Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) is a fundamental aspect of health that empowers girls to lead healthy lives, both emotionally and physically. School-going girls must have access to the necessary facilities and support during menstruation. In the absence of these basic requirements, many girls are unable to complete their education or live a dignified life.
We would like to discuss the current state of Menstrual health of school: and explore how we can ensure that all students have the resources they need to remain in school and maintain their health and dignity.
Girls and women have to manage menstruation effectively. For which the basic requirements are:-
- Easy access to water, sanitation and hygiene – WASH.
- Affordable and appropriate menstrual hygiene products.
- Knowing the good practices of managing menstruation.
- Supportive environment to manage menstruation.
Improving menstrual health and hygiene and having access to affordable menstrual products, helps girls to go to school, and have access to uninterrupted education. If their education is interrupted due to lack of facilities, they don’t mange to get jobs or contribute to the economy nor can they unleash their inner potential. Lack of menstrual health and hygiene impacts their overall personality and our economy as well. Rather than keeping girls at home due to lack of facilities to manage menstruation they should be provided all the necessary facilities and environment to grow.
10 Facts about Menstrual health of school going girls
Half of the schools in low-income countries lack adequate water facilities, sanitation and hygiene services. These are vital for girls and teachers to manage menstruation hygienically.
Due to financial challenges, many girls and women don’t get easy access to menstrual products.
Girls often don’t attend school during menstruation due to lack of toilet facilities. They miss classes or even drop out.
Schools that provide facilities to females and include information about menstruation in the curriculum are able to reduce the stigma attached to it. This certainly leads to better education and a healthy lifestyle.
When sanitary pads are distributed to girls it leads to reduction in sexually transmitted infections and vaginal infections.
When proper menstrual health and hygiene is not maintained it causes discomfort and stress among girls.
Inadequate menstrual health and hygiene facilities also add to shame and depression among women and girls at times, due to taboos and stigma related to menstruation.
Discrimination in the society, taboos and stigma related to menstruation force girls to take up unsafe practices.
There isn’t any access to clean toilets or private spaces to change during menstruation for school going girls in many countries.
Many girls around the world don’t know about menstruation thus, are unprepared.
A global action to better menstrual health and hygiene is the need of the hour especially in schools. Children are the future of any country and women are a considerable part of the world population. Girls dropping out of school is not healthy for the economy, because they are set to contribute to the economy when they grow up.
Also, for girls to grow as independent women it’s necessary to empower them with proper menstrual health and hygiene facilities. When these issues are addressed seriously, every school going girl will be able to manage menstruation with confidence.
Naree Care provides –
- Sanitary Pad Vending Machines
- Sanitary Pad Disposal Bins
- Weekly Collection and Authorized Disposal System
We strongly believe that every girl and woman is entitled to live a healthy and dignified life. Menstrual hygiene empowers girls to focus on their education and work in the absence of fear and shame. Naree Care provides sustainable options for menstrual products and is committed to women’s health.
Connect with our team to know more about menstrual health and hygiene and invest in the future of your country.
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