A Step Towards Change

On 28th May we celebrated "Menstrual Hygiene Day" in Bhejapabli village, which is in Boipariguda block of Koraput district, Odisha. I chose this village because I heard from Asha didi that the girls of this village do not use sanitary napkins during their menstruation. Knowing the situation, I decided to talk with the girls to understand their thoughts on this. I observed during the conversation that some of them were feeling shy & some of them didn’t know the usage of sanitary napkins. To address this issue, I decided to involve the girls in this program so that they can understand the importance. We spent four days together for planning and creating our own banners and pamphlets for the day. The theme for this year was "together for a #periodfriendlyworld," so we named our program "Aaso Kohiba Masiko," which is an Odia sentence & it means "let's talk about periods" to break the stigma of not discussing it with anyone.

We started our discussion with what a period is and why it comes every month. We discussed how to maintain hygiene during this time & also talked about the consequences of not maintaining proper hygiene and when to consult a doctor. We shared information about the types of food to consume for a healthy menstruation. To help everyone understand better, we showed the banners and pamphlets we created. Additionally, we screened videos of gynecologists giving advice on this topic which is in their local language. By this we ended the day by promising each other to help in creating awareness for healthy practices during menstruation. Adolescent girls came forward which was a positive sign for the community.

The program had a significant impact on the participants. I received positive feedback from them, and they are now more informed and happier. Through that program I got to know some other issues also which I need to work on. Some of the girls who previously didn't use sanitary napkins collected them from me using their own money, which I received from Asha for the program. Their mothers also supported them, and I was overwhelmed by the response & the participation. By conducting this program, I got the opportunity to enhance my skills of on ground planning & execution, critical thinking & problem-solving, thus adding value to the leadership skills.