IMPORTANCE OF MENSTRUAL HYGIENE

 

Menstruation or Maashik or Mahawari all of these commonly known and referred to as Periods. Period is onset of bleeding when the walls of uterus of female breaks leading to bleeding which lasts for 5-6 days every month.  So far we all know about periods , cause of periods but what we don't know till now is how to keep personal hygiene at the times of periods. It's strange that how well our economy is developing,  how fast our country is growing, how aware people are about various issues concerning the country and society but the issue which is visible to people with their naked eyes but still not talked is Menstrual Hygiene.

 



Often when it comes to talking about Menstrual or Menstrual hygiene it becomes a taboo subject which should not be discussed publicly.  Menstrual hygiene means use of sanitary pads,  proper disposal of sanitary pads privacy to change sanitary pads with access to good sanitation facility .  It is  an important gender issue , it affects almost one quarter of the global population of women and girls of reproductive age (Between 14-19 years) . It's ironical to say that how in some parts of India Menarche is a  celebration but on the other hand when it comes to talk about personal hygiene during menstruation people refrain themselves from talking about it. As bruises are covered with a bandage to further restrict the area to come into contact with surroundings and other bacteria , in similar way sanitary pads should be covered with a piece of paper while disposing it .




 

Lack of awareness among st female and girls of young age, lack of proper sanitation facilities , proper disposal system has made it hard to deal with menstrual hygiene. Still today in many parts of India instead of sanitary pads, girls use old cloth which is reused again after washing, dried leaves etc, use of such old cloth again and again cause infection in their genital part which can at times lead to fatal diseases. Lack of proper sanitation facilities and proper washing facilities has lead to increase in the odor of menstrual blood which put girls at the risk of being stigmatized which eventually takes a toll on their mental health.

 

It's a high time we should take initiative to come together and teach girls about how to keep their personal hygiene during periods, we should teach them about the use of sanitary pads instead of cloth and how frequently they should clean their genitals.  It's time we educate society to look upon this subject seriously and come ahead to help out women so no longer people feel shame in talking about this subject.  We should form associations and organize gatherings to spread awareness about "Menstrual Hygiene" , insist government to improve the sanitation facilities in villages, insist people on having a bathroom at their houses.

 



Let's work together towards this issue and make a hygienic environment for girls to live.  Let's together empower women and girls through good menstrual hygiene, let us be the reason of their smile during menstruation instead of their evils.

 

"Together we can make it happen".


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