Women police constables face more health threats than the law and order risks they tackle in the field; or so a 2012 study reveals.
As per the report, which is based on a sample study conducted in five Police Training Colleges, one out of every three female police constables in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, suffers from anaemia.
The study revealed that out of 631 female constables who were preparing for Pre-Promotion Tests (PPTs) in 2012, 225 had a haemoglobin count of less than 10 gms per dcl. More so, 17 of them had white blood cells outside the normal range.
The study, conducted by the Police Department, in association with the Women and Child Welfare Department, was published recently.
The women, who were tested in Anantapur, Ongole, Warangal, Vizianagaram and Tirupati, were also experiencing fatigue, breathlessness and sleep disorders.
“A complete blood check-up will have to be made mandatory while training the personnel. Most female constables suffer from anaemia as they put their health risks aside while working,” said Tejdeep Kaur Menon, Director General, Telangana Special Protection Force, who headed the study.
Ironically, the Telangana government had recently decided to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in the force.
AP to follow suit
The AP government is also expected to follow suit shortly.
According to medical practitioners, health concerns among women police personnel should be considered an occupational hazard.
Health risk
“The health risk on examination was found to be caused by unscheduled long working hours, untimely and unhygienic food consumed at work and issues in personal hygiene and multiple pregnancies,” stated M. Vijaindra, who was the consulting physician for the study. He suggested periodical de-worming and periodic gynaecology tests. Nutritional supplements and balanced diet too can improve health, he said.
As anaemia is a condition where the Red Blood Cell (RBC) count lowers causing a dip in oxygen flow in the body, it could cause serious health complications among police personnel.
The low RBC count is related to poor natal and ante-natal care, experts said. Most of those who were tested had two or more children.
“Female police personnel should get the required support from the department and also from home during pregnancy and childbirth as their health is at stake. Once they get back to work, nutritional supplements should be made available to them,” said Ms. Menon.
The departments should provide maternity benefits to female personnel to prevent health problems in the lower rungs of the force.
After the completion of the study, the respective police departments had provided women personnel with medicines.
The exercise should be continued, officials said.
Study reveals that out of 631 women constables who were preparing for Pre-Promotion Tests in 2012, 225 had a haemoglobin count of less than 10 gms per dcl
