SUSTAINED MENSTRUAL PROTECTION FOR 700 GIRLS

Over 80% of India's women do not have access to hygienic material/sanitary pads for menstrual protection. Lack of awareness and affordability leads to women using sand, ash, rags or dirty cloth instead of sanitary pads, thus leading to blistering, soreness, infections and long-term reproductive health issues. This problem has been addressed through the given project that focuses on building awareness about menstrual health and hygiene by training young local women leaders to raise awareness about menstrual health and hygiene and generate income through selling low-cost sanitary pads locally. A total of 12 awareness raising meetings were conducted across 12 slums in Ahmedabad, Gujarat covering 157 adolescent girls.

The meetings rallied around discussing the following points as well as concerns put forth by the participating women.

• How does menstruation occur?
• Why is there pain during menstruation?
• Is it normal to menstruate every 15 days?
• Is the passage for urination and menstruation the same?
• What practices do we adopt to maintain hygiene and prevent the occurrence of reproductive ailments?  
• Is it OK to cook food and prepare pickles during menses?
• What are the benefits of using sanitary napkins and wearing panties?
• What are the reasons for white discharge?
• How is the sex of the foetus determined?
• What are the ill effects of using Copper-T as a contraceptive device?

Through tutorials on menstrual health (http://www.awagindia.org/creating-impact/health-awareness/) coupled with dialogue and discussion, a large number of myths and problems regarding menstrual health issues, hygiene and related topics were explained and demystified by the facilitator.

Women could avail of low cost sanitary napkins through the Mobile App (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.awag).

Thank you.