Support for menstrual health for girls in India

“I didn’t know how to use a sanitary pad so I used to wear pads in a wrong way and used my sweater to hide my spoiled skirt. I used to skip my school during my periods in the absence of period education”

When Sonia (name changed), 17 years, got her first period at the age of 14. She was unaware about biological changes and issues related with periods. At that time when she got her first period in winter season, she had no idea what it was and she was afraid of seeing the blood. She shared her story with the team, “I didn’t know how to use a sanitary pad so I used to wear pads in a wrong way and used my sweater to hide my spoiled skirt. I used to skip my school during my periods in the absence of period education. I tried to manage my period by own without informing my mother. Because I thought I caught a severe disease. None of my family member noticed anything. But one day, my mother caught me”.

“I was rushed to the school that day and bent down to do up my shoe laces. I didn’t notice that my mother was standing behind me and she saw a red spot on my school uniform. She smiled for a moment and hugged me. I started cry and hide my face. She described me about periods and that evening, she took me to the IDF’s centre. The team taught me many things like; how to use sanitary pads, what to do to maintain hygiene during periods? Now I am happy and feel proud on my periods. Because Periods are the symbol of a good health and it’s a natural process”.

She said, “Thank you team IDF to provide us important information on menstruation and realize us Period is Proud”.

“Poor menstrual hygiene can pose physical health risks and has been linked to reproductive and urinary tract infections. Menstruation is a normal biological process and a key sign of reproductive health. Yet many girls and women suffer by being ostracized from families, communities and schools when they have their periods”.

Indian Dreams Foundation (IDF) is rigorously working to provide knowledge and education to adolescent girls and women on menstrual hygiene awareness. In this regards, IDF conduct awareness sessions/workshops/camps in schools and communities on regularly.

Last week, IDF conducted an awareness workshop in two urban slums to sensitize adolescent girls and women on importance of menstrual hygiene and usage of sanitary pads. More than 200 beneficiaries attended and informed during the workshops. Hygiene kits were also distributed to the girls participants.

Details of the workshop are below;

Name of the Communities: Nagla Parsoti & Gummat

Location: India

No. of Girls & Women attended: More than 200 beneficiaries

Age group of the girls: 13 to 45 years

Topics Covered: Importance of sanitary napkins, Age of menarche, Hygiene habits during periods, White Discharge etc.

During the workshop, team tried to normalize the period topics and the IDF Team collected a few testimonials or feedbacks from the participants during the workshop.

“I am 32 years old and I got my first periods at the age of 13. I was unaware about the change in my body. I wanted to talk someone and share my issue but didn’t find anyone. Time passed and one day I also got my periods. Today I got a chance to ask my query with IDF team during workshop and IDF team told me “that it’s normal but we need to maintain hygiene during periods to stay healthy. We have to use pads during periods”. Thank you team IDF for providing me such important information”. Krishna (name changed).

Many thanks again for your support and for changing the lives of many girls through MHM education. 

Regards,

Team IDF