The Covid-19 pandemic had negative impacts on girls’ and women’ ability to effectively manage their menstrual hygiene and health. They had to face several issues to deal with their menstrual cycle in a dignified manner, especially girls belonging to poor economic backgrounds, like limited access to sanitary pads, sanitation facilities and social support.
As part of striving for adolescent girls’ health and ending period poverty, Plan India launched “Menstrual Hygiene Education in India” in partnership with Kotex, to ensure girls’ ability to manage menstruation with confidence, dignity, safety and confidence. This is strategized through a gender transformative process resulting in a positive change in attitude, including the elimination of stigma related to menstrual health and hygiene. The project aims to reach 20,000 direct beneficiaries and 7 million indirect beneficiaries in Jharkhand and Delhi.
The initiative was launched on Menstrual Hygiene Day, 28 May 2021 through a webinar – ‘Let’s Talk Periods’ in partnership with senior government officials, experts and civil society organizations. The webinar focused on prioritizing the importance of menstrual health and hygiene and minimizing the related social stigma and taboo.
The project is spreading awareness through inter-generational dialogues providing a platform for girls and their parents to openly talk about menstrual health.
Key Achievements
- 2132 girls and boys reached through awareness drive ‘Break the Silence’
- 10439 adolescent girls and boys sensitized on menstrual hygiene through Health Information Centers
- 2,400 hygiene kits distributed in Delhi and Jharkhand
- 491 people reached through intergenerational dialogues on menstrual health and hygiene management
- 1100 parents and caregivers sensitized through orientation sessions
- 352 awareness meetings held in Delhi and Jharkhand
