In order, too seek advice on family planning and other related issues, Muslim women in huge numbers are gathering to India’s only all female hospital the Mission Hospital situated in the eastern city of Kolkata.
The Conservative Muslim women are more comfortable discussing these issues in a female-only environment.
Gouri Kumra, a senior gynecologist is of the view that,
’some come secretly without telling their husbands, but almost all of them say they have two children and do not want more.’
Not only have the patients come from nearby Muslim dominated vicinity but poorer women from other communities too visit the fifty-bed hospital.
According to the UN, nearly, 5.7 million people in India are living with HIV and amongst those, 40% are women.
Recent study on the state of Muslims in India postulated that burqa clad Muslim women are subjected to face hostility at market place and is unable to get a suitable job. However, in the Mission Hospital, they shed their inhibition and openly discuss about their problems.
