22% of women in India do not use hygienic practices during their menstrual period due to lack of awareness, resulting in repeat absenteeism in schools and workplaces
Addressing menstrual hygiene and the challenges faced by women involves a multifaceted integrated approach that encompasses education and awareness, healthcare and sanitation access and workplace policies. There is also a need for policy support to mandate access to clean sanitation facilities in educational institutions and workplaces, implement comprehensive awareness programs to break stigma in communities and use various social media platforms to disseminate accurate information. Employers must be encouraged to provide leaves or flexible working arrangements during menstrual days if required. This will help accelerate the movement for a ‘period friendly world’ and empower girls and women.
Menstrual Hygiene Day was celebrated on May 28, with a program on menstrual health and hygiene with a special focus on cervical cancer organised by Assocham Goa in association with the Directorate of Health services, government of Goa and Healthcare partner Victor Hospital.
The 22% of women in India do not use hygienic practices during their menstrual period due to lack of awareness, resulting in repeat absenteeism in schools and workplaces; however in Goa as per National Family Health Survey we have an overall hygienic methods of more than 95% in both Urban and Rural areas, revealed Dr Mohanrao Dessai, CMO at Victor Hospital.
The ministry of health and family welfare implemented the scheme of promotion of national hygiene amongst adolescent girls in the age group of 10-19 years, whose major objective was to increase awareness amongst girls of menstrual hygiene, to increase access to and use good quality sanitary napkins and to ensure its safe disposal in an environment friendly manner.
Many activities were conducted in schools and anganwadi centres to create awareness by screening short films and showing animated journals. Also, distribution of free sanitary napkins was undertaken under Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram from the month of January 2023 as a part of pilot program. It was adopted in four talukas – Pernem and Sattari in North Goa and Canacona and Sanguem in South Goa, in collaboration with State Council of Education, Research and Training, benefitting tribal communities in these areas.
A woman spends 2100 days menstruating which is equivalent to six years of her life, stated Dr Geeta Patki, gynaecologist and HOD at Gomantak Ayurved Mahavidyalaya. While previously a woman was expected to only rest and avoid heavy work those five days, today’s women are out there working in the fields, in offices, at schools and colleges and going about their daily chores. Menstruation is a monthly process for women hence educating about the basic facts linked to the menstrual cycle and how to manage it with dignity and without fear is the need of the hour or else it will restrict their movement and self-confidence. Also essential is the need to frequently change napkins, have access to clean sanitation facilities, eat light and easily digestible foods and stay hydrated.
There are estimated to be 336 million menstruating women in India using 121 million pads and if you calculate at eight pads per cycle that converts to 1 billion pads per month, thus disposing menstrual waste becomes a mammoth task. Non-biodegradable pads contain SAP (super absorbent polymer) which takes 800-900 years to decompose and its essential to switch over to biodegradable pads and tampons that can be composted in regular compost pits. Pads are never to be flushed down the toilet.
Dr Avinash Anand, oncology surgeon at Victor Hospital rated the various risk factors for cervical cancer: early marriage, sexually active at younger age, poor genital hygiene, smoking, multiple pregnancies, a weak immune system and oral contraceptive pills, amongst others. Only 1% of the women more than 30 years of age are aware of the screening for cervical cancer and its early detection and treatment.
As per the centre for disease control 90% of all cervical cancers are caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV) within the age of 18-35 years. Early detection through screening (Pap Smears and HPV tests) and educational campaigns are very important followed by various treatment options of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and targeted therapy. Community health workers must be used to cover remote and rural areas as also support groups and counselling facilities must be provided to women who have been diagnosed with cervical cancer.
Primary prevention is HPV vaccination and as per commitment made by Finance minister in the Budget of March 2023, all girls from 9-14 years will be given HPV vaccination which will soon be implemented in the State of Goa too and also a MOU was recently signed with TRIF (transforming rural India foundation) to support cervical cancer elimination through vaccination programs. So, girls and women, let’s walk towards a ‘period-friendly world’ and a stress-free workplace.
(The writer is Assocham Goa Women Empowerment Chair, Managing Committee member in GCCI and Executive Committee member Laghu Udyog Bharati - Goa Chapter)
