Doctors of the World, with the collaboration of the Coordination Unit against Violence against Women of the Delegation of the Government of Melilla, has carried out a training in Gender and sexual health, under the title: ‘Gender differences in risk, prevention and HIV/STI care’.
The activity that took place yesterday morning in the press room of the Government Delegation is a training within the framework of the project “Prevention of HIV/STI infection and other STIs in groups of people of special vulnerability” carried out by Médecins du Monde, financed within the National AIDS Plan (PNS).
The main objective of the training has been to recognize gender inequities in health and in relation to HIV and STIs, from a model of sexual health promotion.
Its content has been, among others, Human and sexual rights, HIV, STIs, data on infection in the world and in Spain, vulnerabilities, risks and impacts, measures of protection and health care, gender and sexual violence in relation to HIV and STIs, yes as global objectives on HIV, and measures to put an end to AIDS.
This activity has been aimed at organizations and entities working in the city, health personnel, as well as other professionals who have a direct relationship with gender violence and has been offered by the Coordinator of Doctors of the World in Melilla, Silvia Madejón Bados, and the Psychologist of Doctors of the World in Melilla, Ludi Gómez Montesinos.
Sexual and reproductive health
The Head of the Unit, Laura Segura, thanked the participation and highlighted the importance of the development of these much-needed training activities, emphasizing that the reduction of inequalities in health due to gender must be addressed from a perspective of collaboration of all the actors involved.
Segura has pointed out different axes in which to articulate the actions, specifically research, training, violence against women, sexual and reproductive health, and gender policies.
“We will try to analyze the concept of sexual health and how it is reached. We will also analyze where we are now and how the gender perspective in sexual health can shed light, offering us the possibility of detecting the gender inequities that in this area, perhaps more than in others, affect women so closely,” said Segura.
“We talk about sexual health as the general state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or ailment; it also involves the ability to enjoy a satisfactory and safe sex life,” he said.
The Head of Unit has highlighted some components of sexual health such as information, counselling, education and communication services, health care, access to safe and modern contraceptive methods, information and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, voluntary safe pregnancy termination services, information, education and advice on sexuality, or reproductive health and responsible motherhood and fatherhood, among others.
It has also stressed that the scope of action must place special emphasis on the youth population, as well as ensuring the participation of women in decision-making in sexual and reproductive health services and providing prevention and care services in the field of gender violence.
As she has explained, inequalities in sexual health are related to the visibility of health problems, accessibility to essential services for women’s health, such as sexual and reproductive health, and the ability to make decisions and participate.
The perspective of human rights, fundamental human rights relating to the free exercise of sexuality without risks, physical and emotional pleasure, the free choice of motherhood, among other aspects, has been reviewed. As well as the importance of sex education in the classroom, a key element to prevent inequality, violent relationships and sexual violence.