#ThatsMyDate For Menstrual Hygiene With Fortis La Femme...

Menstrual hygiene is imperative for women and adolescent girls alike. However, as much we would like to be #PeriodPositive, matters relating to menstruation and the discussion of all such are mostly considered stigma in many parts of the country, despite us calling ourselves a developing nation.

It is thus crucial to breaking free of the taboos that this sensitive subject is surrounded with. Being open-minded about the same is of utmost importance for us and our girls. Menstruation and issues concerning menstrual hygiene should no longer be faced with closed eyes, covered ears, and hush-hush whispers.

I have always been vocal about this subject which should ideally interest every girl and woman in this world in the past on my blog, and this time, World Menstrual Hygiene Day was commemorated no differently.

Fortis La Femme has always been a crusader for all kind of women rights, through its medical facilities. The core belief behind is that a woman is a very special entity requiring special attention. Therefore, it aims to provide an exhaustive clinical and holistic attention which is designed exclusively for women. This exclusive care intends to cover every stage of a woman's life right from her birth.

In accordance with their core belief, Fortis La Femme in association with Sachi Saheli, a Delhi-based NGO organized a human chain rally to commemorate Menstrual Hygiene Day at Connaught Place in the presence of  Manish Sisodia, Honourable Deputy CM, Delhi Govt. The event was also supported by many NGOs like NAZ Foundation, SARD, Nav Srishti who also participated in the rally.

The rally witnessed a participation of approximately four thousand people including school students who also presented a street play on breaking the myths around this taboo. The overall purpose of the rally was to draw larger attention to the issue of menstrual hygiene, get more people involved in the movement, get media to talk about and build a momentum for something truly sustainable through commitments.

Menstrual Hygiene Day raised awareness towards the challenges women and girls face due to their menstruation. A majority of women in rural India lack information about menstruation including access to menstrual products and sanitary mechanisms for disposing menstrual waste.

According to a study “Sanitary Protection: Every Woman's Health Right”, undertaken by AC Nielsen conducted in 2011 indicated that only 12 percent of women of reproductive age in India use sanitary napkins.

Anika Parashar, COO Fortis La Femme said,

“Menstrual Hygiene is one of the major growing concerns in India and has to be addressed at the earliest. We will soon be starting adolescent and menopause clinics to spread awareness and ensure good health and support the initiative.”

Fortis La Femme has taken the onus upon itself to break the silence and build awareness about the fundamental role that good menstrual hygiene management (MHM) plays in enabling women and girls to be confident and well informed about their health and hygiene. 

Focusing Our Attention Around Menstrual Hygiene...

 ~~~ 

What?
A Panel Discussion On Menstrual Hygiene, on the occasion of World Menstrual Hygiene Day.

When?
Wednesday, May 27.

Where?
Mumbai.

This is the first event which I had attended with the aid of LIVE tweets from @sftimetochange. Since this was a topic which interested me, and which should ideally interest every woman in this world, it saddened me to learn that I could not be present at the venue in person, as the event was not being held in my city.

If you have not guessed already, @sftimetochange is the Twitter handle belonging to India's leading women’s health and hygiene brand, Stayfree. They focused on this event, with the hashtag #LetsStayfree.

Stayfree hosted a panel discussion on India’s least discussed topic ‘Menstruation’, with an aim to spread awareness around the need for educating young girls and women about menstrual hygiene. Following the panel discussion, Stayfree also announced the launch of its free educational YouTube channel that will assist women in getting a better understanding about menstruation.

The panelists included experts and well-known personalities in their fields such as:

• Gul Panag, Actress, Activist & Former Beauty Queen; 
• Kritika Kamra, Actress; 
• Dr. Anita Soni, Obstetrics & Gynecology Consultant at Dr. L.H. Hiranandani Hospital; 
• Sinu Joseph, Counselor & Menstrual Hygiene Educator; 
• Lina Ashar, Founder & Chairperson of Kangaroo Kids Education 

I still remember my first association with Stayfree when I had blogged for the 'Stay Free And Healthy Day' Campaign, in my first year as a Blogger. 

The same view persists even now. Periods are not taboo, and menstrual hygiene is a necessity. 

They presented some harrowing statistics at the discussion. 

• Good menstrual hygiene is a critical indicator of the holistic progress of women, socially and economically because there is a very strong connection between hygienic menstrual practices and overall health. 
• In India, despite the economic progress that has been made in the last several years, over 80% of women still do not have access to adequate sanitary protection during menstruation. 
• In India, feminine hygiene and menstruation, being a sensitive topic, is not discussed openly, and women often continue to harbor myths and misconceptions about it, since no one amongst their family and friends is able to educate them. 
• Additionally, mothers are often not in a position to guide their daughters correctly since their own knowledge is limited. 
• Over time, unhygienic practices due to low awareness and education levels can adversely impact the health and productivity of these women. 
• According to the report, awareness on basic health and feminine hygiene in India is very low, with 75% rural women lacking adequate knowledge on menstrual hygiene and care. 

On being asked about the #LetsStayfree campaign, this is what Ganesh Bangalore, General Manager - Marketing, Consumer Business, at Johnson & Johnson India had to say. 

"We strongly believe that education dispels fear and prepares young girls to recognize menstruation as being a natural process and face it with confidence. That’s why Stayfree is investing behind educating 100 million young girls in India over the next 3 years." 

Stayfree thus commits to the cause by pledging to educate 100 million young girls in India by 2018 on menstrual hygiene and protection. 

Speaking during the panel discussion, Gul Panag shared: 

“Menstruation is a natural process and is not something that a woman or girl should be embarrassed about. During my growing up years and even today, I see women and girls shying away from mentioning the ‘M’ word. 

Women try and come up with innovative ways to state the word in public, but you don’t see a man cringing publicly or feeling sorry about what he wants to say. 

And all this shushing and discouragement is affecting women and girls basic right to get educated on a topic that is a monthly occurrence till they reach menopause. I feel strongly about a woman’s right to educate herself and applaud Stayfree for holding this discussion.” 

Dr. Anita Soni, Obstetrics & Gynecology consultant at Dr. L.H. Hiranandani Hospital, stated:  

“Today, almost every household will have at least one woman or girl who suffers from irregularities in her menstrual cycle but the reported cases will be few due to the stigma associated with talking openly about the red-letter day. 

Most women and girls do not understand or give as much importance to their menstrual issues, hence a lot of women do not follow simple hygienic practices like use of sanitary napkins or the right usage of same.” 

Ms. Sinu Joseph, Counselor & Menstrual Hygiene educator, spoke about the need to start talking about menstruation. 

According to her:  

“When we don’t talk about it, we do not think enough about our body and miss the signs when we need attention. 

While education about menstrual hygiene is important, it is even more important to stop looking at menstruation as a disease needing a cure. 

Menstruation is the most ancient and reliable tool for women to assess their health and well-being, naturally. Beginning to respect your menstrual cycle is the first step towards being healthy. 

Menstrual Hygiene should be addressed at homes, schools, community centers, health centers, women hostels and at the workplace.”

Ms. Lina Ashar, Founder & Chairperson of Kangaroo Kids Education, stated: 

“Menstruation is not something that a girl needs to feel ashamed of. 

It is essential for schools to understand and make requisite arrangements so that a girl student need not skip school due to menstruation or drop out completely as soon as she reaches puberty. 

After all, it is a natural biological process and needs to be seen as such. 

There is nothing “dirty” or “unclean” about it; let’s stop treating it as a life-threatening contagious disease.” 

Kritika Kamra was quick to tweet: 

"Enriching afternoon. Learned so much about menstruation and menstrual hygiene when I thought I knew it all. #LetsStayfree" 

All in all, I found the discussion to be very enlightening, and educative. 

How I wish more such discussions are held openly and that we do away with the unnecessary hush-hush around the subject! :) 

