NSS Sparsha educating schoolgirls on hygiene

Visakhapatnam: Using NSS as a platform to educate and sensitise schoolgirls on personal and menstrual hygiene through a newly formed GITAM University forum ‘NSS Sparsha’  has successfully completed its first programme at Zilla Parishad High School near Anandapuram on Thursday. 

The university has proposed to reach rural women through NSS volunteers at next level. Through subsequent activities, the NSS Sparsha team volunteers would educate women on usage and environment friendly disposal of sanitary napkins, said NSS Program Officer SS Vandana.

She said that the volunteers would focus on menstrual hygiene. The NSS programme officer briefed that they initially took permissions from the Zilla Parishad High School head master to conduct interactive classes to the girl students of Class VIII and IX.

As many as 200 girl students are made aware about menstrual hygiene. “We received a huge response from the students and the interactive session covered many questions from the students’ side ranging from regular monthly period problems to the societal taboos around menstruation,” Vandana said. 

NSS has been a great platform to take this opportunity to reach to the young communities. If the government gives its nod to expand the programme in other schools that would be a great benefit to the women community particularly for girl child, she added. NSS Coordinator Prof Swamy and others appreciated the volunteers who actively participated in the programme.