Training 130 women youth health leaders in Gujarat

Awareness raising meetings were held to spread awareness of menstrual hygiene among women.

The issue of women’s health is linked to the issue of women atrocities. This is so because there is utter disregard towards women’s health and wellbeing. Furthermore, women too have internalized their subordinate status as a result of which they lack self-respect and are known to ignore their own health. Malnutrition, frequent childbirth and high morbidity depict the poor health status of women. In addition to lack of proper medical care due to poor financial conditions and the apathetic attitude of the family, women have to rely on home cures. All these are forms of indirect violence inflicted on women. 

Healthcare has been an important activity wherein AWAG constantly emphasizes on women’s rights over their bodies and to oppose violence inflicted on them. AWAG has linked the issue of women’s atrocities with their health issue. Therefore, the organisation’s health activities are linked to atrocities on women wherein all necessary components are woven in.

The content of these meetings focused on ......

• Process of  menstruation
• Problems related to menstruation
• Hygienic practices to  adopt so as to prevent the occurrence of reproductive ailments  
• Benefits of using sanitary napkins
• Causes and symptoms of Anemia and need to take iron supplements
• Overcoming superstitious beliefs that adversely affect women’s health and wellbeing

The resultant effects of the interactions and learning derived by the participating women through the meetings has led to women gaining exposure and knowledge about the process of menstruation and slowly and steadily overcoming their superstitious beliefs attached to it.

THANK YOU!

Awareness Meetings on Health, Nutrition and Menstrual Hygiene:

In order to spread awareness for improving their nutritional and health status, AWAG conducted meetings for adolescent girls in the age group of 11-18 years. These meetings covered adolescent girls from the areas of Bapunagar in Ahmedabad. The participants were provided with information on health, family welfare and menstrual hygiene. 

The content of these meetings focused on ......

• Introduction about AWAG
• Anatomy of female reproductive organs
• Changes during puberty and adolescence
• Process of menstruation
• Care and Problems related to menstruation
• To strictly use pills to regulate menstruation only under medical supervision
• Hygienic practices to adopt so as to prevent the occurrence of reproductive ailments  
• Overcoming superstitious beliefs that adversely affect their health and wellbeing
• Benefits of using sanitary napkins 

Through tutorials on menstruation (http://www.awagindia.org/creating-impact/health-awareness/) coupled with dialogue & discussion, a large number of myths and problems of adolescent girls regarding menstrual health and hygiene were demystified by the facilitating team of AWAG.

At the end of the meetings, the participants stated that they were happy to have gained some new knowledge.

THANK YOU!