Featured in The Times Of India

Stressing the importance of spreading awareness of menstrual hygiene, Corporation Commissioner N. Ravichandran on Tuesday said it should be included in school and college curriculum.

Speaking at a programme to mark World Menstrual Hygiene Day, organised by Menstrual Hygiene Management Consortium, SCOPE, Indian Institute of Human Settlements and Tamil Nadu Urban Sanitation and Support Programme here, he though awareness of menstrual hygiene among urban women was better, it was not up to expectations among the rural people.

The onset of menstruation and puberty had to be taught among young adolescent girls and boys. More awareness programmes should be conducted in both urban and rural areas. Thrust should be on women living in rural areas.

Mr. Ravichandran said menstrual hygiene management should be made as a lesson, as itwould enable students to understand various aspects of it.

K. Meena, former Vice Chancellor, Bharathidasan University, said poor menstrual hygiene could negatively affect women’s health. A section of women and girls, particularly in rural areas, used improvised material such as improperly cleaned cloth as they could not afford proper sanitary products. It might cause reproductive tract infections.

There were many menstrual disorders that could affect women health. They might affect their daily routine. Attention must be paid to create awareness of anemia, heavy periods, painful menses and others. Mothers had a greater role to play in creating awareness among their daughters., she said.

S. Amuthavalli, City Engineer, Tiruchi Corporation, said male members of families should also be made aware of the issues. They should understand the suffering and pain of women during periods. Fathers should be educated on menstrual management.

Kannagi Chandrasekaran, chairperson of Women, an NGO, and others spoke.

In a separate programme organised by Gramalaya, Sneha Shergil, Mrs. India Queen 2016, said society never questioned the methods used by young girls to stay clean and hygienic during their period. The myths around the natural bodily function would not only affect girls physically but also mentally and emotionally. It was time to end the stigma.