It’s time for action

hygieneGlobally, more than half of the women are currently of reproductive age - and menstruation is a monthly reality. Yet all around the world, many women lack access to menstrual hygiene products or sanitation facilities, either due to limited availability or excessive cost. Myths and stigmas surrounding menstruation cause some women and girls to miss school or work or go into isolation.The issue of menstrual hygiene has been neglected and there is reluctance even within the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector to talk openly about this important subject. However, menstrual hygiene is gaining growing attention as a crucial aspect to achieving improved child health, education retention and gender equality.To manage menstruation hygienically and with dignity, it is essential that women and girls have access to water and sanitation. They need somewhere private to change sanitary cloths or pads; clean water and soap for washing their hands, bodies and reusable cloths; and facilities for safely disposing of used materials or a clean place to dry them if reusable. There is also a need for both men and women to have a greater awareness of good menstrual hygiene practices. Women and men of all ages must be made aware of the importance of menstrual hygiene through an open dialogue and education at home and in school to foster engagement with this often unspoken issue.Why menstrual hygiene is important?Effective menstrual hygiene is vital to the health, well-being, dignity, empowerment, mobility and productivity of women and girls. Not keeping yourself clean during menstruation is inviting lots of bacteria. They not only affect you externally but can also lead to urine infection which isn’t only painful for your stomach and lower abdomen but also affects the working of your kidneys. Using a napkin for more than 4-6 hours can cause the blood to cause infection in its surroundings, causing skin rashes and irritation. Using unclean cloths during menstruation or using a single sanitary napkin or tampon for a long time can facilitate the growth of bacteria, as already mentioned. These bacteria make way to your body (including ovaries) making it difficult for you to conceive a baby, increasing your chances of infertility. Even though it’s rare, there are enough possibilities of one developing cervical cancer because of poor hygiene during periods and otherwise. It is very important for women to not only keep themselves clean during their periods but also maintain good hygiene by cleaning their private parts regularly. Poor menstrual hygiene may cause stigma and ill health, and can lead to school absenteeism and increased school drop-out rates.Tips to maintain hygiene during your periods: Changing sanitary napkins or tampons within every 4-6 hours is the cardinal rule to establish vaginal hygiene. Menstrual blood, when released from the body attracts various organisms from our bodies, which multiply in the warmth of the blood, and cause irritation, rashes or urinary tract infections. Changing your sanitary napkin or tampon regularly curbs the growth of these organisms and prevents infections. Washing your vagina regularly is extremely important, because the organisms cling to your body after you have removed your sanitary napkin. Also, washing your hands properly is of utmost importance after you have wrapped and discarded the used tampons and sanitary napkins, since you’re likely to touch the stained area while wrapping them. Disposing off your tampons and sanitary napkins properly is an important step. Wrap them properly before you throw them away, so the bacteria and infections do not spread. Make sure you don’t flush them, since that will block the toilet causing the water to back up, spreading the bacteria all over it. The vagina has its own cleaning mechanism that works in a very fine balance of good and bad bacteria. Washing it with soap can kill the good bacteria making way for infections. So, while it is important to wash yourself regularly during this time, all you need to use is some warm water. You can use soap on the external parts but do not use it inside your vagina or vulva. Beware of a pad rash. A pad rash is something that you might experience during a period of heavy flow. It usually occurs when the pad has been wet for a long time and rubs along the thighs causing it to chaff. To prevent this from occurring, try to stay dry during your periods. If you do have a rash, change your pads regularly and stay dry. Apply an antiseptic ointment, after a bath and before bed - this will heal the rash and prevent further chaffing. Have a bath regularly. Bathing not only cleanses your body but also gives you a chance to clean your private parts well. It also helps relieve menstrual cramps, backaches, helps improve your mood and makes you feel less bloated. To get some relief from backaches and menstrual cramps, just stand under a shower of warm water that is targeted towards your back or abdomen. You will feel much better at the end of it. Menstural Hygiene DayHealth, education, women’s rights, economics, sustainability - some of the most pressing issues facing the world today are linked to menstrual hygiene and women’s lack of access to basic sanitation. That’s why May 28 marks the annual Menstrual Hygiene Day to highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene management (MHM). It was initiated by the German-based NGO WASH United in 2014 to break the silence surrounding menstruation, which often leads to debilitating social stigma that negatively affects women and girls across the globe.The 28th was selected to acknowledge that 28 days is the average length of the menstrual cycle.Celebrated in over 30 countries on 28 May, the activities on this day helps break the silence and build awareness about the fundamental role that good menstrual hygiene management (MHM) plays in enabling women and girls to reach their full potential. Menstrual Hygiene Day creates an occasion for publicizing information in the media, including social media. Public information campaigns can help to engage decision-makers in policy dialogue. The day offers an opportunity to actively advocate for the integration of menstrual hygiene management (MHM) into global, national and local policies and programmes.The theme of Menstrual Hygiene Day 2019 - ‘It’s Time for Action’ - not only emphasises the urgency of this public health issue, but also highlights the transformative power of improved menstrual hygiene to empower the world’s women and girls and unlock their economic and educational opportunities. MH Day brings together non-profits, government agencies, the private sector, the media, and individuals to advocate for and promote the importance of good menstrual hygiene management (MHM). 

from The News International - You http://bit.ly/2EFpvSA