HYDERABAD: Speakers at a training workshop women farm workers and growers said that extreme heat caused menstrual irregularities, uterine health issues, dehydration, mental health challenges and increased breast cancer risks, impacting women`s ability to work.

They were sharing their views the two-day Training of Trainers workshop organised by Sindh Community Foundation (SCF), a non-governmental organisation for climate change and health literacy, in collaboration with Commonwealth Foundation that concluded in Matiari on Sunday.

The programme was wad aimed at raising awareness among women farm workers and growers about rising risks to their health from climate change and urgent need for safer and dignified working conditions, said a press release.

SCF head Javed Hussain inaugurated the event with a technical session, stressing that climate change was not only environmental crisis but also a gender and justice issue.

Women agricultural workers were on frontlines of this crisis and they must be at the centre of its solution, he said.

Dr Hira Arain discussed effects of rising temperatures on livestock and rural livelihoods while Zubaida Turk spoke about climate related working conditions.

Dr Bakhtwar pointed out to implications of heat on health including low blood pressure, heatstroke, and reduced productivity and said that extreme heat caused menstrual irregularities, uterine health issues, dehydration, mental health challenges and increased breast cancer risks which impacted women`s term and ability to work.

Women had developed a collective action plan to roll out localised climate awareness activities, she said.

Afroz, a leader of cotton-picking women from Long Khan Jiskanai village, said: `We understand how climate change harms our health and livelihoods. If we don`t act, the situation will [further] worsen.

She urged growers to increase plantation cover in fields to provide shade and protect workers during cotton picking in scorching heat.

The speakers emphasised the urgent need to set a minimum wage for cotton picking and said that without fair wages and better working conditions it became violation of labour rights, especially as climate conditions made work harder.

Forty-two women from different villages attended the workshop to get essential knowledge and learn practical skills for becoming climate campaigners. The training focused on impacts of climate change on health and livelihoods and aimed at empowering women to lead awareness and action in their communities.