Support for providing Sustainable Menstrual Health & Hygiene to underprivileged women.

Every year more than 23 million female students across India drop out of school due to inadequate sanitation and essential menstrual hygiene facilities and awareness. 120 million menstruating adolescents face menstrual dysfunctions, nearly 60,000 cases of cervical cancer deaths are reported every year from the country, two-thirds of which are due to poor menstrual hygiene. Menstruation has been a traditional taboo leading to inhumane practices accompanied by life-threatening consequences for women's health. Most girls use the alternative, rag cloth, used sanitary pad, which leads to fungal and bacterial infection. These women are at a high risk of contracting pathological leucorrhea and cervical cancer. Our ground activities and research-based analysis state that society's patriarchal mindset, inequality, and high illiteracy rate are responsible for poor menstrual practices among vulnerable women. It has created significant Gaps in Women's Development.

 

One cannot imagine the severity of problems related to menstrual hygiene in ordinary lives, and the pandemic has worsened the situation even more. In poverty-stricken families, women have resorted to the unhygienic traditional methods of menstrual practices as their funds are prioritized to meet other needs such as food or essentials. But we should understand that menstruation, an inherent part of the biological cycle, will not stop even in the pandemic. A sanitary napkin is as essential as our daily bread for healthy wellbeing. In addition to it, one can imagine that persons with disabilities face additional problems concerning access to healthcare, especially menstrual hygiene. 

 

We not just distribute free Sanitary Pads & Personal Hygiene Kits for women also educate them about sustainable menstrual practices. We have installed 500 + Sanitary Pad Vending Machines and incinerators in girls' schools to access these products. We have implemented this initiative in 7 states and directly benefitted over 1 Million women.

 

Continuously this initiative is being implemented with the following objectives and activities:

 

●      To create awareness about, prevention of life-threatening chronic diseases, including STDs.

●      Provide them with the basic knowledge of menstrual and personal hygiene.

●      It includes sensitization camps having sessions on good touch - bad touch, sexual abuse.

●      Further, we discuss mental health and the growing need for awareness among young females about their overall wellbeing, felicitating a point of concern among all.

●      Sensitization about Malnutrition, Anemia, Nutritious Diet and healthy lifestyle by adopting sustainable living practices.

●      Sensitization about Gender-Based Violence, Discrimination & Crimes Against Women

●      Another critical point of discussion under this phase is the importance of family planning to accommodate the growing needs of society

●      We also encourage women to switch on environment-friendly and sustainable measures by providing menstrual cups and sensitization. 

 

·        Safe & Sustainable menstrual hygiene practices reduced pelvic infections and infertility risk.

·        Reducing the chances of UTI, Leukocoria, STD’s and other transferable and other diseases related to not maintaining proper Hygiene. 

·        Significantly improved awareness among women about health, health-seeking behavior, and prescribed health care practices; nutritional Anaemia

·        Improved maternal & child health practices, safe motherhood, safe sex and spacing among children, reduced maternal and child morbidity & mortality;

·        It will reduce the chances of spreading infectious diseases among the community

·        The implementation of sustainable MHM practices promotes a sustainable environment.

 

We seek your support to further our efforts to benefit more females by replicating our successfully implemented initiatives.