PANAJI
The coronavirus will be here longer seeking all the attention, adding fear and apprehensions among people, to visit hospitals even with health issues and one such issue that is always under the cover is the menstrual health issue that remains most challenging. Millions of women and girls worldwide menstruate every day, many without the facilities to deal with their menstrual health safely. In India, menstruation is still considered a taboo, leaving women exposed to half-truths and tradition full of misconception and myths related to menstruation.
Udant NGO alongside with Dream team, a group of friends -- Danesh Kulkarni, Nikita Pednekar, Pallavi Morajkar started a campaign “Healthy Living with Hygiene and Wholesomeness” on September 20, 2020, from 11 am onwards. The campaign aimed to create awareness on menstrual health and hygiene, removing the stigma, shame and guilt, which are often associated with menstruation among adolescent girls.
The campaign helped over 20 girls who were provided with a hygiene package. The campaign will be expanded in the future towards a journey of transforming lives of those forced to resort to unhygienic ways due to lack of money and coming from marginalised communities where their parents are domestic workers and labour class since financial power is not enjoyed by all hence their access to safe menstrual choices.
They were made aware of the need to maintain hygiene through a video clip on menstrual health and hygiene and were informed by a small talk on how to deal with menstrual myths and misconceptions by Anita Pereira.
Good health hygiene and dignity concerning their menstrual health is the right of every woman said, Pallavi.
Nikita added that they want the girls to adopt good hygiene habits, not only concerning menstruation but also to make them aware of the different infections and how to avoid getting infected.
"We are very keen on providing these to ensure a hygienic and clean environment for the girls and hope this campaign would yield expected results and positive impact in line with the objectives," said Danesh, as he shared his experience of a 13-year-old girl who suffered from reproductive tract infection due to unhealthy menstrual hygiene, which inspired him to take action and help create awareness on the same.
