MENSTRUAL TABOOS OUT OF IGNORANCE; NEED FOR SENSITISATION ON MENSTRUATION HIGHLIGHTED
With an objective to create awareness on the importance menstrual health and hygiene for the well-being and empowerment of women and adolescent girls, awareness programmes on “Menstrual Hygiene” and free distribution of reusable sanitary pads were held in Kohima and Peren districts.
In Kohima, launching the training and awareness programme on ‘Menstrual Hygiene’ and free distribution of reusable sanitary pads in different locations under Kohima district, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shanavas C said taboo of menstruation was existent in many states across the country because of ignorance, which leads to gender issues and all anti-social activities.
He said that the district was fortunate to have the “Project Baala” team to create awareness of menstrual hygiene and the free distribution of reusable sanitary pads for the people of the district.
Through the workshop, Shanavas said the team aims to create awareness of menstruation and its hygiene and that it would cover more than 3000 beneficiaries in the district. He hoped that the training would be the first step towards building up the confidence in women and called upon the master trainers to understand well and spread awareness, especially to the children who are on their initial period of menstruation.
Resource persons, Soumya Dabriwal Founder and Parul Kamra from the Project Baala team spoke on the important issue of menstrual hygiene, its sustainability when it comes to period management, and waste issues associated with menstruation. They shared that the purpose was to create awareness to mitigate the challenges associated with periods.
The resource persons encouraged the master trainers to spread awareness so that every woman and girl has access to safe and sustainable menstrual hygiene products along with holistic and accurate information to manage menstruation.
More than 200 Teachers and Anganwadi/ASHA workers from Kohima Sadar Circle/CDPO Tribal, SDO (C) Jakhama Circle and Sechu Zubza Circle, and EAC Kezocha Circle attended the launching programme as Master trainers.
SBI Jalukie: An awareness camp of menstrual hygiene and distribution of sanitary pads was organised by State Bank of India (SBI) Jalukie Branch on November 9 at Government Higher Secondary School, Jalukie under PAN India Corporate Social Responsibility Activity of State Bank of India.
In his inaugural speech, branch manager saurav Sharma highlighted the corporate social activities undertaken by SBI, in all over the country.
Resource person, LHV from the Chief Medical Officer, Community Health Centre Jalukie, Akung Zeliang explained in detail about menstrual hygiene, access to good sanitary products, disposal of sanitary waste etc.
She stressed upon better management of menstrual hygiene, dissemination of scientific knowledge and overcoming of many social, cultural and religious restrictions.
GHSS Jalukie principal, Asenla Pongen emphasized upon garnering knowledge about menstrual health and requested the students to propagate the information to family, friends and society.