Prayatn team at Jharsuguda observed Menstrual Hygiene Day on 28th May, 2022 with adolescent girls from the villages where ‘Ladli project’ is being implemented by Prayatn Sanstha with the support of Runaya.
This year, the theme for world Menstrual Hygiene Day was ‘making menstruation a normal fact of life by 2030’. Thus, the primary objective of the team was to create awareness about the safe and hygienic practices of girls during the menstruation and to burst the bubbles of taboos and stigma surrounding menstruation of women through various activities in the community.
For that team has organized activities at school at Purebanka, where children have participated in ‘Red Mehendi Campaign’, where they drew red dots on their palms to propagate the message of menstrual hygiene in the community.
Project team further instigated campaigns at Anganwadis and Youth Clubs at Malipada, Kurebaga and Kumdapalli villages. Briefing the theme, the Chief Guest Ms. Liza Meher, CHO (Community Health Officer) of Balki has stressed the need of eradicating the misconceptions and taboos associated with menstruation; subsequently, discussed on the steps to make it a pleasant experience for adolescent girls.
Ms. Sanju Lata Mohapatra, ANM (Auxiliary Nurse Midwifery) of Balki has highlighted the need of public health awareness programs with the support of the organization to create awareness among adolescent girls regarding menstrual hygiene and also about sexual health, so that they can manage these issues with confidence and dignity and improve their quality of life.
Anganwadi Workers, Asha Workers, School Teachers, SHGs (Self Help Groups) and community people have also participated in the activities and actively interacted with girls on the special occasion.
Ms Rojalin Parida, Project Officer and her team, on the occasion, spread awareness about use of sanitary napkins among adolescent girls as well as proper disposal of used napkins. As a result, the adolescent girls pledged that they will use sanitary napkins during menstruation and dispose it in proper and hygienic manner.
