by Suman Gupta
An app that is aimed to create awareness about gender education, nutrition and reproductive health
Mumbai, October, 2017: According to a report by the United Nations Human Rights Council, there is a lack of comprehensive sex education in India. Discussion about Sex and Sexuality is an awkward subject in the Indian home. Too Shy to Ask is an app which is developed to openly discuss and anonymously ask questions to a group of experts in an easy, safe and comfortable manner. The App has been built by WE Foundation in association with Metropolis Healthcare Ltd.
Dr. Duru Shah, Founder and Chairperson, WE Foundation said, “The approach towards the subject of gender and sex is impacting teenagers who are growing up in the shadows of misinformation, peer pressure and unrealistic expectations of sex and sexuality, as depicted in the media. The paradigm from viewing sex as an awkward subject to building a two-way communication that facilitates educating adolescents through an open channel is the key aim of launching this app. Both males and females can ask their questions related to sex, puberty, myths, gender violence, and such. The best part is, the identity of the person asking the question is kept completely anonymous. Previously, we imparted gender education (on reproductive and sexual health) through ‘expert led awareness workshops and camps’ to over 8 million girls in schools all over the country. Today, through this digital app, we aim to reach a larger number of girls.”
Dr. Prakash Gurnani, Co-chairperson, WE Foundation added “There are over 1.2 billion adolescents (age 10-19 years) in the world; of these 243 million adolescents are in India with nearly 121 million adolescent girls. This is an age of vulnerability as well as opportunity. Investing in adolescent education reaps maximum benefit for society. However sex and sexuality education remains a big challenge. There is the growing need for sex education in our country. Since today’s youth are tech savvy, this app will help bridge the gap and curb the awkwardness around the subject and will help teenagers by answering their queries.”
The highly curated content on the app is a result of months of research, and has been subjected to numerous drafts to ensure accuracy and credibility of information and rounds of pre-testing before being finalised. The content is updated regularly in keeping with the latest medical advancements, supported by the vast knowledge of a highly qualified team of doctors and medical experts of Metropolis accessible 24×7.
About WE Foundation: Women’s Empowerment Foundation – working for a society where women become active contributors to the national narrative. WE Foundation is a registered NGO that works to educate, empower and encourage adolescent girls to learn about their bodies, understand their reproductive systems, empower them with knowledge of nutrition that women require, train them in marketable skills that will earn them a living, equip them with self-defense skills to counter violence and attacks, and enable them to live a productive life that is based on their choices. We Foundation’s program works on the three fold principle of Educate, Empower, Encourage.
About Metropolis Healthcare Limited : Metropolis Healthcare Ltd is a global chain of pathology labs and diagnostic centers with over 150 labs and over 1500 health centres. Metropolis was founded by Dr. Sushil Shah (Chairman) in 1981. Metropolis has one of the largest test menu offering more than 4,500 varieties of tests. We are trusted by 2,00,000 doctors and cater to more than 20,000 laboratories, hospitals and nursing homes. Metropolis processes 30 million tests a year and is accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) and the College of American Pathologists (CAP), the gold standard in laboratory accreditation. With 3 decades of experience in delivering accurate reports and helping doctors make right diagnosis, Metropolis has earned the reputation of being amongst the most respected healthcare brands. Metropolis offers a comprehensive range of healthcare systems and services that include Clinical Trials, Hospital Lab Management, Home Health Services, Preventive Health Check-ups and Corporate & Wellness Solutions.
