Training 130 women youth health leaders in Gujarat

Menstruation and menstrual practices are still clouded by taboos and socio-cultural restrictions resulting in adolescent girls remaining ignorant of the scientific facts and hygienic health practices, which sometimes result into adverse health outcomes. 

Only 12% of India's women have access to sanitary pads. 70% of women in India say that they cannot afford sanitary pads. Lack of awareness and poverty, prompt these girls and women to use rags, newspaper, or even mud to manage their menstrual periods. None of these work very well and can introduce infections or injuries; and can also restrict women’s movement. Often, girls and women fear being in public without protection from blood staining.

AWAG addresses this problem by making low-cost sanitary pads available to a larger number of girls on sustained bases, by training young local women leaders to raise awareness about menstrual health and hygiene, as well as promote and distribute sanitary napkins at a subsidized rate.

Through our interventions pertaining to the project  we experienced that more and more adolescent girls are adopting the use of sanitary pads. These girls share their learning back home and influence their family members and friends to adopt these practices. 

In order to spread awareness of menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls, meetings were held regularly

The overall response was overwhelming. All the participants stated that they were happy to have gained some new knowledge. 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT! 

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