she would be late in cooking. But now I don’t do that. I try to understand her situation and would rather talk to her if I have any problem.

Azim
Quality Controller

CHANGE ASSOCIATES

Saving a life

Shahnoor is an active and a very responsible PHE (peer health educator). But she cannot read or write as she did not go to school. Shahnoor decided to learn Bangla reading and writing from her educated neighbor. So that she can read the handouts given in the training. She pays 500 taka every month to her new tutor. Finally, she is able to read the handouts which have impacted her life immensely. She said ‘Apa now I can read and write. The knowledge was so important for me. I learnt so many new things from the food and nutrition topic. Now I read it before I decide what to cook for meal. I have learnt how I can maintain nutrition that is low cost. That’s why I want to thank, from the core of my heart to CHANGE team and our factory & Brand (Li & Fung) also.’’

Shahnoor
Operator

CHANGE ASSOCIATES

How Peer Health Education Changed Dipa’s Life

Dipa is a PHE (Peer Health Educator) of HERhealth project. After training 5, Dipa disseminated learning about serious illness and reproductive and cervical cancer to other female workers. While showing how to do breast examination she found one of her colleague- Roksana to feel something painful in her breast. After talking to her, Dipa realized her symptoms was serious and immediately took her to factory doctor. The doctor referred her to the nearby hospital for several tests and start treatment as soon as possible. Roksana is said to be under treatment in the right time. This case was a good awareness learning for other workers as well.

Dipa
Quality Inspector