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Promotion of Menstrual Hygiene in Rae Bareli

Background 2

Need for Menstrual Hygiene**

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In-case of poor menstrual hygiene:

• Increased Risk of infection (including sexually transmitted infection) is higher than normal during menstruation (Urinary tract infections UTIs/RTIs) are bacterial infections

• Yeast infections such as Thrush (Candidiasis)

• Using unclean rags leads to the growth of unwanted bacteria that could lead to infection

• The risk of passing on blood-borne diseases such as Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), which causes serious liver disease & Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV), which causes AIDS.

**Menstrual hygiene matters. Sarah House, Thérèse Mahon and Sue Cavill

Need for Menstrual Hygiene**

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Social, educational and economic impacts of menstrual hygiene:

• Dignity – It is crucial for girls and women to feel empowered to engage in regular daily work without much discomfort. and other daily activities and not hide away or have limitations in their movements due to menstruation.

• Education – Lack of menstrual hygiene services can lead to girls missing school.

• Loss of Economic Opportunity – Due to monthly illness women lose out on economic opportunity.

**Menstrual hygiene matters. Sarah House, Thérèse Mahon and Sue Cavill

Current Blood Absorption Methods

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Facts: • One out of every five women (18 %)

had menstruation related problems during the last three months preceding the survey**

• Eight out of every ten (85.5%) unmarried women had painful periods -mainly caused due to unhygienic practices.

• 10% had irregular period while 6.2% of the women had problems like frequent or short periods

• The practices followed during

menstruation period to absorb blood are important from the consideration of UTI/RTI (Urinary tract infections) and personal hygiene.

Districts in Focus

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Sultanpur

23 blocks

230 schools

34500 girls

448500 napkins/month

Rai Bareli

21 blocks

210 schools

31,500 girls

409500 napkins/month

Steps taken by Government of India

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Saloni Swasth Kishori Yojana

• Uttar Pradesh has identified 13 priority districts to take up menstrual hygiene scheme amongst school going adolescent girls. -Additional 3 new districts (i.e. Amethi, Sambhal & Shamli )are being taken up this year.

• To mobilize Self Help Groups, in selected districts, Rs. 5.00 Lacs was budgeted.

• Monthly Saloni Sabhas to be held on health, hygiene & nutrition behaviors. Girls from rural areas going to the school will be trained and advised to use and properly dispose-off these sanitary napkins by the trained school teachers.

• Menstrual Hygiene and Intervention for Non School Going Girls has been planned under ASHAs, ARSH, Media and SABLA scheme .

• Sanitary napkins were to be provided by GOI and distributed through ASHA and ARSH workers at Saloni Sabhas .

Other GOI schemes on Menstrual Health

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• Ensuring that adolescent girls (10- 19 years) in rural

areas have adequate knowledge and information

about menstrual hygiene and the use of sanitary

napkins.

• This scheme is being launched in 152 districts across

20 states in the first phase.

• The Ministry is procuring sanitary napkin packs

from Hindustan Lever Limited for 107 districts and

would be supplied at the block level.

•Kishori Shakti Yojana (KSY) ,MoWCD

•SABLA : Raiv Gandhi Scheme for

Empowerment of Adolescent Girls

(RGSEAG )

•The National Population Policy 2000

called for developing an adolescent health

package.

Why should RGF Intervene ?

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The NRHM SAP 12-13 has highlighted an issue that presents a opportunity for RGF to intervene as the cause is in line with the foundation’s vision.

1. Facilitate teenage women to attend school more regularly.

2. Improve health and social life of a large section of women.

3. Increase economic productivity of women & facilitate poverty alleviation.

4. Social Initiative Focused on women producing ripple effect in the entire society.

Benefits for women

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• Paves way for hygienic way of life.• Improved health.• Provides means of income to

SHGs. • Reduced loss of man-days and

increased attendance in school.• Reduction in complications at

maternity. • Greater dignity.

Project Plan 11

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Suggested Implementation Model

Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF) and its associated institutions would play the role of a facilitator and empower women to take necessary action on Menstrual Health.

 

The Machine

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Header Requirement

Electricity Single Phase Power for 1hp motor

Space 3.5m x 3.5 m

Cost of Machine Rs. 75,000/ machine (Inclusive of Tax & Installation Cost)

Machine Operation Wood fiber (raw material) is de-fibrated, core formed and sealed with soft touch sensitive heat control, giving the final shape of the napkins.

Output 2 Napkins/ minute

Further Information

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Advertisements: a) Encourage entrepreneurs to buy this machine- Would be done through

SHGs/VOs.  

b) Along with Entrepreneurs, advertise for workers and get them trained. 

c) Advertise to women , so they use such napkins.- This could be done via Health Sakhis, ASHA Workers etc. The strategy, poster and everything would be designed.

Training Modules for :

a)Train entrepreneurs and workers.

b)Faculty for initial training and develop a module to train new faculty. To replicate the model across the country

c)1-2 days workshops to train ASHA Workers and Health Sakhis on product

Microsoft Office Word 97 - 2003 Document

COMPLETE COST WORKINGS FOR SHGS

SUCCESS STORY : TOTAL SANITATION CAMPAIGN : TAMIL NADU

• In a move to encourage school-girls in rural areas to continue school after puberty, a program was launched to encourage the use of sanitary napkins.

• Cost of popular brands of napkins discouraged adolescent girls from using napkins, so they had to depend on improvised material which were not very effective. So, the girls simply skipped classes on period days.

• 360 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) were trained in napkin production.

• Today, SHGs in 18 districts make and sell the napkins at a price of Rs 20 per packet of 10 napkins. These products sell well.

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