MENSTRUAL HYGIENE DAY 2019

Why in News?

  • • The MH Day seeks to break the silence, raise awareness and change the negative social norms surrounding menstrual hygiene.

Highlights:

 

  • • The world is slowly moving towards removing the social stigma surrounding menstruation, the word ‘period’ still remains a taboo in most societies. In most countries, girls still avoid going to school when they are on their period.
  • • Women in rural areas or in poverty-ridden nations still use paper and other harmful materials such as dried leaves and plastic as a substitute for sanitary pads.
  • • The main theme of this year’s Menstrual Hygiene Day is ‘It’s Time for Action!’ The day
    aims to ensure no girl is left behind.
  • • In the year 2018, around 310 organizations educated around 27.2 million girls across 134 countries. For the year 2019, the participating organizations are committed to educating a total of 41.4 million girls across the world.

Menstrual Hygiene Day:

  • • The Menstrual Hygiene Day (MH Day) is a global advocacy platform that brings together the voices and actions of non-profits, government agencies, individuals, private sector and the media to promote good menstrual hygiene management (MHM) for all women and girls.

Vision:

  • • To create a world in which every woman and girl is empowered to manage her menstruation safely, hygienically, with confidence and without shame, where no woman or girl is limited by something as natural and normal as her period.

Objective:

  • • The MH Day seeks to break the silence, raise awareness and change the negative social norms surrounding menstrual hygiene.
  • • It encourages and engages decision-makers to increase emphasis on the issue and mobilize action to create more awareness at global, national and local levels.

Why do we need the day?

 

  • • Poor menstrual hygiene along with limited access to hygienic menstrual products and poor sanitation infrastructure undermine the educational opportunities, health and overall
  • social status of women and girls around the world.
  • • As a result of this, millions of women and girls are kept from attaining their full potential.

    • Hence, the day aims to educate people around the world regarding the persisting taboos and stigma associated with menstruation, as the primary reason for poor menstrual hygiene is the lack of education.

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