Menstrual hygiene drive taken to Karang Island
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 26 2021: Volunteers of Girl Up Manipur took a step towards menstrual equity and hygiene by organising a menstrual hygiene cum sustainable pad distribution drive for the inhabitants of Karang Island in Loktak Lake on September 23.The Island, situated about 54 km away from Imphal, is a socio-economically deprived region of Manipur with no road connectivity, and can only be reached via a ferry, said Girl Up Manipur in a statement.

According to NFHS-4, over 23 million girls in India drop out of school at the onset of menarche because of lack of access to safe menstrual products.

Only 36% of menstruating women have access to safe sanitary products while the remaining use a variety of unsafe methods, such as ash, husk, old rags, banana peels etc.

Using such unhygienic methods to manage menstruation have been proven to result in serious health repercussions, like reproductive tract infection, urinary tract infection, vaginal infections etc.

and it can also lead to other psycho-socio-economic consequences.

Girl Up volunteers Pooja Sapam and Nongthang Ngamba Thongam briefly explained the process of menstruation and also highlighted the different ways one can take up to maintain menstrual hygiene while Devia Rajkumari and Alka Thokchom hosted an interactive session with the Islanders about the various myths and taboos associated with menstruation.

Girl Up Manipur president Brinda Loitongbam talked about the importance of reusable/sustainable sanitary pads, which was concluded with a demonstration of how to use such pads by Girl Up volunteer Ranjita Okram.

The awareness session was followed by a reusable pad distribution drive.

The club fundraised Rs 19,000, donated 300 sustainable pads to support over 60 menstruators across the Island.

The campaign's goal is to empower menstruators with the right knowledge and resources to not allow periods to put a stop to their dreams, aspirations and lives.

"Periods don't stop for pandemics and we strongly believe that it is our basic human right to bleed with dignity and safety." said the Girl Up Manipur volunteers.

Comment