~~~ 

P.S.: All images have been attributed to @sftimetochange. 

Spark The Change. Period!

Spark The Change, O Dear!

Prepare As The Fate Draws Near...

As The Way Ahead Lies Clear...

Resonates The Voice - Change Is In The Air!

King Size? Nah! Live Life Queen's Way!

Truly, There's No Room For Tears...

Hush! Drive Away All Fears!

Entangling & Strangling, All These Years...

Come, Let's Join Hands, In The Flow...

Harness Positive Energies To Put Up A Great Show!

After All, We Are Not Caged - Let All, This Fact, Know...

Now, Above All Bondage, Make Your Reach Throw!

Gather All Strength, Seeds Of Change, Let's Sow...
Engaging, Enthralling, All Limitations, Let's Outgrow!

The day came.
That, which every mother has to face.
That, when her teenage - daughter comes to her with a mix of emotions - bewildered & slender-ly frightened on facing a new change in her body and her life, as well.

Yes, you got it right!
Her Menarche Day.

Frankly speaking, the mother is also at crossroads and takes times to come at terms - to explain to her to take this change in its own stride...

So Was I.
This circumstance made me rewind the reel - go into flashback...

The same day of my life...
But, thanks to the 'new - gen' environment, the freshness of today's times have 'Sparked A Change' towards a Healthy Womanhood.

In our times, it was so difficult to understand the ABC's of this concept but thanks to the 'not so hush - hush' orientations included in the school curriculum about Anatomy & Physiology Of The Human Body which prepares a child-like mind, body and even the soul to deal sportingly with the Change.
The role of School Counselors in the school system is commendable.

Then, to deal with the situation was also a near - Herculean task in the bygone era.
To employ cloth or cotton was extremely unhygienic.
The girls were forced to stay behind closed doors - at home - in fear of staining and hence were devoid of even accomplishing daily chores with ease.

'Those five days were the harbinger of Bondage' - like caging a free bird.

However, Now Is Better.
The times have changed for the better...

Thanks to a hygienic and dependable option of the like of Stayfree, girls no more worry about 'those' days.
They no more fear staining their image, in society anymore.

Periods Are No More Taboo! Period.

Stayfree has indeed initiated the spark for the chain reaction of changes in the lives of women in India.
Living upto its name, Stayfree has indeed encouraged women to Stay Free - to let go of all bondage, snide remarks and the 'hush - hush affair' of Puberty as well.

Even Sanitary Napkins Come With Wings, Don't They?
~~~

This post has been written as a part of  'Stay Free & Healthy Day' Contest here.