On a hot day in August, Tamil and Muslim women in the tsunami-hit area of Karaitivu, Ampara gathered together for the first time, united by a common desire to learn family planning. Visiting health specialists used graphic illustrations and diagrams for a lively and for some, life-changing classroom session. But one impact of the workshop, part of a health awareness campaign by ActionAid partner, the Social United Multi-Purpose Development Organization (SUMPDO), was to be felt immediately.
Karaitivu is a Tamil Village. Because of the ethnic war in the past, Muslim people avoided going to Tamil areas. When Muslim women from nearby villages were asked to join the meeting in Karaitivu, they initially hesitated, but as the session progressed, they admitted their fears were unfounded. By the end of the day Tamil and Muslim women were at ease and happy in each other?s company, an important step towards building trust and peace between the two communities.
There was progress on health matters too. Because of their ignorance, poverty and religious beliefs, people, especially women in the area, use harmful methods such as giving poisonous extracts of herbs and plants, which are not good for health, to abort (illegal abortions). Coming from the local community, SUMPDO workers were keenly aware of the need for greater health awareness and greater power for women over decisions that affect their health.
?I?ve nine children now. My last baby was born two years ago. I suffered a lot during child birth. I don?t want to get pregnant again but until now I had no idea about family planning? said 40 year old Uthuma Lebbe Mariyam Beebi. ?After this workshop I?ve decided to use permanent contraception. I?m going to talk with my husband about this?, she said determinedly.
The awareness programme also focused on child development and sanitation including water born diseases and controlling water pollution. Women learned about community approaches to environmental protection too. As houses in their villages are built very close together with narrow streets and little land available to dump rubbish, SUMPDO outreach workers felt this element was crucial.
With the help of the health specialists women discussed their environmental problems and initiated Voluntary Street cleaning sessions. As the local authorities are not organising frequent rubbish collection, they also resolved to take up this issue with the municipal commissioner and pressurise him to deploy more dump trucks to clean rubbish dumped on the streets.
