Girls Glory - Improve Menstrual Health in India

Reaching Hand's Girls Glory Program - Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Menstrual Health Management (MHM) is growing from strength to strength each quarter. 

This quarter, we focused on the construction of new toilet units, provided water facilities with a special provision of constructing separate toliet-blocks for girls. Toilets in schools are necessary for the healthy growth of the children. To construct the toilet blocks and to provide sanitation facilities in schools, some norms were followed in the selection of toilet designs, location, selection of quality contractors in construction of the toilets units. 

Reaching Hand has successfully assisted in making the sanitation program in different schools a sustainable one, which is one of the major strategies to have maintainence covered by the insitutinal bodies at the school level. A sensitization workshop was conducted, which focused on assessing the awareness on WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) for girls and boys and MHM (Menstrual Hygiene Management) practices for girls by using engaging visual aids and participatory activities.

The workshops began with the point of helping the beneficiaries recognize their current knowledge and practices pertaining to hygiene. Behavior change is a critical component of improving access to and practices around WASH. The provision of services alone is not enough to achieve the health outcomes associated with WASH. The facilities must also be utilized habitually and properly at key times. These workshops are seen as a vital exchange platform to allow for necessary knowledge sharing.

Menstrupedia Comic book, a comic book designed specificaly for girls aged between 9-14 years, was distributed at the end of the program. Beautiful illustrations and cartoon characters make it really easy and comfortable for students to talk about menstruation, help in breaking their silence and raise awareness for MHM. 

PROGRAM STATISTICS

Menstrual Hygine Management (MHM) Session

1.  No. of Schools - 10
2.  No. of Girls - 1726
3.  No. of Girls benefitted through workshop - 1203
4.  No. of MHM kits distributed - 1023
5.  No. of Menstrupedia Comic books distributed - 1275
6.  No. of incinerator installed - 4

Health & Hygine Session

1.  No. of Schools - 10
2.  No. of Girls/Boys - 2394
3.  No. of Girls benefitted through workshop - 1650
4.  No. of HH kits distributed - 1000
5.  No. of toilets inaugurated - 6

OUR IMPACT

Ms. Meghashri, 6th Std, GHPS: Ganadakatte, Channagiri, Davangere

"There is a lack of knowledge and information about menstruation. Majority of the girls did not know what happened to them when they experienced menstruation for the first time and therefore were scared. Most of my friends come unprepared to school during menstruation days and often stain their school uniform.

Through sensitization workshop I learnt the importance of personal hygiene especially during menstrual days. I gained knowledge on usage of pads and how to manage stomach cramps during menstrual days.

I thank the sponsors for constructing new toilet units and installing pad burning machine in our premises for girls and we are so grateful to them."

REACHING HAND Girls Glory - (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)) program has been progressing at a steady pace in the last quarter. Though most corporate contribute towards building new toilets and renovation of the exiting toilets, this quarter we have many corporate who joined hands with us to maintain these toilets post construction. Maintenance is an integral part to have functional and clean toilets in the long run.

We have started installing incinerators in the toilets in our Girls Glory program for burning the waste. RH team has started training the teachers on its safety measures and uses age and have started conducting awareness session for the students to maintain hygienic disposal of waste during periods. Incineration of waste materials converts the waste into ash, flue gas and heat.

With the support of 7 corporate and many individuals we have distributed 1,170 Health and Hygiene kits to students in 6 schools and 640 MHM Kits to female student beneficiaries.

We inaugurated Six new toilet /restroomunits, five urinals along with hand washing unit, one incinerator (pad burning machine) for the use of 327 girls in GMPS Yelahanka New Town on 14th June, 2019.
Health- hygiene and MHM classes are conducted for these students on a bi-monthly basis.

Again, three new toilet units were inaugurated in GKHPS, Hoskote on 29^th June, 2019. This will build the confidence of 155 female students of the school.

Hear from the Beneficiaries:

Rashmi, 10^th Std,-Government Aided Gowtham High School, Kolar Dist

“Menstruation in my community is considered as untouchable. Especially during festival days we were not allowed to take part in any activity which is sometimes extreme seclusion.

I get infection and rashes on my genital area so I stopped using cloth and switched to sanitary pads but still I faced the same issue occasionally. Unfortunately I did not have the courage to broach the subject to elders or friends.

Reaching Hand team conducted an effective workshop on MHM in mid June which was very informative and useful. Initially I was very shy and embarrassed but very soon clarified my doubts. Now Il practice the hygiene tips given by RH team and have been having better health especially during menstruation days.”

Vinutha,7^th std GGHS,Malur,Kolar dist

“I was brought up in village of Malur. My parents were quite orthodox in their approach to menstruation.I faced a major problem in my school too as toilet units were. We had only two units for 320 girls. Most of the girls either skip classes or don’t use wash room during their menstruation days. There was also a lack of knowledge and information about menstruation. Majority of the girls did not know what happened when they experienced menarche.

I thank Reaching Hand for conducting a sensitization workshop on WASH and MHM which was an eye opener for us and also how to manage our periods safely by following the hygiene practices. We also thank our sponsors for building new toilet units”

Plan Ahead:

Recently RH Team has started distributing “Menstrupedia comics” to female students in 10 Schools. We plan to reach 1840 students in 10 schools. This will help them to understand the process in a pictorial way.

MHM kits will be distributed to 1771 students in 8 schools and we plan the inauguration of toilet units in 8 new schools by the next quarter.

We are very thankful for your continuous support and look forward to the same through our journey ahead.