Focus on Menstrual Hygiene practices

Warangal: The Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) in coordination with Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation (GWMC) has organised a training programme on Menstrual Hygiene Management here as part of Menstrual Hygiene Day on Tuesday. The training programme's focus was on breaking the myths, taboos and the resultant silence about menstrual hygiene management and to share knowledge about nutrition, good hygienic practices, and usage and safe disposal of different menstrual hygiene products.

Speaking at the inaugural session, Medical and Health Officer (MHO), GWMC Warangal, Raja Reddy, said: "To break the silence on menstrual hygiene management, we should talk openly about it. We will have to break the myths, misconceptions and taboos related to menstruation. Discussions on safe and unsafe practices, safe disposal of sanitary napkins, nutritious food to be consumed during menstruation should be held." GWMC will soon provide dustbins too for safe disposal of sanitary napkins, he said.

Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Rural Areas (MEPMA) Secretary Viajayalakshmi said that the sanitation committee members must disseminate the learning from this program among their peer groups and should continue discussing during the group meetings to break the silence.

Menstrual hygiene management is an important part of the GWMC's sanitation programmes. As about 33 per cent of the city's population lives in slums (total of 183 slums; notified-91, non-notified-92), the GWMC with support from ASCI is diligently working towards ensuring that the services reach all its citizens including the urban poor.

The participants including 48 members of Sanitation Committees in 16 slums in the city were provided an educational guide and other materials, which would help them in creating awareness among women and girls. These members will create awareness in their slums and areas surrounding the slums. They will encourage friends, families and people in the community to speak out openly about it. They will tell people also in the community meetings that "there is nothing to feel shy about in purchasing sanitary napkins".

After the training, Savitri, a member of the sanitation committee said, "For many years we used old clothes during menstruation which now we know is unsafe. There are still many misconceptions about periods. But I no more feel shy or embarrassed asking for sanitary pads to a shopkeeper." She added: "At this programme today we learnt about good hygiene practices and the nutrition required during menstruation."

V Satish, a committee member from Giri Prasad Nagar, said that such training programs are very important to learn about menstrual hygiene management and then educate family members and others to develop a healthy attitude towards it. "I had very poor knowledge on MHM before this."

On the occasion, menstrual hygiene management friendly bands were distributed to all the participants.