Slum women get lessons on menstrual hygiene

Ludhiana: A group of women volunteers from different social groups joined hands for a health awareness drive for slum dwellers in Model Town here on Saturday afternoon. The initiative aimed at creating awareness about cleanliness in general and personal hygiene for women in particular, among the residents of the slum.
The women volunteers, who are part of different social welfare groups, discussed with the slum dwellers the ways of maintaining basic cleanliness and hygiene, importance of clean food and water and basic eating habits. In addition, the ladies interacted with the women in the slum on menstrual hygiene.
Vidhu Modgil, gynaecologist, discussed ways through which women could ensure good health and hygiene. She also prescribed requisite medication to the slum women, who shared their health issues with her. Sanitary napkins, iron syrups, multivitamins, ORS, deworming syrups, copper T and Geeta copies were distributed amongst women and the usage and benefits of distributed items for women and their children were explained to them.
Simmi Chopra Pashan, chairperson of Ek Aas, NGO (women helpline) and co-chairperson of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee grievance cell took part in the drive and told TOI, “It is great to be a part of such an initiative. While associated with this group, we have tried our bit to create health awareness and empower slum women. Drives like these must be undertaken by city residents on a regular basis to bring about a complete change.”
Vidhu Modgil said, “We need to realise that health awareness was required highly in slum areas of our city, especially menstrual hygiene among slum women. I feel sanitary vending machines should be put up because sanitary napkin disposal is still a problem for these women. Though I feel it requires quite an effort to change mindsets of adult slum dwellers, I feel initiatives over time will bring about a change and are necessary at least for the children dwelling in these slums as they are the future.”
Sonia Kochar, organiser of the drive, said, “We are planning for more such drives in the city as our aim is to create awareness about healthy lifestyle, empowering women and helping the underprivileged community of our society.
Meanwhile, the slum residents exclaimed that they were happy to have made understood the importance of health and resolved to maintain cleanliness around them.