Need to create awareness on menstruation

Vijayawada: The Vijayawada Sub collector Misha Singh said that girls and women should be aware of menstrual hygiene and they should create awareness about the importance of menstrual hygiene. She participated as the chief guest of Menstrual Hygiene programme organised at Sub collector's office on Tuesday to mark the Menstrual Hygiene Day.

Addressing the gathering, Singh said Menstrual Hygiene Day is an Annual awareness day observed on May 28 to help break the silence and build awareness about the fundamental role that good menstrual hygiene management (MHM) plays in enabling women and girls to reach their full potential.

She said menstrual hygiene was a serious and burning issue in girls below poverty line and should be addressed seriously. It is imperative to observe extreme hygienic conditions during menstruation. Teachers should focus on the issue and educate girls.

Menstrual hygiene management can be particularly challenging for girls and women in developing countries where there is no proper access to information or facilities. Furthermore, traditional cultures make the topic a taboo, not to be discussed, making it further difficult for them to address the issue. Poor menstrual hygiene is caused by lack of education on the issue, persisting taboos and stigma, limited access to hygienic menstrual products and poor sanitation infrastructure, she added.