17-Year-Old Avni Khattar Takes PCOS Awareness Drive To Over 20,000 Girls Across 20 States
Mumbai: At 17, Avni Khattar, a Class 12 student of Bombay Scottish School, is trying to start conversations about a health condition that many young girls may experience but few openly discuss. Through awareness sessions on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), Khattar has reached more than 20,000 girls across 20 states, urging them to recognise symptoms early and seek medical advice. Internship…
At just 17 years old, Avni Khattar is on a mission to raise awareness about Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) among young girls across India. During an internship at Wockhardt Hospital, Khattar observed consultations and noticed that many adolescent girls were experiencing PCOS-related symptoms like menstrual irregularities and weight gain.
However, these issues were often dismissed as normal parts of growing up. Concerned by the lack of awareness, Khattar conducted a survey among 180 friends and found that only 18 respondents were aware of PCOS, while 18% of respondents believed their schools had adequately taught them about hormonal health. Khattar began conducting awareness sessions in schools and communities, ranging from Agripada and Dongri to orphanages in Kamathipura.
Her sessions include videos explaining PCOS basics, student interactions, and connections to endocrinologists for medical guidance. Khattar emphasizes the importance of early detection and proper medical attention, rather than self-diagnosis. Her initiative also aims to improve menstrual health access and destigmatize PCOS through a proposed website, educational toolkit, and telecommunication component.
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